10 worst plays in NFL history
By John Buhler
2. The Butt Fumble
It was Thanksgiving 2012 and quarterback Mark Sanchez was starting to fall out of favor with the New York Jets. New York was 4-5 on the year after reaching the AFC Championship two years before. The Rex Ryan defense had lost its luster and Sanchez was revealed as a bad franchise quarterback.
Against the New England Patriots at home on Thanksgiving Day, the world got to see something that became known as the Butt Fumble. The Jets lined up in I formation for what was supposed to be a fullback handoff to Lex Hilliard. The play call was designed to catch New England off guard by Sanchez handing the ball off to Hilliard instead of running back Shonn Greene.
Sanchez would execute this play horribly. He took the snap and turned the wrong direction, thinking that Hilliard would be there; he was not. To try and salvage something on this botched play, Sanchez tried to scramble back to the line of scrimmage to slide to stop the play.
While he was attempting to slide, Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork shoved Jets guard Brandon Moore right into the sliding Sanchez. Moore’s behind forced Sanchez to fumble the football. Patriots safety Steven Gregory would pick up the loose ball and take it back for a 32-yard fumble recovery touchdown.
New England would take a 21-0 lead over the Jets on the PAT and would win 49-19 in this Thanksgiving Day laugher. The play would go viral on the internet. Sanchez destroyed his quarterback reputation with this one play. He will be forever associated with the Butt Fumble.