Greatest Play in NFL History

HigginsJ

Starting Monday NFL.com are running a voting competition to find the bet play in NFL history. 64 plays have been nominated and it works on a bracket basis and public voting.
You can check it out here

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000149801/article/vote-for-the-greatest-play-in-nfl-history


So what I want to know is what is the greatest play in your opinion in NFL history. The NFL selection is not based on any context so a great play is simply a great play. If we get enough responses we might look to run a similar vote on here at some point to decide boards.ie greatest NFL play.

The greatest play in my opinion is Eli Manning to David Tyree against the Pats in superbowl XLII. Manning escapes pressure and a near certain sack regains his balance and makes a terrible decision to throw high and deep over the middle of the field. David Tyree goes up and snags the ball and maintains control throughout the catch using one hand and his helmet (I'm sure your all familiar with the play)

TaosHum

In my biased opinion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZfzr9tB4oo

TO.

I always tell my players when coaching never give up on a play and keep going to the endzone if you pick a ball up because of things like Freeman's catch in this. Added note Chris Berman is hilarious in this especially the "He did what" phrase he says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQmyLLxRNcA

Hazys

They have the Jags hail mary in a relatively run of the mill game and no Vinatieri kick in the snow

@8:43

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG7krO7GGfs

poldebruin

Most plays can't really be seperated from their context, their greatness is linked inextricably to the situation, so to my mind the Greatest Play cannot have taken place during a regular season game.

That said, there are a few regular season moments that are etched in the memory. Bo Jackson's run v Seattle is one, but strangely, not the one listed, rather when he bulldozed Brian Bosworth into the endzone.

I remember Randall Cunningham had a 97 yard punt (the Giants I think) you don't see that every day, although that particular selection would infuriate HOF voters.

Steve Atwater's tackle on Chrisitan Akoye on MNF was quite good.

I'd dismiss all of the various hail marys on the list, there is too much reliance on luck and they're not particulaly spectacular or memorable imo.

The kick and int returns don't really do it for me either - although James Harrison's in the Super Bowl had everything.

One play that I remember as absolutely stunning, but isn;t on the list is a Jerome Bettis fumble on the one yard line, with a few seconds left in the playoffs, rather than kneel the Steelers went to score, and out came the ball. A colt player (DB i think) scooped it up and rambled down the field for what looked like a certain game-winning TD, only for Ben Roethlisberger to run him down and tackle him just over midfield. Indy's kicker missed a game-tying FG if I remember possibly Vanderjagt.

My vote would go to one of Eli's throws in the Superbowl, and at a push I'd give it to the Tyree one, for the escape, the desperate heave, the catch in traffic, and the unusual method of securing the ball.

matthew8

I'd give it to Sanders first punt return, people may say it's not the most significant play ever but it was the world's introduction to a great player. Close after it Cunningham's heave.

theRB

Either Marino's fake spike or this:

mikemac1

When I got into football I was reading books and they went on and on about "the catch" with Montana and Clark
Then I say it on youtube and couldn't figure out what the big deal was.

I like this one.
It's never win any selection for greatest play ever but it shows you never ever give up until the play is over

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VKUSgHPm4E

More recently I loved the miracle in the medowlands 2 when desean returned the punt to win it I woke up tge whole house

Marsean lynches run against the saints in the 1st round of the playoffs was pretty special

(Sorry can't link vids off the phone

D3PO

you gotta love an O Lineman nearly takinng a kickoff to the house. One of my fav plays in recent years

The Instant Replay. In fairness, almost certainly NOT the greatest play in NFL history...but just one of my favourite plays ever. Majkowski to Sharpe, and years of losing seasons and being crushed by the Bears and nearly embarrassed to wear Packers memorabilia sent over from the US came to an end.

HigginsJ

D3PO wrote: »

What a great play. Stiff arm, side step. Brilliant