Greatest Plays in NFL History
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Glory lasts forever.Where’s John Facenda? The NFL turned 100 in 2019 and could use the "The Voice of God" right about now.
As part of the league’s centennial season, the NFL Network unveiled the 100 greatest NFL plays of all time. The NFL commissioned a blue-ribbon panel of football experts to determine the 100 greatest plays. Then another panel (the same panel that votes for NFL awards and the All-Pro team) ranked them. These hallowed highlights honor the heroes of the game and celebrate a century of pro football.
Facenda died in 1984, but if you listen really closely, somewhere (maybe with the Big Football Fan upstairs), Facenda is waking up the echoes.
See for yourself.
100. Roger Craig Runs Overs Rams With High Knees for a Touchdown
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Date: Oct. 16, 1988
Location: Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California
Final score: San Francisco 49ers 24, St. Louis Rams 21
Bottom line: Forget the bee's knees. In one old-school burst, Roger Craig showed the importance of high-knee drills and created an all-time instructional video for running backs.
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99. Patriots Turn Mark Sanchez 'Butt Fumble' Into Six Points
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Date: Nov. 12, 2012
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Final score: New England Patriots 49, New York Jets 19
Bottom line: Nobody likes to be the butt of jokes. Except the Jets. Some might say it's their organizational mission.
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98. Billy Sims Uses Martial Arts Against the Oilers
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Date: Nov. 13, 1983
Location: Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Final score: Houston Oilers 27, Detroit Lions 17
Bottom line: Ever wonder how Bruce Lee would have played football? Billy Sims provided a glimpse with his "kung fu" kick to Houston Oilers cornerback Steve Brown. Sims only played five seasons in the NFL, but he made the most of them, rushing for 5,106 yards and 42 touchdowns in 60 games with the Lions.
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97. Jim Brown Shows Cowboys Who's Boss
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Date: Oct. 17, 1965
Location: Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Final score: Cleveland Browns 23, Dallas Cowboys 17
Bottom line: Jim Brown represented power and grace. The 6-foot-2, 232-pound running back also was the king of the NFL jungle. Tackling him was about as much fun as wrestling an actual lion.
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96. Wilber Marshall Returns Fumble 52 Yards for a Touchdown
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Date: Jan. 12, 1986
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Final score: Chicago Bears 24, Los Angeles Rams 0 (NFC championship game)
Bottom line: How dominant was Buddy Ryan's vaunted 46 defense? The 1985 Bears allowed 198 points during the regular season (12.4 points per game), then posted two straight shutouts in the playoffs and gave up only 10 points in their Super Bowl win over the Patriots.
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95. Larry Wilson One-Handed Interception Returned for a Touchdown
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Date: Oct. 2, 1966
Location: Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Final score: St. Louis Cardinals 41, Philadelphia Eagles 10
Bottom line: Larry Wilson had 52 interceptions over 13 seasons with the Cardinals. His one-handed pick against the Eagles, which he returned 91 yards for a touchdown, was the best of his Hall of Fame career.
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94. Larry Fitzgerald Caps Magical Overtime With One-Man Heroics
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Date: Jan. 16, 2016
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Final score: Arizona Cardinals 26, Green Bay Packer 20 in overtime (NFC divisional game)
Bottom line: The Arizona Cardinals often are on the wrong side of history. For once, thanks to some Carson Palmer passing and Larry Fitzgerald catching/running/scoring, they got to go home happy.
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93. Hugh McElhenny Runs for a 77-Yard Reception Without a Helmet
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Date: Nov. 9, 1952
Location: Polo Grounds, New York, New York
Final score: New York Giants 23, San Francisco 49ers 14
Bottom line: The NFL used to be a tougher game. Players wore helmets without facemasks. And sometimes, they didn't wear helmets at all.
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92. Jumbo Elliott Catches 3-Yard Touchdown Pass From Vinny Testaverde
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Date: Oct. 23, 2000
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Final score: New York Jets 40, Miami Dolphins 37
Bottom line: Jumbo Elliott was born to play football. So the gridiron gods rewarded the 6-foot-7, 308-pound offensive tackle with a "Monday Night Miracle."
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91. Steve Van Buren Rushes for 5-Yard Touchdown to Win NFL Championship
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Date: Dec. 19, 1948
Location: Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Final score: Philadelphia Eagles 7, Chicago Cardinals 0 (NFL Championship Game)
Bottom line: Wouldn't it be nice if a Super Bowl was played in snow? Keep dreaming. The next five Super Bowls are in Miami (2020), Tampa (2021), Los Angeles (2022), Glendale, Arizona (2023) and New Orleans (2024).
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90. Emmitt Smith Embarrasses Falcons With 29-Yard Touchdown Run
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Date: Dec. 21, 1992
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Final score: Dallas Cowboys 41, Atlanta Falcons 17
Bottom line: Barry Sanders wasn't the only running back who could make defenders look silly. Emmitt Smith (18,355 career rushing yards) had some skills, too.
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89. Derrick Henry Runs for a 99-Yard Touchdown
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Date: Dec. 6, 2018
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Final score: Tennessee Titans 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 9
Bottom line: Marshawn Lynch might have retired from the NFL, but the league still has some running backs who can go "Beast Mode." Derrick Henry, with his 99-yard run in 2018, tied the NFL record set by Tony Dorsett in 1983.
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88. Antonio Cromartie Takes Missed Field Goal 109 Yards to the House
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Date: Nov. 4, 2007
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 35, San Diego Chargers 17
Bottom line: The most yards an NFL play can go is 109. Antonio Cromartie was the first player to achieve the feat in NFL history. All it took was 88 years after the league's inaugural season in 1920.
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87. Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson Hauls in Steve Bartkowski Hail Mary
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Date: Nov. 20, 1983
Location: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Final score: Atlanta Falcons 28, San Francisco 49ers 24
Bottom line: Remember when the NFL stood for National Fun League? No one had more fun than Billy "White Shoes"Johnson, the father of the touchdown celebration dance. He loved to bust some "funky chicken" moves.
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86. Al Harris Wins Playoff Game With 52-Yard Interception Return in Overtime
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Date: Jan. 4, 2004
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Final score: Green Bay Packers 33, Seattle Seahawk 27 (NFC wild-card game)
Bottom line: Respect the game. Matt Hasselbeck got cocky, announced to the world the Seahawks were going to score after winning the overtime coin toss and threw a pick-six. Game over.
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85. Ben Watson Stops Champ Bailey From Scoring a 100-Yard Interception Touchdown
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Date: Jan. 14, 2006
Location: Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Final score: Denver Broncos 27, New England Patriots 13 (AFC divisional game)
Bottom line: Love or hate the Patriots, they never give up — on a game, series or play. Bill Belichick preaches that players do their jobs. And they do. That's why they have built a dynasty.
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83. Steve Atwater Smacks Christian Okoye With Career-Changing Hit
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Date: Sept. 17, 1990
Location: Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Final score: Denver Broncos 24, Kansas City Chiefs 23
Bottom line: You don't need to be a CTE expert to know pro football is a violent game. Christian Okoye found out the hard way against Steve Atwater, and "The Nigerian Nightmare" was never the same runner again.
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82. Randall Cunningham Takes Hit, Throws Epic Touchdown Pass
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Date: Oct. 10, 1988
Location: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Final score: Philadelphia Eagles 24, New York Giants 13
Bottom line: Randall Cunningham was one of the most unique quarterbacks in NFL history. In his prime, he was as flexible as Gumby with a rocket launcher for a right arm.
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81. Mark Bavaro Refuses to Go Down in Monday Night Game Against 49ers
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Date: Dec. 1, 1986
Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
Final score: New York Giants 21, San Francisco 17
Bottom line: Mark Bavaro won't ever be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the two-time Super Bowl winner was as tough as they come. Ask Ronnie Lott.
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80. Antwaan Randle El Throws 43-Yard Touchdown Pass to Hines Ward in Super Bowl XL
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Date: Feb. 5, 2006
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10 (Super Bowl XL)
Bottom line: Trick plays don't always work. When they do, it's magic. That's what happened when one wide receiver (Antwaan Randle El) threw a pass to another wide receiver (Hines Ward) for a touchdown.
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79. William 'The Refrigerator' Perry Rushes for 1-Yard Touchdown in Super Bowl XX
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Date: Jan. 26, 1986
Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Final score: Chicago Bears 45, New England Patriots 10 (Super Bowl XX)
Bottom line: Opponents couldn't stop the 335-pound "Refrigerator." On either side of the ball. They could only hope to contain him.
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78. Ahmad Rashad Grabs Tommy Kramer's Hail Mary to Complete 'Miracle at the Met'
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Date: Dec. 14, 1980
Location: Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 28, Cleveland Browns 23
Bottom line: Lady Luck has been on the Vikings' side during the regular season. The postseason is another story. See: Minnesota's four Super Bowl losses.
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77. Von Miller Strip Sack on Cam Newton Leads to Touchdown
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Date: Feb. 7, 2016
Location: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Final score: Denver Broncos 24, Carolina Panthers 10 (Super Bowl 50)
Bottom line: Big players make big plays in big games. Every game is a big game for Von Miller. That's why the linebacker out Texas A&M recorded 100 career sacks in the 124th career game.
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76. Tim Tebow Throws Game-Winning Touchdown Pass to Demaryius Thomas
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Date: Jan. 8, 2012
Location: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Final score: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (AFC wild-card game)
Bottom line: Tim Tebow lasted two seasons with the Broncos after being a first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2010 draft. Just long enough to have one indelible moment in the league.
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75. Garo Yepremian's Mistake Almost Ruins 1972 Dolphins' Perfect Season
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Date: Jan. 14, 1973
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Final score: Miami Dolphins 14, Washington Redskins 7 (Super Bowl VII)
Bottom line: Caro Yepremian didn't spoil perfection. But his career lowlight might get more airtime than all of the Dolphins' highlights from that perfect season.
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74. Hank Stram Makes the Right Call With 65 Toss Power Trap
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Date: Jan. 11, 1970
Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
Final score: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7 (Super Bowl IV)
Bottom line: Hank Stram was the winningest AFL coach and a football pioneer. He invented the 3-4 defense, two-tight-end sets and the moving pocket. But "65 toss power trap" is what the Hall of Famer is most famous for.
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73. Mark Ingram Keeps Drive Alive in Super Bowl XXV With Catch on Third-and-13
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Date: Jan. 27, 1991
Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Final score: New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19 (Super Bowl XXV)
Bottom line: The biggest turning points in football games aren't always scoring plays. They can be the plays that lead to points. Mark Ingram's catch and effort to get the first down was one of those moments.
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72. Randall Cunningham Completes Incredible 95-Yard Pass to Fred Barnett for Touchdown
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Date: Dec. 2, 1990
Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Final score: Buffalo Bills 30, Philadelphia Eagles 23
Bottom line: Randall Cunningham was known as "The Ultimate Weapon." It fits him well. Deadspin called Cunningham's amazing escape from Bruce Smith and throw to Fred Barnett "the greatest individual play in NFL history." It's tough to argue.
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71. Y.A. Tittle Throws 'Alley-Oop' to R.C. Owens for 34-Yard Touchdown Pass
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Date: Dec. 22, 1957
Location: Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California
Final score: Detroit Lions 31, San Francisco 49ers 27 (NFC divisional game)
Bottom line: The "alley-oop" was a football play before a basketball one, and R.C. Owens made it famous with the 49ers. "The guys would call me 'Oop' for short," said Owens, a 6-foot-3 wide receiver who played college basketball with Elgin Baylor and even was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers.
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70. Michael Vick Runs for 46-Yard Game-Winning Touchdown
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Date: Dec. 1, 2002
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Atlanta Falcons 30, Minnesota Vikings 24
Bottom line: Michael Vick might be the biggest "what if" player in NFL history. The dual-threat quarterback has the all-time most rushing yards for a quarterback (6,109), and he missed two full seasons in his prime. Imagine what he could have accomplished in football if he had never run a dogfighting operation.
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69. Mike Ditka's Amazing Catch and Run
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Date: Nov. 24, 1963
Location: Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Chicago Bears 17
Bottom line: Long before "Iron" Mike Tyson was born, there was "Iron" Mike Ditka. And Ditka was as savage on the gridiron as Tyson was in the ring.
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68. Randy Moss Laterals to Moe Williams for Touchdown
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Date: Oct. 19, 2003
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 28, Denver Broncos 20
Bottom line: Randy Moss entered the NFL in 1998 and did things that had never been done before with a football. This was one of those "you gotta be kidding me" moments.
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67. Brett Favre Unloads Laser to Greg Lewis to Win Game
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Date: Sept. 27, 2009
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 27, San Francisco 49ers 24
Bottom line: "Oh, my heavens." The radio call by Vikings play-by-play man Paul Allen says everything you need to know about Brett Favre's 32-yard "miracle pass" that traveled 50 yards in the air in about 2 seconds.
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66. Garrison Hearst Runs for 96-Yard Touchdown in Overtime
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Date: Sept. 6, 1998
Location: 3Com Park, San Francisco, California
Final score: San Francisco 49ers 36, New York Jets 30
Bottom line: A Hall of Fame career wasn't meant to be for Garrison Hearst, who had three 1,000-yard campaigns in his first six NFL years. This 96-yard run shows what might have been if he hadn't suffered a gruesome ankle injury in the playoffs later that season.
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65. Adrian Peterson Wrecks Browns With 64-Yard Touchdown Run
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Date: Sept. 6, 1998
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 34, Cleveland Browns 20
Bottom line: Adrian Peterson often played like a man among boys in the early days of his career. The Browns got a firsthand look with this stiff-arm run that even amazed A.D.
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64. Brett Favre Zips 40-Yard Bullet to Sterling Sharpe for a Playoff Touchdown
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Date: Jan. 8, 1994
Location: Pontiac Superdome, Detroit, Michigan
Final score: Green Bay Packers 28, Detroit Lions 24 (NFC wild-card game)
Bottom line: Few quarterbacks could sling the rock like Brett Favre, and wide receivers benefited from playing with the "Gunslinger." Sterling Sharpe had three touchdown catches in this playoff game and 65 touchdown receptions in his career. He would have had a lot more if he could have played longer with Favre instead of being forced to retire in 1994 with a neck injury at age 29.
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63. Ed Reed's Sets Record With 107-Yard Pick-Six
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Date: Nov. 23, 2008
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Final score: Baltimore Ravens 36, Philadelphia 7
Bottom line: Look up "ballhawk" in the dictionary, and you'll see a picture of Ed Reed.
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62. Dante Hall Returns Punt 93 Yards for Amazing Touchdown
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Date: Oct. 5, 2003
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Final score: Kansas City Chiefs 24, Denver Broncos 23
Bottom line: Dante Hall, aka "The Human Joystick," was fun to watch on returns. In his career, Hall ran back 12 returns for touchdowns (six punts, six kickoffs). This may have been his best.
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61. Willie Brown Intercepts Fran Tarkenton for 75-Yard Super Bowl Touchdown
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Date: Jan. 9, 1977
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Final score: Oakland Raiders 32, Minnesota Vikings 14 (Super Bowl XI)
Bottom line: "Old Man Willie" didn't run like a 36-year-old. And thanks to NFL Films (and its iconic shot of his classic sprint toward the end zone), the Hall of Famer can stay 36 forever.
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60. Deion Sanders Returns Punt 64 Yards for a Touchdown in His First NFL Game
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Date: Sept. 10, 1989
Location: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Final score: Los Angeles Rams 31, Atlanta Falcons 21
Bottom line: Deion Sanders talked a big game and backed it up on the field. "Prime Time" was ready for prime time from Day 1.
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59. Barry Sanders Puts Patriots in Spin Cycle on 39-Yard Touchdown Dash
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Date: Sept. 25, 1994
Location: Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan
Final score: New England Patriots 23, Detroit Lions 17
Bottom line: The extraordinary was ordinary for Barry Sanders, who rushed for 15,269 yards in 153 career games. His retirement in 1998 at age 30 after 10 NFL seasons left everyone but opposing defenses wanting more.
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58. Richard Sherman Tips Colin Kaepernick Pass to Kam Chancellor for Interception
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Date: Jan. 19, 2014
Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
Final score: Seattle Seahawks 23, San Francisco 49ers 17 (NFC championship game)
Bottom line: Think Jim Harbaugh regrets not drafting Richard Sherman to the 49ers? The Michigan man might still be in the pros in San Francisco, along with Sherman, who wasn't happy his old Stanford coach snubbed him before the 2011 NFL draft.
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57. Ben Roethlisberger Makes Season-Saving Tackle Against Colts
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Date: Jan. 15, 2006
Location: RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Indianapolis Colts 18 (AFC divisional game)
Bottom line: The Steelers would not have won Super Bowl XL (their fifth) if Ben Roethlisberger had not made this shoestring tackle. Colts defensive back Nick Harper was headed for a touchdown after a late Jerome Bettis fumble. Bettis was eternally grateful for Roethlisberger's effort and called the play "one of the best tackles in the history of the game."
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56. Harlon Hills Hauls in Ed Brown Pass for 56-Yard Touchdown
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Date: Nov. 25, 1956
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Final score: New York Giants 17, Chicago Bears 17
Bottom line: The NFL game in the 1950s was not as fast as it is today. But that doesn't mean wide receivers couldn't make great catches. Look at Harlon Hill's diving grab in the end zone for the Bears to tie the Giants. The two teams met again a few weeks later for the NFL championship, and Chicago got mauled 41-7.
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55. Saints Score Touchdown With 'River City Relay'
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Date: Dec. 21, 2003
Location: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Final score: Jacksonville Jaguars 20, New Orleans Saints 19
Bottom line: Why do most NFL kickers get the redheaded stepchild treatment? They do dumb things like miss extra points. That's what Saints kicker John Carney did after the "River City Relay," a three-lateral play for a touchdown at the end of regulation, so New Orleans lost a game they might have been able to win.
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53. Fran Tarkenton Eludes 49ers Defenders Before 40-Yard Touchdown Pass
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Date: Oct. 30, 1966
Location: Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 28, San Francisco 49ers 3
Bottom line: Fran Tarkenton was nicknamed "The Scrambler," but he also could have been called "The Survivalist" — because buying time to throw was a matter of survival. And few did it better than the Hall of Fame quarterback.
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52. Packers Win 'Motown Miracle'
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Date: Dec. 3, 2015
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Final score: Green Bay Packers 27, Detroit Lions 23
Bottom line: You don't have to be religious to play football, but it doesn't hurt to have some faith. Sometimes, Hail Marys will go your way and turn into miracles as they did for Aaron Rodgers, Richard Rodgers and the Packers.
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51. Barry Sanders Jukes the Half the Cowboys With 47-Yard Touchdown Run
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Date: Jan. 5, 1992
Location: Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan
Final score: Detroit Lions 38, Dallas Cowboys 6 (NFC divisional game)
Bottom line: Opposing defenders lying on the field. Gasping for oxygen. Wondering what just happened. That's the Barry Sanders Effect.
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50. Max McGee Scores First Super Bowl Touchdown With One-Handed Catch
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Date: Jan. 15, 1967
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Final score: Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10 (Super Bowl I)
Bottom line: Max McGee wasn't the biggest, fastest or stronger wide receiver to ever play the game. But he was one of the greatest winners and always will be the player who scored the first touchdown in a Super Bowl — a 37-yard pass from Bart Starr.
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49. Jeremiah Castille Forces 'The Fumble' by Ernest Byner
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Date: Jan. 17, 1988
Location: Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Final score: Denver Broncos 38, Cleveland Browns 33 (AFC championship game)
Bottom line: The secret to happiness for Browns fans is to never expect anything from their team. Then, they can never be disappointed. Hope leads to gut punches like "The Fumble," which cost the Browns a shot at their first Super Bowl. And they haven't come close again since.
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48. Aaron Rodgers Throws Game-Tying Hail Mary to Jeff Janis Against the Cardinals
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Date: Jan. 16, 2016
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Final score: Arizona Cardinals 26, Green Bay Packers 20 (NFC divisional round)
Bottom line: Aaron Rodgers is a master of the comeback, and the Packers' prayers have been answered in many games. But Green Bay can't win them all.
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47. Jim Brown Beats Bears by Himself With a 77-Yard Touchdown Catch
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Date: Dec. 10, 1961
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Final score: Chicago Bears 17, Cleveland Browns 14
Bottom line: Jim Brown was hard to catch. In this play alone, he made seven Bears defenders miss. With 2,621 touches in Brown's career, by a conservative estimate, that means at least 10,000 players couldn't touch him.
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46. Don Beebe Runs Down Leon Lett to Prevent a Touchdown in Super Bowl XXVII
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Date: Jan. 31, 1993
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Final score: Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17 (Super Bowl XXVII)
Bottom line: One play. Two lessons. 1. Don't celebrate too early — Leon Lett is Exhibit A for how things can go awry. 2. Never stop playing hard — see Don Beebe chasing down Lett when the Bills trailed 52-17.
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45. Terry Bradshaw Throws 73-Yard Touchdown Pass to John Stallworth
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Date: Jan. 20, 1980
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19 (Super Bowl XIV)
Bottom line: Getting to the mountaintop is tough. Staying there is tougher. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw rose to the challenge, going 4-0 in four Super Bowls (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979) while passing for 932 yards and nine touchdowns.
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44. Chuck Bednarik Knocks Out Frank Gifford
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Date: Nov. 20, 1960
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Final score: Philadelphia Eagles 17, New York Giants 10
Bottom line: Chuck Bednarik was one of the toughest players in NFL history. Known as "Concrete Charlie," the 6-foot-3, 233-pound Eagles linebacker lived up to his name by knocking out Giants running Frank Gifford with a "deep brain concussion." Gifford did not play another NFL game until 1962.
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43. Tony Nathan Scores on the 'Hook and Lateral' Against the Chargers
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Date: Jan. 2, 1982
Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Final score: San Diego Chargers 41, Miami Dolphins 38 (AFC divisional game)
Bottom line: The Dolphins dipped into their bag of tricks with a hook-and-ladder play to pull within 24-17 at the end of the first half against the Chargers. Although the Fish lost the "Epic in Miami" in overtime, Tony Nathan's touchdown remains a classic.
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42. Dolphins Beat the Patriots With 'Miami Miracle'
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Date: Dec. 9, 2018
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Opa-Locka, Florida
Final score: Miami Dolphins 33, New England Patriots 33
Bottom line: The Dolphins shocked the Patriots with a reboot of their "Hook and Lateral" from 1982. Miami better savor the win. It might be a while until the team is relevant again in the NFL.
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41. Antonio Freeman's Improbable Catch Leads to Monday Night Touchdown
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Date: Nov. 6, 2000
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Final score: Green Bay Packers 26, Minnesota Vikings 20
Bottom line: "Monday Night Football" has had its share of strange moments. The Packers have had their share of great ones. Add Antonio Freeman's catch to both lists.
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40. John Mackey Destroys Lions Defense for 64-Yard Touchdown
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Date: Nov. 20, 1966
Location: Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Final score: Detroit Lions 20, Baltimore Colts 14
Bottom line: John Mackey revolutionized the tight end position. At 6-foot-2, 224 pounds with speed and strength, it's easy to see why.
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39. Earl Campbell Uses Head as a Battering Ram
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Date: Sept. 24, 1978
Location: Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Final score: Los Angeles Rams 10, Houston Oilers 6
Bottom line: Earl Campbell ran with violent intentions. Campbell's move on this play — using his head to plow over a defender — would be illegal in today's NFL. But in 1978, this type of sledgehammer running sent crowds wild and was celebrated as beautiful football.
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38. Dan Marino Calls the Fake Spike Play to Beat the J-E-T-S
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Date: Nov. 27, 1994
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Final score: Miami Dolphins 28, New York Jets 24
Bottom line: Dan Marino caught the Jets sleeping with one of the oldest tricks in the book. Touchdown. Victory. You don't throw for over 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns without a little trickery in your arsenal.
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37. Walter Payton Runs Through the Chiefs
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Date: Nov. 13, 1977
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Final score: Chicago Bears 28, Kansas City Chiefs 27
Bottom line: By NFL standards, Walter Payton wasn't all that big for a running back at 5-10, 200 pounds. But the size of his heart was off the charts. That's what made the Hall of Famer so sweet.
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36. DeSean Jackson's Ends Game With 65-Yard Punt Return Touchdown
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Date: Dec. 19, 2010
Location: New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Final score: Philadelphia Eagles 38, New York Giants 31
Bottom line: Like Frank Sinatra, a Hoboken legend, DeSean Jackson did things his way on the football field. Jackson may have stirred up memories of the first "Miracle at the Meadowlands" with this punt return for a touchdown, but no NFL game had ever ended with a walk-off punt return before.
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35. Tony Dorsett Runs for 99-Yard Touchdown on Monday Night Football
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Date: Jan. 3, 1983
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 31, Dallas Cowboys 27
Bottom line: Great players capitalize on any mistake. The Vikings' defense blinked in a short-yardage bunch defense, and Tony Dorsett made them pay with the first 99-yard run in NFL history. Dallas still lost the game, though.
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34. Gayle Sayer Returns Punt 85 Yards for a Touchdown
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Date: Dec. 12, 1965
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Final score: Chicago Bears 61, San Francisco 49ers 20
Bottom line: Gayle Sayers was poetry in motion. Fast and physical, Sayers made scoring touchdowns look easy. This punt return was his sixth touchdown of the day, and he finished his rookie NFL campaign with 22 scores.
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33. John Elway Sacrifices Body With Helicopter Spin for First Down
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Date: Jan. 25, 1998
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Final score: Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24 (Super Bowl XXXII)
Bottom line: The most grit wins. John Elway sacrificed his body to lead the Broncos to their first Super Bowl title. As Shane Falco said in "The Replacements": "Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever."
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32. Tracy Porter Seals Super Bowl XLIV With 74-Yard Interception Touchdown
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Date: Feb. 7, 2010
Location: Dolphin Stadium, Opa-Locka, Florida
Final score: New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17 (Super Bowl XLIV)
Bottom line: Who dat say they gon beat them Saints? Nobody on this day. Tracy Porter made sure of that, and New Orleans won its first Super Bowl.
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31. Mario Manningham Makes 38-Yard, Fourth-Quarter Catch in Super Bowl XLVI
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Date: Feb. 5, 2012
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Final score: New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17 (Super Bowl XLVI)
Bottom line: First, David Tyree. Then, Mario Manningham. Did Bill Belichick do something to Tom Coughlin when they were assistants on Bill Parcells' Giants staff?
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30. John Elway Completes 'The Drive' With Touchdown Pass to Mark Jackson
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Date: Jan. 11, 1987
Location: Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Final score: Denver Broncos 23, Cleveland Browns 20 (AFC championship game)
Bottom line: The numbers tell the story — 15 plays, 98 yards, 5:06 minutes. John Elway threw a fastball strike to Mark Jackson to tie the game, and the Broncos won it in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl. Another excruciating loss for Cleveland.
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29. Ken Stabler Throws 42-Yard 'Ghost to the Post' to Dave Casper
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Date: Dec. 24, 1977
Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore Maryland
Final score: Oakland Raiders 37, Baltimore Colts 31 in double overtime (AFC divisional game)
Bottom line: Dave Casper was a tough matchup for any defense. "Ghost" (as in Casper) already had three touchdowns against the Colts, and when Ken Stabler called his number again, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end was ready. Oakland tied the game in regulation, won it in overtime, then lost to the Broncos in the AFC championship game.
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28. Steve Gleason Blocks Punt to Lead to Touchdown
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Date: Sept. 25, 2006
Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Final score: New Orleans Saints 23, Atlanta Falcons 3
Bottom line: The Saints helped lift up all of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In the team's first game back in New Orleans since the devastation, Steve Gleason blocked a punt that Curtis DeLoatch picked up for a touchdown. Hollywood screenwriters could not have scripted this any better.
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27. Steve Young's Runs 49 Yards for Game-Winning Touchdown
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Date: Oct. 30, 1988
Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
Final score: San Francisco 24, Minnesota Vikings 21
Bottom line: Steve Young was one of the best running quarterbacks in NFL history. He rushed for 4,239 yards in his career, and these legendary 49 yards against the Vikings summed up his greatness.
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26. 'The Holy Roller' Gives the Raiders a Wild Win in San Diego
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Date: Sept. 10, 1978
Location: San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
Final score: Oakland Raiders 21, San Diego Chargers 20
Bottom line: The Raiders and NFL controversy go together like John Facenda's voice with NFL Films. That suited Al Davis fine as long as the calls went the Silver and Black's way and helped his team "just win, baby." This time, they did.
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25. Bo Jackson Runs Into Tunnel After 91-Yard Touchdown
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Date: Nov. 30, 1987
Location: Seattle Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
Final score: Los Angeles Raiders 37, Seattle Seahawks 14
Bottom line: See Bo run. See Bo score. See Bo disappear. Bo Jackson burst on the scene like a flash of brilliance and was gone too soon due to injury. But the legend of Bo continues to grow.
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24. Steve Young and Terrell Owens Create 'The Catch II'
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Date: Jan. 3, 1999
Location: 3Com Park, San Francisco, California
Final score: San Francisco 49ers 30, Green Bay Packers 27 (NFC wild-card game)
Bottom line: Sometimes, history is worth repeating. With Steve Young and Terrell Owens, the 49ers produced a sequel to "The Catch." Only this one went for 25 yards and didn't lead to a Super Bowl title.
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23. Herman Edwards Returns Fumble for 'Miracle' Touchdown
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Date: Nov. 19, 1978
Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Final score: Philadelphia Eagles 19, New York Giants 17
Bottom line: There are two sides to every great play. For New York Giants fans, this moment will forever be known as "The Fumble." Eagles fans fondly remember it as the "Miracle at the Meadowlands.”
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22. Julian Edelman Keeps Ball Off the Turf for 23-Yard Catch in Super Bowl LI
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Date: Feb. 5, 2017
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Final score: New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (Super Bowl LI)
Bottom line: Julian Edelman epitomizes the Patriot way. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft (232nd overall), the quarterback out of Kent State was converted to wide receiver. Edelman has helped the Patriots win three more Super Bowls and now is a potential future Hall of Famer. Just another example of how Bill Belichick plays chess while the rest of the NFL plays tiddlywinks.
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21. Joe Montana Throws 10-Yard Touchdown Pass to John Taylor in Super XXIII
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Date: Jan. 22, 1989
Location: Joe Robie Stadium, Opa-Locka, Florida
Final score: San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16 (Super XXIII)
Bottom line: If your life depended on one drive, would you want anyone but Joe Montana leading the offense? "Joe Cool" went 14-5 in 19 playoff games with the 49ers, including 4-0 in Super Bowls. He also is the only three-time Super Bowl MVP in NFL history and had a knack for making big plays and no mistakes in the highest-pressure situations.
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20. John Riggins Runs for 43-Yard Touchdown on Fourth Down in Super Bowl XVII
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Date: Jan. 30, 1983
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Final score: Washington Redskins 27, Miami Dolphins 17 (Super Bowl XVII)
Bottom line: John Riggins marched to his own drummer, but make no mistake, he was a great football player "who played the game with skill, power and intensity" (as former commissioner Paul Tagliabue put it at the running back's Hall of Fame induction ceremony). This play encapsulates Riggins' career. He finished with 166 rushing yards, a Super Bowl record at the time, and was named Most Valuable Player of the game.
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19. Alan Ameches Scores Winning Touchdown in 'Greatest Game Ever Played'
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Date: Dec. 28, 1958
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Final score: Baltimore Colts 23, New York Giants 17 in overtime (NFL Championship Game)
Bottom line: Football is a game of inches. Those inches can change lives forever. While Johnny Unitas led the Colts' 80-yard game-winning drive in overtime, Alan Ameche scored Baltimore's winning one-yard touchdown. Thanks to a national television broadcast, they became household names, and this game — the first overtime finish in NFL title history — helped popularize pro football with the masses.
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18. Adam Vinatieri's 45-Yard Field Goal Ties the 'Tuck Rule Game'
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Date: Jan. 19, 2002
Location: Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
Final score: New England Patriots 16, Oakland Raiders 13 in overtime (AFC divisional game)
Bottom line: Talk about pressure. All that was riding on Adam Vinatieri's kick was the hopes and dreams of generations of New England sports fans. He made it, along with the overtime game-winner and brought home the Patriots' first Super Bowl championship. And their second and third. Now Vinatieri is a Boston legend for life.
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17. Clarence Davis Makes 'Sea of Hands' Catch
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Date: Dec. 21, 1974
Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
Final score: Oakland Raiders 28, Miami Dolphins 26 (AFC divisional game)
Bottom line: To be the best, you have to beat the best. The Raiders dethroned the two-time defending Super Bowl champions Dolphins with an eight-yard flip from Ken Stabler that Clarence Davis caught amid a "Sea of Hands." Oakland lost in the AFC conference championship game to the Steelers but found its mojo for the rest of the decade.
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16. Odell Beckham Jr. Makes 'Impossible' One-Handed Touchdown Catch
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Date: Nov. 23, 2014
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Final score: Dallas Cowboys 31, New York Giants 28
Bottom line: NFL players had produced one-handed catches before Odell Beckham Jr., but none like this one. Beckham's 43-yard catch of an Eli Manning pass during a Sunday night game was "absolutely impossible," as NBC color commentator Chris Collinsworth said. It also entered the conversation of greatest catch ever.
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15. Roger Staubach Throws 50-Yard Hail Mary Touchdown to Drew Pearson
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Date: Dec. 28, 1975
Location: Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Dallas Cowboys 17, Minnesota Vikings 14 (NFC divisional game)
Bottom line: The "Hail Mary" pass became a common football phrase because of this play. Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach coined the term after his desperation heave landed in Drew Pearson's hands to give Dallas the win.
"I was kidding around with the writers," Staubach said. "Then they asked the question. I said, 'I got knocked down on the play. ... I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary.' It slowly became the term for anybody that was kind of in trouble, and you had a hope. You used to have a wing and a prayer, and now the Hail Mary is used for politics, for business, and for football."
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14. Marcus Allen Runs for 74-Yard Touchdown in Super Bowl XVIII
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Date: Jan. 22, 1984
Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Final score: Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9 (Super Bowl XVIII)
Bottom line: The Redskins entered the game with only two losses on the season, but the Raiders dominated them in every way. Marcus Allen punctuated the rout "running with the night" (in the words of John Facenda). The championship still is a happy memory for Raider Nation, which hasn't had too many new happy memories in recent years.
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13. Marshawn Lynch Runs for 67-Yards Through Saints With 'Beast Quake'
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Date: Jan. 8, 2011
Location: Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington
Final score: Seattle Seahawks 41, New Orleans Saints 36 (NFC wild-card game)
Bottom line: Marshawn Lynch was a misunderstood football genius. All he wanted to do was play ball, and when he did, in his prime, "Beast Mode" was one of the most dangerous running backs in NFL history. Just look at his "Beast Quake" run against the Saints for proof.
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12. Lynn Swann Makes 53-Yard Circus Catch in Super Bowl X
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Date: Jan. 18, 1976
Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17 (Super Bowl X)
Bottom line: Lynn Swann always played well in big-money ballgames. In 16 career playoff games, Swann caught 48 passes for 907 yards (averaging 18.9 yards per reception) and nine touchdowns. His 53-yard circus catch wasn't his longest reception in Super Bowl X. That was a 64-yard touchdown. Little wonder he was named MVP of the game, has four Super Bowl rings and is in Canton.
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11. Mike Jones Makes Game-Saving Tackle on Kevin Tyson in Super Bowl XXIV
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Date: Jan. 30, 2000
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Final score: St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16 (Super Bowl XXXIV)
Bottom line: Kevin Dyson smelled the goal line, but St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones made sure the Titans' wide receiver stayed "one yard short." The rest is history.
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10. Nick Foles Catches One-Yard 'Philly Special' Touchdown
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Date: Feb. 4, 2018
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33 (Super Bowl XXXIV)
Bottom line: Not too many coaches get the better of Bill Belichick. Eagles coach Doug Pederson did in Super Bowl XXXIV. On fourth-and-1 at the goal line in the second quarter, with Philadelphia leading 15-12, Pederson opted to go for it and called a gutsy trick play — Philly Special, a pass to quarterback Nick Foles. The Eagles scored and went on to win the franchise's first Super Bowl.
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9. Stefon Diggs Completes 'Minneapolis Miracle' With 61-Yard Game-Winning Touchdown Reception
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Date: Jan. 14, 2018
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Final score: Minnesota Vikings 29, New Orleans Saints 24 (NFC divisional round)
Bottom line: Stefon Diggs has shined in the early stages of his postseason career. In his second playoff game, Diggs made a big-time catch over New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams on his way to the game-winning touchdown. In three playoff games, the third-year receiver out of Maryland has 18 receptions for 233 yards. That's a respectable opening chapter.
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8. Bart Starr Scores Game-Winning Touchdown on Quarterback Sneak in the 'Ice Bowl'
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Date: Dec. 31, 1967
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Final score: Green Bay Packers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17 (NFL Championship Game)
Bottom line: Bart Starr's clutchness was underrated. In the "Ice Bowl," with the game-time temperature at minus-13 degrees (minus-48 with the wind chill), Starr led the Packers to the NFL title, then a second straight Super Bowl win. He was the Super Bowl MVP in both games and finished his career with a 9-1 postseason record. In those 10 postseason games, he had 15 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. Now, that's clutch.
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7. James Harrison Returns 'Immaculate Interception' 100 Yards for Touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII
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Date: Feb. 1, 2009
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23 (Super Bowl XLIII)
Bottom line: James Harrison had the same number of interception touchdowns before and after his "Immaculate Interception" in Super Bowl XLIII — none. Harrison's 100-yard interception return to close the first half gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead, and they would need every point to prevail. It was an appropriate way for the undrafted linebacker out of Kent State — the real-life "Deebo" — to achieve immortality.
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6. Santonio Holmes Catches 6-Yard Touchdown Pass With 35 Seconds Left in Super Bowl XLIII
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Date: Feb. 1, 2009
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23 (Super Bowl XLIII)
Bottom line: Santonio Holmes saved his best for last, making the biggest catch of his career to secure a sixth Super Bowl title for Pittsburgh. Holmes had one more productive season with the Steelers before they traded him to the Jets for a fifth-round pick in the 2010 offseason.
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5. Malcolm Butler Picks Off Russell Wilson Pass on the Goal Line in Super Bowl XLIX
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Date: Feb. 1, 2015
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Final score: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24 (Super Bowl XLIX)
Bottom line: Malcolm Butler made a great play to jump Ricardo Lockette's route and intercept Russell Wilson's pass. But why was Wilson throwing the ball on the 1-yard line with under a minute to play and the Seahawks trailing 28-24? All they had to do was give the ball to Marshawn Lynch. The call remains one of life's mysteries and will haunt Seattle forever.
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4. Kevin Dyson Returns a Kickoff for 'Music City Miracle' Touchdown
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Date: Jan. 8, 2000
Location: Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee
Final score: Tennessee Titans 22, Buffalo Bills 16 (AFC wild-card game)
Bottom line: If you haven't noticed, the NFL has a lot of miracles. The "Music City" variety included two laterals, and Kevin Dyson taking it to the house. The play was reviewed, confirmed, and still remains controversial.
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3. David Tyree Makes 32-Yard Helmet Catch in Super Bowl XLII
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Date: Feb. 3, 2008
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale Arizona
Final score: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Super Bowl XLII)
Bottom line: The Patriots were about a minute away from the second perfect season in NFL history and the first 19-0 campaign. Eli Manning, David Tyree and the Giants had other ideas. Manning avoided a sack and got off a pass to Tyree, who hauled in a 32-yard reception by his fingertips as Patriots safety Rodney Harrison pulled him down after the catch. Somehow, with time running out and the ball pinned to his helmet, Tyree held on tight with both hands. It was a play for the ages, and we still wonder how he did it. The Giants sealed the deal with a Plaxico Burress touchdown. Yet everything about that final drive seems surreal. Still. But it's all real.
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2. Joe Montana and Dwight Clark Connect for 'The Catch'
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Date: Jan. 10, 1982
Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
Final score: San Francisco 49ers 28, Dallas Cowboys 27 (NFC championship game)
Bottom line: Every drive has a turning point. Just like every dynasty has a beginning. "The Catch" signaled the birth of the 49ers' juggernaut in the 1980s. This 6-yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana to Dwight Clark has been dissected from every angle almost as much as "Citizen Kane." The final analysis always is the same. Montana is a master with the ball, and Clark has amazing reach/great hands.
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1. Franco Harris Turns 'Immaculate Reception' Into a 60-Yard Touchdown
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Date: Dec. 23, 1972
Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Final score: Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Oakland Raiders 7 (NFC championship game)
Bottom line: Franco Harris' reception gave the Steelers their first playoff win in franchise history. But the greatest play in NFL history remains the most controversial. Was it a catch or not? Why did a 17-second play take 15 minutes for officials to make a final decision? Were referees reluctant to nullify the Steelers' touchdown and overturn the call in the Raiders' favor because they feared for their safety in Pittsburgh? The answers depend on rooting interests. And the final conclusion won't ever satisfy everyone.
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Related:Best Super Bowl Commercials of All Time
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