Top 30 plays in NFL history

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 30: Running back John Riggins #44 of the Washington Redskins runs 43 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as tight end Clint Didier #86 of the Redskins and defensive back Glenn Blackwood #47 of the Miami Dolphins pursue the play during Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl on January 30, 1983 in Pasadena, California. The Redskins defeated the Dolphins 27-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

28 of 30

Wide receiver Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers leaves a Dallas defender in his dust after making ‘The Catch’ to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the 1981 NFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

3. “The Catch”

The 49ers were a team that was on the rise. The franchise hadn’t had much success up until this point, but Joe Montana and Bill Walsh were about to change that.

On January 10, 1982, the 49ers hosted the NFC Championship Game against the team that would go on to be their biggest rival of the decade- the Dallas Cowboys. The 49ers trailed by six with less than five minutes to play in regulation as they embarked on a drive that would span 14 plays and end with the infamous touchdown reception by Dwight Clark.

As the game wound down, Montana and the 49ers ran “Sprint right option.” Montana rolled right and kept fading further and further back before launching it into the end zone, where Dwight Clark somehow jumped high enough to have the ball meet his fingertips and pull it in for the touchdown.

The 49ers would win the game, and went on to beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl for their first championship in team history. This was the play that started a dynasty in the Bay Area. The 49ers would go on to win an additional three Super Bowls throughout the decade, and this was the spark that ignited the flame.

Home/NFL