10 worst plays in NFL history
By John Buhler
3. Griff Whalen’s fake punt attempt
The NFL should have levied a two-game suspension for Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano for this horrid, monstrosity of a special teams play call a year ago against the New England Patriots. What moon of Saturn would this play call have worked on? This was pure trash.
Down 27-21 at home against the rival Patriots, Pagano decided it was the right time to execute the worst play call in NFL history. It was fourth-and-three from the Indianapolis 37-yard line with 1:14 left in the third quarter.
Rather than have reliable punter Pat McAfee boot the ball deep into Patriots territory, Pagano had the Colts go into a I-can’t-believe-this-is-legal formation. Nine of the Colts’ 11 special teamers on the field would run to the Colts’ side of field, leaving Griff Whalen to snap the ball to Colt Anderson.
The Patriots would leave three players to rush Anderson and put eight to the Colts’ overloaded side and New England would sack Anderson effortlessly. Indianapolis would fail to reach the AFC Playoffs at 8-8. New England would reach the AFC Championship. There may never be a worse play call in NFL history that could top this on-field debacle.