Another Interesting Fact

[JohnH19]

On September 24th, 1967 the Packers and Bears met in a Week 2 game at Lambeau Field. The temperature was 49 degrees (9-10 celcius) with a fairly light wind at 9 mph and relative humidity of 60%.

In that rivalry game, the great Bart Starr threw five interceptions, three by Richie Petitbon, in only 19 passing attempts. Green Bay also lost all three of their fumbles for a total of eight turnovers! Chicago had only one turnover; an interception by Lee Roy Caffey of a Larry Rakestraw pass.

Final score: Green Bay 13 Chicago 10.

The Packers had a great day running the ball with 51 carries for 233 yards. I suspect that this was Jim Grabowski’s best game as a pro as he lugged the leather 32 times for 111 yards. Surprisingly, his longest carry was for only 9 yards. Donny Anderson and Elijah Pitts combined for an additional 109 yards on 17 carries with Anderson breaking one for 40.

Was this the greatest turnover disparity that a winning team has ever overcome?

[sheajets]

Ugly one at Three Rivers. 1983 Steelers commit 7 turnover and still defeat the woeful Bucs 17-12 (dropping them to 0-9) Tampa actually led Pitt going into the 4th Q 12-0 on 4 Capece field goals.

Tampa did not turn the ball over once.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

Colts had 7 in Super Bowl 5.

It might not be as uncommon as you'd think. I know the college record is 11 -- Purdue committed 11 turnovers and still won.

[Brian wolf]

The game that still bothers me the most is the Cowboys losing the 1981/82 Championship game to the Niners despite forcing SIX turnovers on defense. To lose that game and SB V is inexcusable ...
I think Staubach would have won both games had he been the starter ...

[Jay Z]

Ugly one at Three Rivers. 1983 Steelers commit 7 turnover and still defeat the woeful Bucs 17-12 (dropping them to 0-9) Tampa actually led Pitt going into the 4th Q 12-0 on 4 Capece field goals.

Tampa did not turn the ball over once.

James Wilder set an NFL record for most rushing attempts in that game with 42. He broke the record of 41 sent by Franco Harris in 1976. Wilder's previous high number of carries was 20, which he did the week before against the Saints in a 21-24 loss. Wilder would run 31 times for a career high 219 yards the next week in a win over the Vikings, the Buccaneers first win of the year.

Wilder's record lasted all of three weeks when it was broken by Butch Woolfolk of the Giants. Wilder came back in 1984 to tie that record and set a new record (since broken) of 407 carries in a season.

The current record of 45 rushing attempts in a game is held by former Redskin Jamie Morris, who also achieved his record in a loss, in 1988 to the Bengals in the season's final week. Morris ran for 152 yards (a 3.4 average) with a long gain of 12. Despite the Redskins having nothing to play for while the Bengals were still playing for home field advantage, the Redskins led 17-10 until a 69 yard Boomer Esiason to Eddie Brown pass and conversion tied the score. With 8:20 left on the clock, the Redskins drove 16 plays from their own 21, including 10 Morris runs for 29 yards, to burn all but 11 seconds off the clock. But a Chip Lohmiller 29 yard field goal attempt bounced off the upright and the game went to overtime. The Bengals would win 20-17 on a Jim Breech fumble after a sack, but not before Morris had two more carries to set the record.

Over his three year career, Morris ran 252 times for 777 yards, a 3.1 yard average, and four touchdowns. Jamie Morris was the younger brother of the Giants' Joe Morris. A third brother, Larry, was a strike replacement player for the 1987 Packers, carrying 8 times for 18 yards. All three Morris brothers had a listed height of 5'7".

[JohnH19]

Colts had 7 in Super Bowl 5.

It might not be as uncommon as you'd think. I know the college record is 11 -- Purdue committed 11 turnovers and still won.

My question was regarding winning with a huge negative turnover differential not the total number.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

Colts had 7 in Super Bowl 5.

It might not be as uncommon as you'd think. I know the college record is 11 -- Purdue committed 11 turnovers and still won.

My question was regarding winning with a huge negative turnover differential not the total number.

Turnover margin is a lot harder to remember!

There was a game in the late 70s - might have been the year Walsh took over or the year before when the 49ers had a lot more turnovers and beat the Bengals. The Steelers had a game against Tampa with a high turnover margin and won. I think the Titans had a game also -- can't remember the opponent right now -- it was Eddie George/Steve McNair era -- must have been the SB year or around then. High turnover margin and still won. You'd have to look up specifics but hopefully that gets you in the ballpark of what you need -- narrows down your PFR search at least.

[Jay Z]

Colts had 7 in Super Bowl 5.

It might not be as uncommon as you'd think. I know the college record is 11 -- Purdue committed 11 turnovers and still won.

My question was regarding winning with a huge negative turnover differential not the total number.

Only time a team has won in the playoffs with a -4 turnover differential is the 1977 Raiders Colts Ghost To The Post game. -3 has been done a bunch of times.

SB V was -6 for the Colts at one point, but the Cowboys made the last three turnovers, and the Colts wouldn't have won without those.

Two games where a team won with -7 in regular season have been mentioned. There's only one other. 49ers beat the Vikings 38-24 in 1961 with a -7. Three other times teams overcame a -6 margin. Overcoming -5 is more common.

An interesting twist is when a team both has a big turnover deficit and a big yardage deficit yet still wins.

Two teams overcame -5 turnovers and a yardage deficit. Browns beat the Dolphins 17-13 in 1976. Yardage deficit was 13 yards. Dolphins were penalized more and Yepremian missed a FG and XP whereas Cockroft was perfect. Other -5 was Brooklyn beating Washington 3-0 in 1941 with -42 yardage deficit.

Three teams have overcome -4 turnovers and -100 or more yardage deficits. Oilers beat the Chargers 33-27 in 1962 with -119 yardage deficit. Raiders beat the Chiefs 28-26 with -183 yardage deficit. People here might remember the third game, I know I do. It was a Monday Nighter, 2006, Bears beat the Cardinals 24-23 with a -118. Cardinals had a 20-0 lead at half time. Bears scored three TDs in the second half on two fumble returns for touchdowns and a Devin Hester punt return. Neil Rackers missed a FG at the end to seal it. Game may also be remembered for Edgerrin James rushing 36 times for 55 yards. One of his fumbles was returned 40 yards for a TD. Next lowest yardage amount by a player rushing 35 or more times in a game is 38 for 88, which was accomplished by Jamie Morris. Jamie holds the record for most carries without reaching the 100 yard mark in a game.