Top 10 Best NFL Plays of All Time
Hi, I’m Emily Johnson and I’m a huge NFL fan. I’ve been watching the game for as long as I can remember and I’ve seen some incredible plays over the years. In this article, I’m going to share with you my top 10 favorite NFL plays of all time. From game-winning touchdowns to incredible interceptions, these plays are sure to get your heart racing.
Curiosities and Interesting Information
- The first NFL game was played on October 3, 1920, between the Dayton Triangles and the Columbus Panhandles.
- The NFL is the most popular sports league in the United States, with an estimated 185 million fans.
- The Super Bowl is the most-watched television event in the United States, with over 100 million viewers tuning in every year.
- The longest field goal in NFL history was kicked by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos in 2013. The kick was 64 yards long.
- The most points scored by a single team in an NFL game is 72. The game was played on November 27, 1966, between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants.
Top 10 Best NFL Plays of All Time
The Immaculate Reception
On December 23, 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers were down 7-6 to the Oakland Raiders with just seconds left on the clock. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a pass to running back Franco Harris, who caught the ball just inches off the ground and ran it in for a game-winning touchdown. The play has gone down in NFL history as one of the most incredible plays of all time.
The Helmet Catch
In Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants were facing off against the undefeated New England Patriots. With just over a minute left in the game, quarterback Eli Manning threw a pass to wide receiver David Tyree. Tyree caught the ball by pinning it to his helmet and managed to hold on as he was brought to the ground. The play helped the Giants secure a 17-14 victory over the Patriots.
The Music City Miracle
In a wild-card playoff game in 2000, the Tennessee Titans were down 16-15 to the Buffalo Bills with just seconds left on the clock. The Titans kicked off and the ball was fielded by Lorenzo Neal, who then handed it off to Frank Wycheck. Wycheck then threw a lateral pass across the field to Kevin Dyson, who ran the ball in for a game-winning touchdown. The play has become known as the Music City Miracle and is one of the most memorable plays in NFL history.
The Catch
In the 1981 NFC Championship game, the San Francisco 49ers were facing off against the Dallas Cowboys. With just 58 seconds left in the game, quarterback Joe Montana threw a pass to wide receiver Dwight Clark, who leaped up and caught the ball in the back of the end zone. The play helped the 49ers secure a 28-27 victory over the Cowboys and has gone down in NFL history as one of the greatest plays of all time.
The Fumble
In the 1987 AFC Championship game, the Denver Broncos were facing off against the Cleveland Browns. With just over a minute left in the game, the Browns were driving down the field when running back Earnest Byner fumbled the ball just inches away from the end zone. The Broncos recovered the ball and went on to win the game 38-33, crushing the Browns’ hopes of making it to the Super Bowl.
The Minneapolis Miracle
In a divisional playoff game in 2018, the Minnesota Vikings were facing off against the New Orleans Saints. With just 10 seconds left in the game, the Vikings were down 24-23 and had the ball on their own 39-yard line. Quarterback Case Keenum threw a pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who caught the ball and ran it in for a game-winning touchdown. The play has become known as the Minneapolis Miracle and is one of the most incredible plays in NFL history.
The Tackle
In Super Bowl XXXIV, the St. Louis Rams were facing off against the Tennessee Titans. With just seconds left in the game, the Titans were down by 7 points and had the ball on the Rams’ 10-yard line. Quarterback Steve McNair threw a pass to wide receiver Kevin Dyson, who caught the ball and was tackled just one yard short of the goal line. The play helped the Rams secure a 23-16 victory over the Titans and has gone down in NFL history as one of the greatest tackles of all time.
The Pick Six
In Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals were facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With just over two minutes left in the game, the Cardinals were down by four points and had the ball on their own 44-yard line. Quarterback Kurt Warner threw a pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, but the ball was intercepted by Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who ran it back 100 yards for a game-winning touchdown. The play has gone down in NFL history as one of the most incredible interceptions of all time.
The Sea of Hands
In a divisional playoff game in 1974, the Oakland Raiders were facing off against the Miami Dolphins. With just seconds left in the game, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler threw a pass into a sea of Dolphins defenders. Despite being surrounded by defenders, Raiders wide receiver Clarence Davis managed to come down with the ball and secure the win for the Raiders. The play has gone down in NFL history as one of the most incredible catches of all time.
The Hail Mary
In a divisional playoff game in 1975, the Dallas Cowboys were facing off against the Minnesota Vikings. With just seconds left in the game, Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw a desperation pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson. Pearson caught the ball and managed to run it in for a game-winning touchdown, despite controversy surrounding whether or not he pushed off on the defender. The play has gone down in NFL history as one of the most incredible Hail Marys of all time.
Expert Quotes
The Immaculate Reception is one of the most incredible plays in NFL history. It’s a play that will be remembered forever. – John Madden, former NFL coach and broadcaster
The Helmet Catch is one of those plays that you just can’t believe actually happened. It’s a testament to the skill and determination of the players involved. – Tony Dungy, former NFL head coach
The Minneapolis Miracle is one of the most unbelievable plays I’ve ever seen. It’s the kind of play that makes you love the game of football. – Cris Collinsworth, former NFL wide receiver and current analyst
FAQs
What is the Immaculate Reception?
The Immaculate Reception is a game-winning touchdown catch made by Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 1972 playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. The play is considered one of the most incredible plays in NFL history.
Who caught the Helmet Catch?
The Helmet Catch was caught by David Tyree of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Tyree caught the ball by pinning it to his helmet and managed to hold on as he was brought to the ground.
What is the Music City Miracle?
The Music City Miracle is a game-winning touchdown scored by the Tennessee Titans in a 2000 playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. The play involved a series of laterals and is considered one of the most memorable plays in NFL history.
Who made the Catch?
The Catch was made by Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1981 NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys. The play helped the 49ers secure a 28-27 victory over the Cowboys.
What is the Tackle?
The Tackle refers to a play made by St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones in Super Bowl XXXIV. Jones tackled Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson just one yard short of the goal line, securing a 23-16 victory for the Rams.