It was not the best way for the Buffalo Bills to start a new year.

After consecutive Super Bowl appearances following the 1990-91 seasons, the Bills finished 11-5 in 1992, but lost the division title to Miami on the conference-record tiebreaker. Thus, to advance to their third Super Bowl in a row, Buffalo would have to take the Wild Card route – win three games, including two on the road.

Beginning their journey at home against the Houson Oilers on January 3, 1993, the Bills got off to a slow start. The Oilers’ offense was dominant, with 21 minutes and 12 seconds of possession in the game’s first 30 minutes. Houston averaged 7.3 yards per offensive play behind quarterback WARREN MOON’s 19 of 22 passing for 218 yards and four touchdowns -- a 147.5 passer rating. At halftime, the Bills’ Super Bowl hopes were all but dashed as they trailed the Oilers 28-3.

The second half start was no better for Buffalo. Less than two minutes into the third quarter, the Bills yielded a 58-yard interception-return touchdown and fell behind 35-3. It was then, with 13:15 remaining in the third quarter, that the Bills embarked on the biggest comeback in NFL history, which has been chosen by fans as the Fifth Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century.

To commemorate the end of the century, the National Football League invited fans to vote on nfl.com, the league’s official website, for the 10 most memorable games of the century. Nearly 35,000 votes were cast. Each Wednesday, the next "most memorable" game will be announced, culminating in the announcement of the Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century during Super Bowl XXXIV week on Wednesday, January 26. A list and description of the previous winners can be found on nfl.com.

"We had a chance," said Buffalo head coach MARV LEVY. "About the same chance a guy has of winning the New York Lottery."

But on this Sunday in upstate New York, the Bills would hit the jackpot.

After allowing the interception-return touchdown, the Bills drove 50 yards in 10 plays on their next possession, capping the drive on a KENNETH DAVIS one-yard touchdown run. Houston 35, Buffalo 10.

Bills kicker STEVE CHRISTIE then recovered his own onside kick after it hit an Oiler. Four plays later, Bills quarterback FRANK REICH, starting for an injured JIM KELLY, connected with DON BEEBE on a 38-yard touchdown. Houston 35, Buffalo 17.

The Bills’ defense produced a three-and-out on the ensuing Houston possession and Buffalo took over on its own 41-yard line. Five plays later, Reich hit ANDRE REED for a 26-yard touchdown. Houston 35, Buffalo 24.

Two plays into the Oilers’ next drive, Bills safety HENRY JONES intercepted a deflected Moon pass and returned it 15 yards to the Houston 23-yard line. The Bills gained five yards on three plays and faced a fourth-and-five. Time out, Buffalo. Reich convinced Levy to go for it on fourth down. He then saw Reed break away from the safety and hit him on the goal line for 18 yards and a touchdown. Houston 35, Buffalo 31.

"It was like time was standing still," said Houston wide receiver ERNEST GIVINS, "like they were scoring every 15, 20 seconds."

In a span of six minutes and 52 seconds, the Bills had cut their deficit from 32 to four points.

After the teams traded punts, Moon led the Oilers on a 76-yard drive early in the fourth quarter over seven-and-a-half minutes. Houston then caught a break. A Buffalo interception was wiped out by a penalty called on the Bills’ for a late-hit foul against Moon.

The Oilers reached the Buffalo 14-yard line and set up for a field goal. It was then that the Bills received some help from above. "Exactly then," said Oilers holder GREG MONTGOMERY, "it started raining. I mean, exactly then."

Montgomery fumbled the snap and kicker AL DEL GRECO recovered. But the Oilers had turned the ball over on downs.

Buffalo then drove 74 yards in seven plays into the wind, taking the lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Reich to Reed – the duo’s third scoring connection in little more than 16 minutes. Buffalo 38, Houston 35.

Moon then led Houston 63 yards in 12 plays, setting up the game-tying 26-yard Del Greco field goal with 12 seconds remaining.

The game went to overtime and the Oilers won the coin flip. But it was not Houston’s day. After two completions for seven yards, Moon faced a third-and three from the Houston 27.

"We were trying to bait Moon," said Bills safety NATE ODOMES, who intercepted Moon at the 37 and returned it to the 35. The Bills gained 15 more yards on a penalty when Odomes was grabbed by his facemask.

After two Davis rushes for six yards, Christie kicked a 32-yard field goal 3:06 into overtime. Buffalo 41, Houston 38.

"This was my first playoff game," said Christie. "To be able to win a game like this……a kicker just dreams about it."

• In 1984, Bills quarterback FRANK REICH, then at the University of Maryland, led the Terrapins to a 42-40 win over Miami after they trailed the defending national champion Hurricanes 31-0 with 12:35 remaining in the third quarter. The 31-point comeback tied for the largest in NCAA Division I-A history.

• The Oilers defeated Buffalo 27-3 in the regular-season finale and had thus had outscored the Bills 62-6 in a span of six quarters and two minutes.

• Bills wide receiver ANDRE REED’s three second-half scoring catches matched his three touchdowns over the entire 1992 season.

• After Reich was intercepted for a touchdown with 13:15 left in the third quarter, he passed for 218 yards and four touchdowns – matching exactly Moon’s first-half showing.