Thursday, March 01, 2018

Top Ten Forgotten Plays

The NFL Network's Top Ten Forgotten Plays, great plays that were quickly overshadowed by even more amazing plays later on in the same game. Though the league celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, half the list came from the last 10-15 years.

12. Before the Titans pulled off the River City Miracle, Bills QB Rob Johnson directed a last minute drive resulting in a go-ahead field goal with only seconds remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, that would be the last play of the game, Tennessee tight end Frank Wycheck threw a long "lateral" across the field to receiver Kevin Dyson, who ran down the sidelines for the game-winning touchdown.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/cte-titans-tight-end-frank-wycheck-certain-brain-concussion/1roxvstje6wvv1w4u0ccsmtcm7

11. In Super Bowl 51 the Falcons Julio Jones made a fantastic leaping sideline-hugging catch, but the play was quickly forgotten when the Patriots staged their historic comeback, which included Julian Edelman's juggling catch just inches off the ground.

10. The Steelers Jerome Bettis fumbled at the goal line, and Indianapolis returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. The Steelers still managed to win.

9. The Dolphins' Benny Malone ran 23 yards to score a late go-ahead touchdown in the playoffs at Oakland. But with two minutes remaining Raider QB Ken Stabler drove his team downfield, finally scrambling and tossing a blooper his running back caught in the end zone for the game-winning score.

8. In the Ice Bowl, before Packer QB Bart Starr followed guard Jerry Kramer into the end zone Cowboy running back Dan Reeves ran left, then threw across his body to receiver Lance Rentzel for a 50 yard touchdown - a play no one remembers.
7. Wide receiver Ricky Proehl caught two late game go-ahead touchdown passes two different Super Bowls, only to have Tom Brady engineer game-winning drives. Proehl's first came for the Rams, then two years later for the Panthers.

6. In the Super Bowl against the heavily-favored Cowboys, down 20-10 Steelers head coach Bill Cowher calls for a surprise onside kick that works, resulting in a touchdown to keep the game close. But then Steelers QB Neil O'Donnell throws two interceptions, both to Cowboy defensive back Larry Brown.

5. In the playoffs at Pittsburgh, Oakland starting QB Darryl Lamonica is too sick to finish the game. Young Ken Stabler enters the game and dashes 30 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Then the Raiders fall victim to Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception.

4. The Cleveland Browns scored the go-ahead touchdown in the playoffs against the Broncos on a Bernie Kosar to Brian Brennan 48 yard touchdown catch and run. Long-suffering Browns fans were making plans for the Super Bowl. Then John Elway engineered the famous 98 yard touchdown march, known as The Drive.

3. In the Super Bowl Tom Brady threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Randy Moss with 2:42 remaining, then Eli Manning led the Giants on a game-winning drive capped by wide receiver Plaxico Burris's touchdown catch. But no one remembers Plaxico's catch - what they remember is David Tyree's infamous "helmet catch."

2. Before the Steelers won Super Bowl 43 with Santonio Holmes' toe touch TD catch, perennial all-pro Phoenix Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught two touchdown passes, one a long sprint down the middle of the field.

1. When Russell Wilson drove the Seahawks down toward a game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl against New England, the drive featured an amazing sideline catch. The play was quickly forgotten when Wilson's pass from the one yard line was intercepted at the goal line, clinching the win for the Patriots.

Here are several great plays that stayed forgotten: Baltimore Colt tight end John Mackey's spectacular tipped touchdown catch and run in Super Bowl V against the Cowboys - and Dallas linebacker (and Super Bowl MVP) Chuck Howley's two interceptions. Both were quickly forgotten when Jim O'Brien kicked the game-winning field goal.

Fred Biletnikoff was tackled on the one yard line three times in the Super Bowl by the Minnesota Vikings, setting up three touchdowns. The play everyone remembers from that game was veteran cornerback Willie Brown's long interception return - for a meaningless late game nail-in-the-coffin touchdown.

No comments: