Fansided

Every NFL team’s most devastating loss of all time

ByJarrett Bailey|
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after taking a sack in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions during the NFC Wildcard Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium on January 4, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after taking a sack in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions during the NFC Wildcard Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium on January 4, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers takes a break during the Steelers 13-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff Game on December 23, 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This game will always be remembered for Franco Harris’ game winning touchdown play known as the “Immaculate Reception.” (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images)
Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers takes a break during the Steelers 13-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff Game on December 23, 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This game will always be remembered for Franco Harris’ game winning touchdown play known as the “Immaculate Reception.” (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders: 1972 Divisional Round vs Pittsburgh Steelers

If you ask Raiders fans, they’ll tell you the NFL has always been out to get them. Al Davis felt that way, to an extent, as well. In many ways, those theories were born on December 23, 1972 after the Steelers beat the Raiders in one of the most controversial games in history.

The Steelers were leading 6-0 late in the fourth quarter before Ken Stabler scrambled for a long touchdown with little time remaining in the fourth quarter. The Steelers got the ball back with time for one possession. Down to their last hope, Terry Bradshaw launched a pass to running back Frenchy Fuqua.

The pass either hit off Fuqua or hit the upper body or helmet of Raiders safety Jack Tatum, as it bounced through the air before Franco Harris caught the pass in stride and ran it in for a touchdown.

If the ball bounced off Fuqua, the play would be ruled dead because of a rule that two players couldn’t touch the ball after a forward pass was thrown. The play was upheld and Pittsburgh defeated the Raiders on “The Immaculate Reception,” something Raiders fans still contest the play to this day.

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