Year in review: The biggest sports comebacks of 2021

The Colorado State Rams were down but not out, trailing 36-10 to the Aztecs with 8:15 left in the first half. The team had the biggest comeback in school history to win 70-67. Guard David Roddy starred, with 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Rams.

Detroit's shocking loss in February was emblematic of their terrible 2020-21 season. They led Chicago 59-34 with 2:37 left in the second quarter before the offense went out. The Pistons scored only 12 points in the third quarter and lost 105-102, as Zach LaVine took over the game with 37 points.

New Orleans trailed Boston 79-55 in the middle of the third quarter but were able to come back with the help of a great fourth quarter from Brandon Ingram and company to send the game to overtime. The Pelicans emerged with a 120-115 overtime win, as Ingram scored 33 points and Zion Williamson added 28 points.

The underdog Milwaukee Panthers trailed Wright State 72-48 with 6:15 left in the second half of the Horizon League Quarterfinal but were able to make a huge late rally to send the game to overtime. The Panthers capped off the comeback in overtime, winning 94-92. DeAndre Gholston had a spectacular game with 31 points and nine rebounds for Milwaukee.

Vegas has had plenty of playoff heroics in its brief history, and that continued in 2021. The team scored two goals in the final 5:18 of the third period to beat Colorado 3-2 in Game 3 of the second round of the playoffs.

The Tigers led the Angels 10-2 through five innings before LA's bats woke up. The Angels got late home runs from Max Stassi and Phil Gosselin and won comfortably 13-10.

The uber-talented Blue Jays seemed to have little hope of pulling out a win against Oakland, but their bats woke up down 8-2 in the eighth inning. Toronto put up a six-spot to tie the game with the help of a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. grand slam. After Oakland scored two runs in the ninth inning, the Blue Jays answered with a walk-off three-run home run from Marcus Semien to win 11-10.

Mississippi State opened their season with a bang. Trailing 34-14 to Louisiana Tech in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored three unanswered touchdowns to win 35-14, capped off with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Jaden Walley.

Tennessee shocked the Seahawks with a comeback on the road after trailing 24-9 at halftime. Derrick Henry rushed for three touchdowns in the second half, including a touchdown that tied the game with 29 seconds left in regulation. Randy Bullock kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime to win 33-30.

The magic of Arizona's 2021 season really kicked off in Week 2, when they overcame 13-point first half deficit to beat Minnesota 34-33. The thrilled culminated with a 27-yard Matt Prater field goal with 4:25 remaining, and the Cardinals defense was able to hold late in the game.

UTSA trailed Memphis 21-0 in the first quarter but were able to ride running back Sincere McCormick to victor 31-28. McCormick rushed 41 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

Cincinnati showed that they weren't the same old Bengals with a huge second-half comeback on Thursday Night Football after trailing 14-0 at halftime. The team won 24-21 with no time remaining on a 35-yard Evan McPherson field goal.

Oklahoma wasn't having its best day early in the Red River Showdown, trailing 38-20 to Texas at halftime. The teams went back and forth late in the fourth quarter, but Kennedy Brooks had a 33-yard touchdown run with 1:20 left to break the tie, as Oklahoma eventually won 55-48.

Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones truly established himself in October at Houston. New England trailed 22-9 in the third quarter before the Pats came roaring back with four scores. A 13-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry tied the game in the fourth quarter, then Nick Folk kicked the game-winning field goal with 15 seconds remaining.

The Chargers overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Cleveland 47-42 in what was arguably the most exciting game of 2021. Cleveland took a 27-13 lead early in the third quarterback, and the teams traded punches the rest of the way. Austin Ekeler scored two touchdowns late to help the Chargers win.

Lamar Jackson's magic was on full display in Baltimore's incredible 19-point comeback against Indy. The Ravens trailed 22-3 late in the third quarter, but Jackson threw three second-half touchdowns to send the game to overtime. He threw one more touchdown in overtime to win 31-25.

The Lakers suffered an embarrassing defeat to OKC, especially given the circumstances. The Thunder trailed 56-30 in the second quarter before waking up. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred with 27 points and nine rebounds as the Thunder won 123-115.

Tennessee picked up a huge win against the divisional-rival Colts on Halloween. The Colts took an early 14-0 lead, but the Titans came storming back to take the lead in the fourth quarter, including a pick-six by Elijah Molden. The Colts were able to tie the game late, but Tennessee won 34-31 on a Randy Bullock field goal in overtime.

Baltimore's amazing 2021 season continued with another heart-pounding comeback win. They trailed Minnesota 24-10 after the Vikings took the opening kickoff of the second half back for a touchdown. The Ravens were able to score 21 unanswered points before the Vikings tied the game 31-31 with 1:03 remaining. The reliable Justin Tucker kicked the game-winning field goal with only 16 seconds remaining in overtime.

Alabama only overcame a 10-point deficit at Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but that number doesn't do the game justice. The Crimson Tide didn't score until there was 8:44 remaining in regulation, and Young threw a 28-yard touchdown with 24 seconds left to send the game to overtime tied at 10. The four-overtime affair was capped up with a two-point conversion from Young to John Metchie, as Bama won 24-22.