Each NFL team's greatest play of all-time and why

The NFL is unique in how it's played. Football is broken down into plays, as between big moments, there is a break until the next one. Each play has its own life. There is just a heartbeat to each and every snap that leads to something. Whether it's a stressful moment that leads to nothing, like an incomplete pass or a run into a heavy line, or the biggest play of the game where a 60-yard pass goes for a touchdown.

The 2024 NFL season is incredibly young, but there are already amazing plays that will have a long shelf life. Kirk Cousins driving the Atlanta Falcons down the field on Monday Night Football to beat the Eagles with a touchdown pass to Drake London was incredibly fun. Marvin Harrison Jr. had a few great plays in his Week 2 performance against the Rams after many were questioning if he was overrated. Isaiah Likely's foot on the line in Week 1 in a loss to the Chiefs feels like it will have long-term ramifications.

However, none of these plays have a lasting memory. They are interesting right now, but they will fade with time. The plays on this list will last forever. People will remember where they were when they first saw this. From game-winning touchdowns to game-sealing interceptions, each team has a very interesting play that they call "the greatest."

Arizona Cardinals - Hail Murray
November 15, 2020

The Arizona Cardinals don’t have the greatest history. For most of its existence, they’ve been a laughing stock in the league. They have been known for terrible quarterback play and even worse luck. There are a few moments here and there, and they did see Kurt Warner lead them to the Super Bowl. Larry Fitzgerald had a 64-yard touchdown to give the Cardinals the lead late, but it was ultimately a disappointment as the Cardinals lost to the Steelers on a play that could be on this list (Santonio Holmes touchdown catch). 

We wanted to go more positive, so we went with the “Hail Murray” play. This was one of the great Hail Mary plays of all time. Murray broke away from coverage, found some space near the sideline, and he delivered a bullet, 43 yards down the field, and into a crowd. There were three Buffalo Bills in the area, but the one Cardinals receiver is all that mattered.

DeAndre Hopkins is a physical freak. He’s the best example of “built different” in all of sports. There’s just something about his body composition that makes him unique at the position, and that comes out tenfold on Hail Mary plays. Hopkins just reached over Tre’Davious White and two other Bills defenders to pull in the improbable touchdown.

The play was accentuated by the fact the Cardinals were down 23-9 in the third quarter. They kept themselves in the game, and they had a chance to win. With 11 seconds left in the game, Murray’s scramble while down four took up most of the remaining time. So, this was it. Either this throw won them the game, or the Cardinals would fall short. Thanks to Hopkins, it finds itself on this list.

Atlanta Falcons - The Kick
January 17, 1999

There are a lot of very interesting plays in Atlanta Falcons history. However, with no Super Bowl wins in franchise history, there’s no actual play that led to the promised land, but there are a few that got them close. Truly, if “28-3” didn’t exist, this play would undoubtedly be Julio Jones’ catch. It was one of the greatest catches in the history of the Super Bowl, but it only brings up bad memories for Falcons fans. 

However, one memory that’s exclusively good is “The Kick.” In January of 1999, Atlanta was facing the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings. It was a one-loss Vikings team taking on a two-loss Atlanta team. It was truly a matchup of NFC titans. Even if they were unexpected titans.

Gary Anderson hadn’t missed a field goal all season, but he missed a crucial kick for the Vikings in this game to give the Falcons a chance to tie the game, which they did. In overtime, Morten Anderson had a chance to win the game after the Falcons drove to their opponent’s 21-yard line.

The Vikings played the kick incredibly well. They had hands everywhere, but Anderson was able to find the one space where the kick wouldn’t be blocked, and the Falcons were on their way to the Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens - Mile High Miracle
January 12, 2013

Everything about the Baltimore Ravens run to their second Super Bowl championship was improbable. It was this run that has Joe Flacco still in the league today. It was insane just how good Flacco was for a month, leading to a Super Bowl championship. However, none of it happens without one play dubbed “The Mile High Miracle.” 

In the Divisional Round, the Ravens were down to the number-one-seeded Broncos after a Peyton Manning touchdown pass to the late Demaryius Thomas. On the ensuing Ravens drive, the brought it to the Broncos' 31-yard line, but they turned the ball over on downs with about three minutes left in the game. The Ravens needed a miracle.

The Ravens' defense was able to hold the Broncos off and force a punt. That left the Ravens on their own 23-yard line with 1:09 left in the game. Again, it would take a miracle for the Ravens to survive. In comes Jacoby Jones. 

The Broncos were heavy in the secondary, but it took literally three players to make mistakes to give Jones an opening. Tony Carter failed to jam him at the line of scrimmage, Rahim Moore took a bad angle to cover for Carter’s mistake, and Jim Leonhard tried to deflect the pass and missed. Jones caught the ball on his own 20-yard line and walked into the endzone, tying the game at 35. The Ravens needed two overtime periods, but Justin Tucker eventually kicked a field goal to win the game.

Buffalo Bills - “The Comeback”
January 3, 1993

Giving up 21 points in one quarter is incredibly rare. For it to happen in a playoff game is close to impossible, but that’s what the Buffalo Bills did in the second quarter of their Wild Card game against the Houston Oilers. Jim Kelly was out, and Frank Reich looked lost. However, Marv Levy must have given the greatest halftime speech of all time. The offense came out blazing, and they scored 28 points in the third quarter. 

That brought the game close, and it was all thanks to Reich and Andre Reed. Reed caught three consecutive touchdown passes, and we’re going to count the third one as the “play of the franchise.”

After bringing the game to 35-31, Buffalo got the ball again and drove down the field. A huge run on third down set the Bills up, eventually setting the play on the 17-yard line. There, Reed found an opening, and Reich seemed the ball inbetween two defenders to hit him for a touchdown. 

The Oilers did tie the game with a field goal, but the Bills won in overtime and eventually went to their third Super Bowl appearance in a row. 

Carolina Panthers - Muhsin Muhamad Super Bowl touchdown
February 1, 2004

The longest touchdown pass in the history of the Super Bowl was likely going to make the list. The fact that it came from a team with a history (and frankly, a present) like the Carolina Panthers was a no-brainer. While there have been some lean years with the Panthers, they do have these pockets of success, and the team’s run in 2003-04 was great. 

Super Bowl XXXVIII is underrated for just how great it was. After a scoreless third quarter, the Panthers and Patriots scored 37 points in the fourth quarter. The Patriots started the quarter with a rushing touchdown that put them up by 11. The Falcons came right back wit ha DeShaun Foster 33-yard touchdown run. 

On the next Patriots possession, the Panthers intercepted Tom Brady in the endzone. Honestly, that could have been a top play just because of the moment and impact, but we went for what happened on the next drive. On the second play from the 15-yard line, Jake Delhomme took three steps to wind up and launched a ball 50 yards in the air to an open Muhsin Muhammad.

Muhammad beat the cornerback, who tried to make up the distance, but a perfect stiff arm gave Muhammad enough space to run into the endzone. It is still the longest pass play in Super Bowl history, and it gave them their first and only Super Bowl lead in franchise history. 

Chicago Bears - Devin Hester Interception Return in Super Bowl
February 4, 2007

This one is probably controversial since this wasn’t a Super Bowl that the Chicago Bears won, but we’re looking at a few different factors here. Yes, how the fans remember the play impacts its ranking, but we also have to look at the play itself and just how impressive it was. Devin Hester’s kickoff return to start Super Bowl XLI made everyone’s jaw drop. 

The Bears went into the game as pretty heavy underdogs, with the betting spread coming in at Colts -7. With Rex Grossman as the QB, the Bears had to find other ways to win the game. Devin Hester might have been the greatest weapon in the NFL at the time, and he showed why right off the bat. 

Hester looked like he was going to get stopped at the 15-yard line, but he beat the kickoff team with a small seam, and he was off to the races. The Colts did everything they could to catch him, and Matt Giordano came very close, tripping him up inside the five-yard line, but the greatest returner of all time fell forward into the endzone.

This play is likely why Hester is in the Hall of Fame. One play a Hall of Famer does not make, but without this play on the biggest stage possible, Hester probably doesn’t have enough to make it. He also did this in Miami, where Hester made his name at the University of Miami. There was so many details about this play that made it the best in Bears history.

Cincinnati Bengals - Vonn Bell's Interception
January 30, 2022

For a team with such a gloomy past, the Bengals sure have a lot of fun plays in its past. Anthony Munoz (an offensive lineman) once caught a pass to eventually beat the Cleveland Browns. Stanford Jennings had a kickoff return for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow have already put together memorable plays early in their careers, and we expect many more. While this play was from the most recent era of Bengals football, the defense was actually behind it. 

The Bengals were in overtime against the superstar Kansas City Chiefs. If Patrick Mahomes drives his team down the field and scores, the Bengals’ season is over. Instead, the defense came up huge. On second down, Mahomes got away with one that could have been intercepted. On third down, he was not as lucky.

Mahomes threw the ball up to Tyreek Hill, who tried to go up to catch the pass. Vonn Bell went up to try and deflect the pass, but Mahomes put it in the one place where Hill could get it and Bell couldn’t touch it. It looked perfect. However, Jessie Bates III tipped the ball right back to Bell, who caught the interception and went the other way.

The Bengals moved the ball down the field and eventually kicked a 31-yard field goal to win the game. If Bell doesn’t intercept the pass, the Chiefs would punt, but that likely puts the Bengals in worse field position, and who knows what happens next. We might be talking about a possible four-peat for the Chiefs this season.

Cleveland Browns - Jim Brown catch and run vs. Bears
December 10, 1961

Jim Brown is often considered the greatest player in the history of the sport. He was impossible to stop. The Cleveland Browns have a long and stories history, but there’s nothing that compares to what Jim Brown brought to Cleveland. Ironically, the one play that embodies what he brought to the table was actually a reception.

Against the Chicago Bears and backed up around their own 20-yard line, quarterback Milt Plum was on the run with nowhere to go, and he just tossed the ball to Brown as an outlet. He was literally covered. That didn’t matter. Brown immediately made a man miss, and he was off to the races. He broke four tackles right up on the sideline, avoided stepping out of bounds, and raced to a touchdown.

This is why it’s considered one of the best plays in Browns history and one of the best plays in NFL history. Brown deserves praise for everything he did on the football field. He was a marvel for a sport that hadn’t yet established itself as “must-see” like baseball. However, players like Brown put people in the seats, and it was plays like this that solidified his spot as the best in the sport. 

Dallas Cowboys - First Hail Mary
December 28, 1975

The Dallas Cowboys are among the most popular sports franchises in the world, along with the New York Yankees, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Lakers, and Manchester United. In fact, just about every list has the Cowboys as the most valuable franchise, with a recent Forbes list valuing them at $9 billion. That valuation comes from a history of winning, despite recent success being much less fruitful. 

With that said, it’s not a surprise that the Cowboys are home to many of the league’s “firsts,” but one first that is unequivocally the best play in team history is the first ever Hail Mary. Roger Staubach and his Cowboys were down to the Vikings 14-10. With 32 seconds left in the game, Staubach walked back to his own 40-yard line and launched the ball 50 yards in the air to Drew Pearson.

Pearson stopped mid-route, came back to catch the ball while shedding the defender, and he walked into the end zone to give the Cowboys the lead and eventually the win. 

There is a history before this 1975 pass that might showcase “Hail Mary” as a term in college football, but the reason it’s mentioned basically every week of the NFL season today is because of Staubach’s pass to Pearson. 

Denver Broncos - John Elway “Helicopter Run”
January 25, 1998

The Denver Broncos have three Super Bowl championships and eight Super Bowl appearances. On the way, there are dozens of amazing plays, especially since they’ve had two of the top-five quarterbacks to ever play the game (John Elway and Peyton Manning) suit up for Denver in their careers. Elway only ever wore Broncos orange, but there was a time when it seemed like he would never live up to his original hype. 

Then, late in his career, Elway delivered. In fact, he delivered back-to-back Super Bowls for the Broncos. However, going into Super Bowl XXXII, it seemed like it was another moment of pain for Broncos fans. The Green Bay Packers were the top team in the league, and they were looking to win their own back-to-back. With the game tied in the third quarter, Elway found his Broncos in the red zone.

It was third down, and Reggie White was barrelling in on Elway trying to get past the offensive tackle. Elway knew he needed six yards to move the sticks, and nobody was open. He stepped up in the pocket and started running to his right. He was about to get tackled right at the sticks, but Elway wanted to leave no doubt. So, he dove, and what came next became Elway’s legacy. 

Elway walked away with his and the Broncos’ first Super Bowl. If he doesn’t dive, the Broncos kick a field goal, the entire game script could change, and we might have seen a Packers dynasty under Brett Favre. While Terrell Davis won MVP in that game, this play was what we remember.

Detroit Lions - Barry Sanders vs. Cowboys in playoffs
January 5, 1992

Barry Sanders might be the most explosive player in the history of the NFL, and he was stuck on a Detroit Lions team that either couldn’t build around him or just refused to spend the money necessary to make him a winner. However, in 1991, Sanders finally got to showcase his skills in the playoffs. In the Divisional Round against the Cowboys, there was one game plan: stop Barry Sanders. 

They did everything they could, but in one play, Sanders showed that he could score at any given moment. Nothing was stopping him on this 47-yard play. This run had everything. He ran over a defender, made one move that caused three Cowboys to pile into each other, and he juked someone out of their shoes in the secondary. 

That would be Sanders one and only touchdown in the playoffs. He finished his career with just six playoff games, and this was his only playoff win. The rest of the NFL made sure Sanders couldn’t beat them in the playoffs, and the Lions couldn’t help him do anything else. That next postseason in 1994, Sanders had 169 yards against the Packers, but the defense gave up 28 points in a loss. 

The rest of his career had a lot of that, Sanders trying to lift the whole team. He did it with runs like this one against the Cowboys. At least this one came in a Lions win.

Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary vs. Cardinals
January 16, 2016

We spoke earlier about the “first” Hail Mary, but this might be the best Hail Mary ever, and it’s fitting it is coming from the one quarterback who has actually turned the Hail Mary into an art. Aaron Rodgers can throw a deep pass with the rest of them, but he has just found some sort of perfection when he needs a bomb in a desperate situation. There was nothing like this pass in a game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If Rodgers doesn’t connect on that pass, the Packers season is over. The pressure was on, which is rare for a Hail Mary. Teams usually prioritize help in the secondary to bat away passes, but the Cardinals rushed six and hoped their corners could stop the Packers receivers. It was a bad strategy with Rodgers, who got away from trouble and literally heaved a pass down the field. 

Jeff Janis went up and caught the ball. The game was tied and we were heading to overtime. The throw would be considered impossible if we didn’t see it with our very eyes. It’s unfortunately the result of the game wasn’t better, as Larry Fitzgerald won the game in OT, but this play is undeniable. 

The Packers have legitimately hundreds of amazing plays in history. They are the original dynasty. They employed Brett Favre for almost two decades, who was a heart attack in a bottle. Rodgers has won four MVPs, but this is and will always be his best throw.

Houston Texans - Corey Bradford TD
September 8, 2002

The Houston Texans seem like they are set up to win for a long time. CJ Stroud at quarterback and DeMeco Ryans at head coach appears to be a lethal combination. Everything is coming up flowers in Houston after some really down years. However, we haven’t seen a significant play that deserves to be on this list with this version of the Texans. Maybe one day, but we still haven’t seen anything like we saw on Day 1.

The Texans' greatest win is still their first-ever game. Houston’s return to the NFL started on Sunday Night Football against the vaulted Dallas Cowboys. The Texans were expected to be bad, but for one night, they took out the biggest franchise in the NFL. It all came thanks to a touchdown connection between David Carr and Cory Bradford.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Carr threw the ball up, and Corey Bradford twisted his body to contort himself and catch the ball. He scored a 65-yard touchdown to give the Texans the lead for good. The Texans eventually won the game 19-10 after a sack and safety on Quincey Carter sealed it. It’s been more than 20 years, and there have been a lot of memories for new Texans fans, but there’s nothing like that first memory.

Indianapolis Colts - John Mackey Tipped Catch
January 17, 1971

When a franchise has some of the greats at the quarterback position, one expects those players to represent the team when it comes to the greatest play of all time, but the Indianapolis Colts are a little different. Yes, Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas, and even Andrew Luck had a litany of amazing plays, but it was actually Unitas's mistake that led to the best play of all time. In Super Bowl V, the Colts were trying to come back against the Dallas Cowboys, and Unitas sent a pass into traffic. It went off the hands of a Dallas defender and right into the hands of John Mackey. 

Mackey caught the ball at the 50-yard line and raced to the endzone. Nobody was able to catch him, and the future Hall of Famer was able to race for a 75-yard touchdown. What made it more impressive is the ball came off the hands of Mel Renfro, another future Hall of Famer.

We don’t want to disparage the Marlin Jackson interception that ended their demons against the Patriots or the Alan Ameche run that ended the “Greatest Game Ever Played” in the 1958 NFL Championship, but those plays aren’t actually that impressive. Ameche had a whole any NFL writer could make it through to score, and Jackson took advantage of the rare Tom Brady mistake. 

Meanwhile, Mackey put himself in a great spot and showed why he was one of the great tight ends of all time. He was able to use his Football IQ, along with surprising speed, to score a key touchdown in the second quarter. 

Jacksonville Jaguars - Brunell to Smith
January 4, 1997

We’ve heard “Mark Brunell hits Jimmy Smith for a touchdown” so many times. Smith doesn’t get his fair due in today’s NFL. We hear about the greats of the late 90s and early 2000s when people describe Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Isaac Bruce, and even non-Hall of Famers like Torry Holt and Steve Smith, but Jimmy Smith was truly one of the best of his era. So, it only makes sense that the best Jaguars play of all time involves him and their best 

quarterback, Mark Brunell. 

Going back to the very early days of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the expectations were pretty low going into the playoffs. The Denver Broncos had all the stars, and the Jaguars didn’t know what playoff football was like. Not only that, but the Jaguars were going from the Sunshine State to Mile High Stadium in early January. The signs were pointing to a Broncos win by a lot. 

The Broncos were the top seed after all. However, the Jaguars had moxy, and that’s why they called the play from the 20-yard line on 3rd and 5. Brunell took a one-step drop and just threw up a perfect teardrop pass to Smith near the sideline. Smith, of course, caught the pass and sealed the Jaguars victory.

At the time it was the biggest upset since 1969. The Broncos were supposed to smoke the Jaguars, and remember this was a time before a John Elway Super Bowl, so this was another chapter in his failures. But truly, this was just the perfect pass and the perfect play.

Kansas City Chiefs - Mecole Hardman Overtime Touchdown
February 11, 2024

We could literally make a list of Patrick Mahomes 30 greatest throws of his career. This is a man with three Super Bowl Championships, three Super Bowl MVPs, and two regular season MVPs. He’s gone head to head with the best of the best and won more often than not. He has a 50-touchdown season and more than 220 career touchdowns. This is Superman in the flesh. He’s thrown passes with both hands, thrown it behind his back, and has become a master of the no-look pass. Yet, it was this pretty innocuous pass that is the best play in Chiefs history. 

That’s because it won a Super Bowl. With the Chiefs down 22-19 in overtime, he started the drive on the 25-yard line, and he orchestrated a methodical set of plays that led to this moment. The drive included a Mahomes run for a first down on 4th and 1, a perfect slant to Rashee Rice, and another big run to get them in the redzone. 

However, it was just a perfect rout on 1st and goal that sealed the game for the Chiefs. Mecole Hardman, who started the season on the New York Jets, ran an in-and-out that completely fooled who was covering him. Mahomes found him wide open near the sideline, and he waltzed into the end zone. 

This ended the game for the 49ers as time ticked down (although most said the clock didn’t necessarily matter), and the Chiefs were back-to-back Super Bowl champs.

Las Vegas Raiders - Sea of Hands
December 21, 1974

The Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders have their own storied history that includes some of the most pivotal players in league history. Those early Raiders teams showcased the importance of flash and grit to the game in the 60s and 70s. Those mid-70s teams were especially important to the growth of the game. However, it might not be as important if it wasn’t for one play in a Division Round game against the Miami Dolphins. 

Many considered this the true Super Bowl, as these two teams were widely regarded as the two best in the sport in 1974. The game did not disappoint. After a back-and-forth battle, the Dolphins were up by five with just over two minutes left to play. It was time for the two-minute drive, one of the most exciting set of moments in sports. 

The Raiders drove down the field, but Ken Stabler was eventually stuck at his own eight-yard line. He was trying to force the ball to Fred Biletnikoff, but he was literally being brought down in the end zone. So, Stabler just threw the ball up to Clarence Davis. There were three Dolphins covering him, but Davis came down with it despite the “Sea of Hands” around him. 

Davis even took a late hit from Manny Fernandez and held onto the ball. The Raiders took the lead with 21 seconds left, and they eventually won it. Ironically, the Raiders did not win the Super Bowl, but the play showcased the greatness of football (and they would eventually win Super Bowl XI). 

Los Angeles Chargers - Longest Touchdown Possible
November 4, 2007

There are a few NFL records that will never be broken. Flipper Anderson’s 336 yards receiving in a game comes to mind. LaDainian Tomlinson’s 31 touchdowns in a season and Emmitt Smith’s 18,000 career rushing yards seem untouchable with the state of rushing in the NFL. Brett Favre’s consecutive games streak seems safe even with new rules protecting quarterbacks. However, those could conceivably be beaten no matter how unlikely. Antonio Cromartie’s record field goal miss return would need to add extra space on the football field to break.

Cromartie was known for trying long returns, but this one obviously takes the cake. He went back to the endzone before the end of the half against the Minnesota Vikings as they attempted a really long field goal. It was short, and Cromartie reached up and almost fell backwards out of bounds. He was less than a foot from the end line, but he returned the ball anyway. 

What did he have to lose? The half was going to be over anyway, so why not see what could happen? Well…

Here’s the thing about field goals: most of the players on the field are offensive linemen. There really isn’t any skill player there, and two other players are the kicker and the holder. So, Cromartie ran the ball through everyone and put another seven on the board for the Chargers. It was typical, as this was back when the Chargers were one of the most exciting teams in the league.

Los Angeles Rams - The Tackle
January 30, 2000

One knows a play is especially painful when it has two different names for the two teams involved. For (then) St. Louis Rams fans, the play is called “The Tackle.” For Tennessee Titans fans, it’s “One Yard Short.” The result is the same. With the Titans down seven points and the clock about to hit zero in Super Bowl XXXIV, Steve McNair was able to hit Kevin Dyson crossing and charging toward to the end zone. 

However, as the play names suggest, he was tackled one yard short. Mike Jones made the biggest play of his career. Instead of being a footnote to the failure that is the “Greatest Show on Turf,” Jones secured the victory for Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and the rest of this insane Rams offense. This team has had amazing offensive players in its history, but it was one defensive play at the exact time they needed it that sealed it.

Tackles have an underrated impact on the game. It’s strange to think about since plays end in one of three ways: out of bounds, a score, or a tackle. Yet this is one of the few tackles on this list.

This is by far the most impactful non-turnover-causing tackle in league history. If Jones misses the tackle, the Titans have a chance to tie the Super Bowl with no time left and just an extra point. Instead, the Rams are known as one of the great teams of the early 2000s, and the Titans are still looking for that elusive first Super Bowl.

Miami Dolphins - The Hook and Lateral
January 2, 1982

The hook and ladder is one of the most famous trick plays in the NFL. It’s basically the pass version of a reverse, trying to pull a defense in one direction so the eventual ball carrier can go the other way. A receiver catches the ball and then immediately tosses it to another player running in the opposite direction. Likely the greatest example of this is the “hook and lateral” play the 1982 Miami Dolphins executed. 

With six seconds left and the ball on the Chargers 40, Miami quarterback Don Strock hit Duriel Harris with the ball, but he was surrounded. So, he saw a streaking Tony Nathan to his right and just tossed the ball his way. Nathan darted up the field with the defenders trying to adjust to a new angle, but it was too late and he ran into the end zone.

Nathan knew it was a touchdown the second the ball hit his hands. He ran another 20 yards with the ball raised over his head in jubilation. No Chargers defender was able to catch him, and Miami was back in a game they were down 24-0 at one point. 

The play would be a pivotal one in a game the Dolphins seemed cooked, but they made it the “Epic in Miami.” The announcers couldn’t help themselves, screaming “that’s a Hall of Fame play. That deserves to be in Canton!” We don’t disagree.

Minnesota Vikings - Minneapolis Miracle
January 14, 2018

The Minneapolis Miracle is why fans should never leave a game until the final whistle. Imagine grandfathers telling their little ones “I was there” knowing they were there, but they left to beat the traffic and missed the greatest play in Minnesota Vikings history. The New Orleans Saints just needed to avoid disaster, and they were back on their way to the NFC Championship Game again. They had already come back from 17-0 down to take the lead with under a minute left in the game. Momentum was on their side.

Here’s the thing about momentum: it takes one play to reverse it. With 10 seconds left in regulation and no timeouts on 3rd and 10, Case Keenum launched the ball 27 yards down the field to a roughly open Stefon Diggs. He made a leaping catch and many would expect him to quickly run out of bounds to preserve the clock, but the intelligent play by Diggs to understand that Marcus Williams was all that was between him and paydirt led to this epic play.

Williams tried to go low on Diggs, but he was able to land on his feet, regain his balance, avoid the sideline, and then he was off. It was all green until the grass turned the best shade of purple (at least for Vikings fans). 

This play had everything. A perfect throw, an amazing catch, a dynasty ending before our eyes, a player becoming a star immediately, utter disappointment for one side and utter elation for the other. 

New England Patriots - Malcolm Butler Intercepts Russell Wilson
February 1, 2015

If it wasn’t for this play, the New England Patriots would have the most plays that could be number one. They literally have three plays that ended the Super Bowl with a win, and none of them was this. There was the “Snow Kick” that kickstarted the first Patriots dynasty (or one could even mention the Tuck Rule). There’s Tom Brady, the player most consider the best in the history of the sport. Brady literally has more game-winning drives (58) than anyone in league history. However, it was a young cornerback who claims the top spot in Patriots franchise history.

And how could he not? Malcolm Butler had the most “ice in his veins” moment in league history. He was so calm and so smart with his movement when Russell Wilson dropped back to pass on his own one-yard line with just seconds to go in a four-point game. The Seahawks had Marshawn Lynch, possibly the best short-yardage back of the era, but they elected to try one pass.

The Patriots were ready for it, and Butler jumped in front of the receiver to steal a Super Bowl from the Seahawks. Wilson would literally be a Hall of Famer if he connected on that pass, but he’s probably not making it now. The Seahawks could be a dynasty. Instead, the Patriots now have six Super Bowl titles to their name. 

Ironically, Butler would be benched in a future Super Bowl, a shootout with the Philadelphia Eagles. His career after this was bizarre, but he made the one play when it mattered most, and he stole a Super Bowl for the Patriots. 

New Orleans Saints - Brett Favre Interception
Jan 24, 2010

This one was so close it hurts. Let’s first talk about the play that didn’t make it. Steve Gleason’s blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons lifted a broken city. The New Orleans Saints were still considered an NFL laughing stock at this point. The City of New Orleans was ravished by Hurricane Katrina, leaving thousands with nowhere to call home and a city not knowing if or when the Saints could return. In their first game back in the Superdome, Steve Gleason blocked a punt by the rival Falcons that eventually led to a touchdown, and it was the official New Orleans kickoff for Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

But the ultimate goal is to finally bring the Lombardi Trophy back to New Orleans, and there is one play that led to that. The Saints were locked in a back-and-forth battle with the Minnesota Vikings, now led by superstar Brett Favre who was enjoying a career resurgence. However, he’s still a gunslinger, and the worst of him came out at the worst time. 

After trading four touchdowns a piece, the Vikings had the ball last, and that seemed like it was going to win them the game. With 19 seconds left and facing 3rd and 15, Favre was looking to make a play. Here’s the thing, he didn’t have to. The Vikings were already in field goal range, and the Saints were out of timeouts. The game would essentially end with an incompletion and a successful field goal. 

Instead Favre threw the ball across the field and right into the hands of Tracy Porter. The play forced the game into overtime, and the Saints eventually won. That led to a victory in the Super Bowl over Peyton Manning, who also threw a crucial interception that Porter returned for a touchdown.

New York Giants - Helmet Catch
February 3, 2008

The stakes could not be higher. The opponent could not be better. Eli Manning could not put the ball anywhere else. David Tyree couldn’t just catch the ball with his hands. The New York Giants have a Super Bowl Championship thanks to the helmet of Tyree. 

The play is truly insane. Eli Manning should have been tackled multiple times. He was literally wrapped up by Jarvis Green. He stood tall and took a big hit from Tedy Bruschi. Tyree was covered by Rodney Harrison, one of the best to break up passes in league history. Oh, and the Patriots had never lost and they were up by four points with about a minute left. The hand strength it took for Tyree to keep this ball connected to his helmet is truly insane.

The Giants kept driving and threw a game-winning touchdown to Plaxico Burress, officially ending the Patriots' bid to be the first-ever 19-0 team in league history. 

This is one of the best plays in league history. Many of these plays are considered based on the stakes and what was on the line. Of course that matters here, but this play would be in consideration if it happened in the Giants and Patriots Week 17 matchup. It’s such an improbable catch. You can see it on the face of every Patriots player. They are stunned in disbelief. That's the legacy of the Helmet Catch.

New York Jets - Santonio Holmes TD Beats Patriots
January 16, 2011

The New York Jets have little pockets of success in their history. Everyone knows about the “Guarantee” by Joe Namath before Super Bowl III. He eventually stunned the Colts to win the franchise’s only Super Bowl. We definitely considered Don Maynard’s catch in the previous game that got them there, but it was another catch that is our top play in Jets history.

Those same Jets were experiencing another spout of success under brash head coach Rex Ryan. He was known for making his own guarantees with his boisterous nature, many of which were laughed off. However, one Santonio Holmes catch made the NFL world take his team seriously.

Taking on their rival New England Patriots, the Jets were looking to put a dagger into Brady and Co. With around 13 minutes left in the fourth, Mark Sanchez sends the ball near the sideline in the end zone, and Holmes dives to catch the ball. He is able to get both feet (and a knee) in bounds while holding onto the ball.

This play eventually sends the Jets to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost, but the memory of ending a rival’s season on their home turf lasts a lifetime. It’s all most Jets fans have right now.

Philadelphia Eagles - Philly Special
February 4, 2018

The Patriots again? When a team and quarterback is as good as the Patriots and Tom Brady were, beating them becomes a moment. Beating them with a play like the Philly Special is one of the greatest moments in NFL history. The Eagles were this unlikely underdog, being led by backup quarterback Nick Foles. The Eagles were supposed to be an easy out, but they found magic and made a run to the Super Bowl.

There, the magic didn’t run out. Instead, it hit a fever pitch. Philadelphia exploded for 41 points on the Patriots and one of the great defensive minds in history; Bill Belichick. Still, the one play we remember most is the one where the quarterback caught a touchdown pass. 

Foles caught the ball in shotgun formation but ran to the line yelling “kill kill” to feign that the play was dead and call a timeout. Instead, the ball was snapped to backup running back Corey Clement. He ran left and handed the ball to third-string tight end Trey Burton. He found Foles wide open in the left side of the end zone, and the Eagles went up 22-12. 

It’s just crazy that this play even exists. There were so many good players on this Eagles team, but they had this insane situation in their back pocket that they used near the goal line. And on fourth down no less!

Pittsburgh Steelers - Immaculate Reception
December 23, 1972

How do you choose between possibly the most iconic play in NFL history and one that won the Pittsburgh Steelers the Super Bowl? As great as the Santonio Holmes catch against the Arizona Cardinals is, it’s not literally displayed in the Pittsburgh Airport. Franco Harris has a statue of himself welcoming all passengers to the Steel City, and that tells you about the legacy of this play.

With 22 seconds left in the Steelers Divisional Round game against the Oakland Raiders, Terry Bradshaw threw a pass to running back John Fuqua. The ball bounced off the helmet of legendary safety Jack Tatum, and out of nowhere comes Franco Harris. Again, there was 22 seconds left in the game with the Steelers trailing by one point at the time of the play. 

Harris catches the ball about an inch from the ground, and he ran for the game-winning touchdown. The “Immaculate Reception” was born. 

As crazy as it might be to think of now, this play single-handedly changed the Steelers' fate. Prior to this, it was sort of a futile franchise. This was their first playoff win. While they didn’t win the Super Bowl that year, losing to the undefeated Miami Dolphins, they became the dominant team of the 1970s, building their own dynasty. 

San Francisco 49ers - The Catch
January 10, 1982

There are a lot of great catches in the history of the NFL. In fact, there are roughly 11,000 catches per NFL season. Every week, there are at least 10 absolutely insane ones that we can’t stop talking about. How good could a play be to be named “The Catch?” When Joe Montana hit Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone versus the Dallas Cowboys, it was pretty darn special.

The San Francisco 49ers were driving in the 1981 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park. With 58 seconds left in the game and the 49ers on the Cowboys six yard line, Montana and the offense faced a 3rd and three. One expected him to make an easy pass to play it safe. This was four-down territory. 

Nope. Montana threw a ball that looked completely uncatchable, but Dwight Clark rose up over his defender and brought in the catch, giving the 49ers a one-point victory. That’s how a play called “Change Left Slot – Sprint Right Option” could forever be known as “The Catch.”

The play kickstarted the 49ers' dominance over the NFC, and it ended the Cowboys dynasty in its tracks. One catch flipped everything for this conference, and San Francisco became the home of dominant football. It also became home to two of the greats, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, who grew up watching this dynasty. If it wasn’t for The Catch, both of them might have played baseball or something. It’s crazy how impactful one play could be.

Seattle Seahawks - Beast Quake
January 8, 2011

It was a display of the greatness that is football. That’s the only way to describe the “Beast Quake” run by Marshawn Lynch. The heavily favored New Orleans Saints were taking on a Seattle Seahawks team that didn’t even have a winning record. But they did have Lynch, and that’s all they needed in this matchup.

Up by four points in the fourth quarter, the Saints were trying to end the drive and get the ball back. The Seahawks were 67 yards away from the end zone, so a rush up the middle wasn’t expect to provide this result. It was especially not supposed to end in a touchdown since nine players had a chance to take Lynch down. He broke all nine tackle attempts. 

The play secured an unlikely victory for the Seahawks, and it showed that this isn’t just some team who was lucky to be here. While they didn’t win the Super Bowl this season, it showed that Seattle was on the cusp of something great. Lynch would be the linchpin to what is still the greatest run in Seahawks history. 

It all started with this insane run. Lynch was a player who hadn’t lived up to his pre-draft hype, but in one 67-yard run, he showed the world exactly why he was a first-round pick. Even if he was on a new team, the NFL was immediately introduced to the next great running back. And Beast Mode was born.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Shutting Down the Vet
January 19, 2003

There are a few recent plays in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history that could make this list. In his short time in Tampa, Tom Brady made so many memorable plays, but we’re going back to that original great Tampa Bay Buccaneers team for the best play of all time. 

After years of being the worst-run franchise in football, the Buccaneers found lightning in a bottle in 2002. They spent years building a superstar defense, and they proved that defense wins championships. Before they dominated the Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl, Ronde Barber sent them there, and in doing so, he shut down one of the storied buildings in football. 

It was 20-10 with the Buccaneers looking down a Donovan McNabb touchdown drive. He brought them inside the 10 yard line, but he threw it to the wrong guy. Even before the touchdown, Barber was the player of the game, with three tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and three passes defensed. However, when he jumped in front of a pass to Antonio Freeman and sprinted down the field.

In an instant it felt, Barber was 92 yards the other way and in the end zone. Nobody came close to Barber. 

Tennessee Titans - Music City Miracle
January 8, 2000

It could be nothing else. The Music City Miracle is one of the great plays in all of sports. The lateral play is attempted basically every week in a desperation situation. It was never done as beautifully as it was on January 8, 2000. The Titans were down to the Buffalo Bills at home in the Wild Card round. The Bills just took the lead with 16 seconds left in the game. The kickoff went to tight end Frank Wycheck. He chucked the ball across the field for Kevin Dyson, and he ran up the sideline to score the winning touchdown. 

The story behind the play is as wild as the play itself. Special teams coordinator Alan Lowry had this play in his playbook since learning it when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff 18 years earlier. The Titans practiced this play every single week, but in the simulation, Derrick Mason would start it off. He got hurt in the game, which is why the Titans put Dyson out there. 

Head coach Jeff Fisher had to explain the play moments before Dyson took the field. He had never practiced it. The Bills were forced to play some defensive starters, who were unfamiliar with special teams, because they were also dealing with injuries. This all led to the perfect storm that is the Music City Miracle. 

There was a lengthy review of the play, as they had to make sure the lateral wasn’t forward, but the referees called the play on the field good, and the Titans were moving on.

Washington Commanders - John Riggins Super Bowl Run
January 30, 1983

The Washington Commanders have a complicated legacy in football, but there is one thing that’s undeniable, the team of the 80s was Washington. They had so many great teams in this era, and they were led by running back John Riggins. The stars at every other position could change, but Riggins was leading the pack. 

That’s why it’s fitting that the Washington franchise has his most impactful run to thank for their first Super Bowl victory. With about 10 minutes left in the game, Riggins took a handoff and raced toward the left sideline. He broke a tackle right away and blazed a path ending in the end zone. It was his lone touchdown on the game, but those 43 yards added to his 166-yard total.

That run gave Washington a lead they wouldn’t give up. They would pad the lead with a Joe Theismann pass to Charlie Brown, but it was the Riggins run that put the foot on the throat of the Miami Dolphins. And he did it on fourth and 1. With the entire Miami team trying to stop him at the line of scrimmage, it gave him an opportunity he wasn’t going to relinquish.