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Ram Fan Teacher
This seems to be the definition used:
What is a fourth quarter comeback (4QC) and what is a game-winning drive (GWD)?
A fourth quarter comeback is when the team is down 1-8 points in the fourth quarter or overtime, scores on offense, and ultimately wins the game. You can't earn one by running an interception back for the winning score.
A recent example of this is the Ravens' victory over Cleveland last Sunday. Trailing by one point, the Ravens offense took the field in the final two minutes. Flacco delivered a strike to Steve Smith for a gain of 32 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.
Game-winning Drives are a slightly different animal even though most 4QCs are also GWDs. GWDs are when the offense takes the field in the fourth quarter/OT, tied or down 1-8 points, and delivers the points that put the team ahead for good.Stats 101 article
Since it's not an official stat, that definition---which is common, and easy to find (ie. I've read it before) -- of course has no official standing.
And I disagree with it.
If you score early enough in the 4th that the other team has time for three entire series, then the defense won the game.
The reasoning that persuaded me and that I use myself is that time constraints have to factor in. That's what makes a 4th q comeback unique--when the offense has to act as if it is unlikely they will get the ball back. Early in the 4th quarter, you can play on offense the same as you would in the middle of the 3rd---you have time. Everything we value in a 4th quarter comeback has to do with operating within much more restricted time constraints. Otherwise it's just taking the lead.
Like I said since Tenn had the ball 3 times before the end of the game, it's really both that the defense won the game AND that Tenn was the team in a comeback situation, and failed.
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