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) /

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Joe Pisarcik #9 of the New York Giants watches from the sideline against the Dallas Cowboys at Giants Stadium on November 6, 1977 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cowboys defeated the Giants 24-10. (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images) /

25. The Miracle at the Meadowlands

The game was over. The Eagles had used all of their timeouts, head coach Dick Vermeil was ready to be done with the game, and several fans began to leave the stadium because it didn’t seem like there was any way for the Eagles to win.

Instead, Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik fumbled the handoff exchange to Larry Csonka of all people. Eagles defensive back Herm Edwards scooped up the fumble and ran it 26 yards into the end zone to give the Eagles the 19-17 lead.

Now, many people will say “Why didn’t Pisarcik just take a knee?” This was before the knee was commonplace in the NFL. The rule allowing quarterbacks to take a knee didn’t go into effect until the 1987 season. Instead, Pisarcik took the snap and simply fell to the ground.

The Giants wanted to avoid any risk of injury for their quarterback, though, which is why they decided to hand the ball off. It just so happened that the exchange wasn’t clean, and the Eagles took full advantage of it. This is a play that can be pointed to in terms of why the knee came into existence not long after. The good news for the Giants is that this type of thing could only happen once, right?

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