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Another January has come and gone, capped off by two conference championship games. It is a month that produces momentous occasions because it features multiple rounds of playoff football.
This article will feature the top 20 January performances. The first thing to note is that the timeframe selected for this list is the year 2000 onward, primarily because there are far too many years of football to cover. Also, the game has changed so much over the past two decades that it becomes incredibly challenging to compare cross-generationally. Even with a narrowed focus, there is still a very long list of impressive performances over the past 23 years, so tiebreaking these became necessary.
The first step was to review every January game played to find significant final statistics that separate players from their peers. Statistics are not everything, but they are part of what earns someone a spot in the conversation as the greatest, particularly when they're record-setting. After that, what was on the line in each contest was considered. For example, showcasing your outrageous talent in the Wild Card round is impressive, but doing it in the Divisional round or Conference Championship is worth more because the opponent you play is often better, and the stakes are higher. In addition to the round, the impact a player had on the game and their team winning was evaluated. Once again, being an integral part of why your team was victorious makes the performance stand out even more. The last thing to note is that storylines and narratives often influence our expectations but are harder to track and compare during a 23-year span. As a result, only the biggest ones affected the decision-making process.
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#20. Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) - 2015-2016 NFC Championship
Newton was on top of the world. The Panthers had only lost one game all year and had a shot to reach the Super Bowl, something he'd never done and the franchise had only done once before. The offense wasted no time showcasing their firepower, scoring 17 points in the first quarter. They were in complete control from start to finish, riding the performance of Newton to victory.
Newton was good as a passer, throwing for 335 yards and two touchdowns, plus he was potent on the ground, adding 47 yards and two more scores. They crushed Arizona 49-15, recording the ninth-most postseason points in the process. Newton earned his trip to the big game, which did not go as planned, but he demonstrated what he's capable of in this one.
#19. Ty Law (New England Patriots) - 2002-2003 AFC Championship
The Patriots were about to become a dynasty, trying to win their second Super Bowl, but first, they needed to take down Peyton Manning and the Colts. They shut out Indianapolis in the first half, getting ahead by 15 at the break, which would prove to be the difference. They tacked on three field goals in the second half, but the defense forced five turnovers on the day, beating them 24-14.
One of the leaders of the defense was Law, who picked off Manning three times that day, tying him for the most in an AFC or NFC title game. He added two solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and three deflected passes, producing a dominant day in the secondary. That win sent them to the Super Bowl where they would defeat the Panthers.
#18. Ricky Manning (Carolina Panthers) - 2002-2003 NFC Championship
Coincidentally, in the same season, in the other conference, a similar performance occurred. The Panthers' defense followed the same script, creating four turnovers, and limiting the Eagles to just three points. Their 14-3 victory was more competitive for longer, and the two teams were more evenly matched, making Manning's performance slightly better.
He too hauled in three interceptions, adding two solo tackles and five deflected passes. They would eventually lose to the Patriots in the Super Bowl, but it marked their first time competing for the Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
#17. Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski (New England Patriots) - 2011-2012 Divisional Round
This game was the epitome of first-half dominance. The Patriots came out swinging, scoring 35 points in the first two quarters, essentially ending the game before it ever started. Brady threw five touchdown passes, the most in one half of playoff football, ending the day with six, tying him for the all-time record in the postseason.
Similarly, Gronkowski was the player he targeted on three of those, tying him with Travis Kelce for the most by a tight end in a playoff game. His 10 receptions for 145 yards were also noteworthy, resulting in an impressive day at the office for two of the greatest to ever play their respective positions. They easily knocked off the Broncos, 45-10, propelling them to the AFC Championship game.
It was far from the last time these two combined to rewrite the record book, but their thrashing of Denver was on another level.
#16. LeGarrette Blount (New England Patriots) - 2013-2014 Divisional Round
Blount was a true wrecking ball, grinding out the tough yards with a nose for the end zone. He was famous for putting together multi-touchdown games in New England, especially in the playoffs. In his playoff debut, he helped take down the Colts, where they utilized him as a battering ram, handing him the ball 24 times.
He scored three consecutive two-yard touchdowns in the first 19 minutes, establishing an insurmountable lead. Furthermore, he capped off his record-setting performance with a 73-yard house call in the fourth quarter to seal it. His 166 yards were tied for fourth-most by a player who rushed for three or more touchdowns in a playoff game, and his four touchdowns were tied for the second-most ever in the postseason. It was one of several unforgettable outings from Blount.
#15. Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) - 2016-2017 NFC Championship
Ryan won the regular season MVP award but wasn't done there. He was chasing the first Super Bowl of his career, and what would have been the first in Falcons history. However, standing in his way were Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, who were trying to get back to the big stage.
It was a dream start for Ryan, leading his team to a 24-0 dominant first half. He played a nearly flawless game with a passer rating of 139.4, totaling five touchdowns and over 400 scrimmage yards. He accounted for 415 of their 493 yards (84.2%) on offense, earning that first trip to the Super Bowl, which unfortunately did not end in his favor, but that's a performance for a different list.
#14. T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts) - 2013-2014 Wild Card Weekend
The Chiefs and Colts produced fireworks, combining for 89 total points, the third-most in an NFL playoff contest. The Colts finished on the winning side of a 45-44 win thanks to the performance of their superstar wide receiver, Hilton. His 13 receptions tied him for third-most all-time in a playoff game, along with his 224 yards, which rank third all-time as well.
Furthermore, he added to trips to the end zone, including the final touchdown of the game, setting up an Adam Vinatieri game-winning field goal on their final possession. The stakes weren't as high, but he put the team on his back in a way that only a handful of wideouts have ever done in the postseason.
#13. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) - 2008-2009 NFC Championship
The Cardinals are one of the 12 franchises without a Super Bowl win, but they came close in 2009 after conquering the Eagles in the NFC championship. They raced out to a 24-6 lead in the first half, thanks to the performance of one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise, Fitzgerald. He was unstoppable hauling in three touchdowns during those first two quarters.
Philadelphia took a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals closed it out 32-25 to advance to the Super Bowl. Fitzgerald finished with nine catches for 152 yards and three scores, locking him in as a legend in the desert.
#12. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) - 2019-2020 Divisional Round
Mahomes and Kelce were back in the playoffs following a heartbreaking loss to the Patriots in the AFC championships the year prior. Houston stormed out to a 24-0 lead, including two passing touchdowns and a blocked punt for a score. Nothing seemed to be going right for the Chiefs, then suddenly a strange fake punt call by the Texans failed to give the Chiefs some momentum.
They scored 28 unanswered points to steal the lead heading into halftime. Kelce found the end zone three straight times, and Mahomes threw four touchdown passes. They never looked back, closing it out with a 51-31 massacre. It marks the fourth-largest comeback in playoff history, foreshadowing many more great performances by these two.
When we dig into their numbers, Mahomes passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns, adding another 53 yards on the ground. It makes him one of only 14 quarterbacks to throw for five or more passing touchdowns in a playoff game. Kelce, on the other hand, was the recipient of 10 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns, tied for the highest by a tight end in NFL playoff history. It was also their first of three straight victories that season, resulting in their only Super Bowl, at least for now.
#11. Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) - 2009-2010 Wild Card Weekend
Warner was headed toward retirement but put forth one more remarkable performance to cap off his career. At 38 years old, they hosted the Packers, who boasted a deadly defense. Not to mention, of course, Aaron Rodgers. The game was fantastic, featuring multiple comebacks from Green Bay to eventually force overtime. Arizona capitalized on a fumble that was returned 17 yards for the game-winning score.
Although the defense closed out the victory, Warner and the offense were on fire. He completed 29 of his 33 passes (88%) for 379 yards and five touchdowns. He had no turnovers, playing as close to a perfect game as you could ask for. In addition, the 51-45 win was the highest-scoring playoff game of all time. It was a vintage performance in the last full game of his career.
#10. Willie McGinest (New England Patriots) - 2005-2006 Wild Card Weekend
Holding your opponents to three points in the playoffs is rare, which is exactly what the Patriots did against Jacksonville. They allowed just one field goal, 292 total yards, and forced two turnovers. They also harassed Byron Leftwich and David Garrard, totaling six sacks. The player responsible for most of those was McGinest.
He brought down the opposing signal caller four and a half times, which is the single-game postseason NFL record. He also accounted for six solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and four tackles for loss, allowing the team to cruise to victory in a 28-3 blowout. His efforts helped them conquer the Jaguars en route to another deep playoff run.
#9. Trindon Holiday (Denver Broncos) - 2012-2013 Divisional Round
The Broncos and Ravens squared off in a thriller during the Divisional round, ending with an incredible overtime comeback by the Ravens. However, it was Holiday of the Broncos that stood out in this one. It could have gone unnoticed because special teams don't always garner as much attention, but Holiday kicked things off with a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown, opening the scoring.
While that alone is an accomplishment, it was his 104-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to begin the third quarter that earns him a spot on this list. It is the third-longest kickoff return in a playoff game in NFL history. Furthermore, his 90-yard punt return is the longest in NFL playoff history, making it a record-setting performance.
The fact that they lost the game takes away some of the shine, but he did everything he could to will them to victory.
#8. Dion Lewis (New England Patriots) - 2016-2017 Divisional Round
Lewis was one of several tailbacks to cycle through the New England offense during their dynasty, but one of his biggest attributes was his versatility. He was a threat as a runner, receiver, and returner, all of which he put on display during their 34-16 win over the Texans.
Lewis caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring, one of his two receptions for 23 yards on the day. Additionally, he took a Houston kickoff 98 yards to the house just eight and a half minutes later, one of his three returns for 124 yards. Finally, with the Patriots looking to close out the game, they handed the ball to Lewis on the goal line for a one-yard rushing touchdown, accounting for one of his 13 carries for 41 yards.
Finding the end zone in all three facets of the game is incredibly difficult, especially in the playoffs. Earning his team the victory is the cherry on top.
#7. Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) - 2012-2013 Divisional Round
Kaepernick was a special athlete, utilizing his legs to make big plays and frustrate defenses. There's no better example of that than in his first-ever playoff appearance. He was average through the air, tossing 263 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. But he was exceptional on the ground, rushing the ball 16 times for 181 yards and two scores.
The two trips to the end zone were tied for the second most all-time by a quarterback in the playoffs while the yard total was the most ever, clearing the next player by 38 yards. Moreover, it's also the most by any signal-caller in any game, even in the regular season. Breaking those records, along with earning a 45-31 victory over the Packers, makes him worthy of his ranking.
#6. Gabe Davis (Buffalo Bills) - 2021-2022 Divisional Round
Davis differs from many of the other players on this list because he's far from being a superstar, let alone a Hall of Famer. However, that shouldn't take anything away from his record-breaking performance against Kansas City. He caught the most touchdowns in a playoff game with four. He was absolutely unstoppable, totaling eight catches for 201 receiving yards, the ninth-most in NFL playoff history.
The Bills did all they could against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs but were thwarted in overtime, 42-36. The difficult loss does leave a stain on the performance, but given the back-and-forth nature of the matchup, it's hard to fault anyone, especially Davis, for their defeat.
#5. Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts) - 2006-2007 Divisional Round
Kickers often get the chance to play hero, especially in critical moments during important playoff games. However, not only did Vinatieri kick the game-winning field goal, he kicked five field goals, accounting for all 15 points scored by the Colts. He's one of only 12 kickers to convert five field goals in a playoff game.
Furthermore, he was perfect on the day, earning them a 15-6 win over the Ravens and a trip to the AFC championships. The offense only generated 261 total yards, plus they turned the ball over twice. His reliability helped them overcome a low-scoring defensive battle. It's also worth noting that they went on to win the Super Bowl that year, making this performance an integral part of their successful season.
#4. Raheem Mostert (San Francisco 49ers) - 2020-2021 NFC Championship
Mostert was part of a committee in the San Francisco backfield, limiting his notable games throughout the season. Furthermore, he had just 58 yards on 12 carries in the Divisional Round.
All that aside, the matchup against the Packers was memorable. He rushed for the second-most yards in a playoff game in NFL history with 220. Plus, he tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns in a playoff game with four. To accomplish both those feats in the same contest is extremely impressive, but to do it in a Conference Championship game is that much better. He also accounted for all but one of their total touchdowns, leading them to a 37-20 win and a trip to the Super Bowl.
#3. Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 2016-2017 Divisional Round
Boswell saw what Vinatieri did and one-upped him. He too was perfect, nailing all six of his attempts, including three from 40-plus yards away, making him the record holder for the most field goals in a playoff game.
Furthermore, what makes his performance so impressive is that the Chiefs scored 16 points, meaning every single field goal he made was required for them to pull out an 18-16 win. It was a prime example of a clutch performance when the team needed it most.
#2. Aeneas Williams (St. Louis Rams) - 2001-2002 Divisional Round
Had Williams produced this same performance in the Championship game, he would rank atop the list. However, since it occurred in the Divisional Round, he comes in at No. 2. He accounted for three turnovers by himself, part of eight total from the St. Louis defense, taking down Brett Favre and the Packers in a 45-17 victory.
He forced and recovered a fumble, plus he took both of his interceptions to the house, an accomplishment only one other player ever matched. He also added six solo tackles and assisted on more while deflecting two passes. It was one of the greatest individual performances of all-time, warranting second place on this list.
#1. Dwight Smith (Oakland Raiders) - 2002-2003 Super Bowl
Super Bowl XXXVII (37) was the last time the biggest game of the year occurred in January, meaning every performance during this matchup was amplified. That said, Smith's day would have made this list in an earlier round, it just wouldn't rank as high.
The motto defense wins championships was in full effect. Smith finished with two interceptions for touchdowns, along with four solo tackles and one pass deflected. It's only the second time a player has produced multiple defensive touchdowns in a game, tied with Williams in the No. 2 spot.
He also contributed to the Raiders winning 48-21 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning the last title for the franchise, which went on to have a 14-year playoff drought. Additionally, now that the team is based out of Las Vegas, it's fair to assume this will stand as the final Lombardi trophy for Oakland. Smith wears the crown as the king of January performances.
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