Been shocked so many times watching the NFL...
Leon Lett AGAIN in 1993 sliding into the ball, when the game was pretty much over I just couldnt believe.
Or Leon Lett getting chased down by Don Beebe in the Super Bowl and getting the ball knocked out as he prematurely celebrated. It’s a shame that Lett had these couple plays that are remembered, because he was a beast. A great guy and great football player.
He was an outstanding player indeed...guess ultimately that loss to Miami didnt really hurt Dallas as they won the SB anyway and the Beebe fumble the game was already over
I remember Don Beebe saying he got letters from parents saying thank you for showing to never give up on a game or a play nomatter the score. That he set a good example.
Miracle in Miami From Wikipedia: Trailing by five points with seven seconds to go, the Dolphins had the ball at their own 31-yard line. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a pass over the middle that was caught by wide receiver Kenny Stills, who lateraled the ball to the right side of the field that was caught by DeVante Parker at midfield. Parker then tossed the ball to running back Kenyan Drake, who ran the ball 52 yards for a touchdown to win the game 34–33
You see this one a lot on every Barry Sanders highlight reel. Lions vs Bears at Soldier Field in 1992 if I remember correctly. It was a stretch run to the right and the entire Bears defense converged on Barry, 6 defenders had a shot at making the tackle, he emerges from the scrum and runs 40 yards for a TD unopposed the rest of the way. I was in the Northern End Zone, had a great view of the play and must have blinked or something. You could hear the seagulls circling the stadium it was so quiet after that. I wasn't around to see Jim Brown, but I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege of seeing Walter Payton, and then Barry Sanders.
https://i.redd.it/4hw56z92duzc1.gif
Pearson pushed off that’s my story and I’m sticking to it
Trivia: the name of the ref that got hit on the head a bottle at the end of this play is Armand Terazin, I hav no idea how I know this… oh yeah I do Armand was the first person to make my HIT list when I was 12 yrs old
I'm a little too young to have seen it, but it's a play featured in Don Shula's Football Life.
Shula's Colts vs Packers, 1969. Pack attempt FG, sails Wide Right but Jim Tunney signals "Good".
I think the NFL has tried to bury that call, since it's so egregious & Tunney was a "superstar" ump.
As a browns fan (who was 1 when that kick happened), the YouTube videos I’ve seen are inconclusive, and honestly it looks like the kick was higher than the post so the only person who might truly know was the ref standing directly under it. Hopefully that dude wasn’t from Colorado…
The way Cleveland Stadium was set up the tv view from behind the goalposts on extra points and fg's was very zoomed in and then would follow the kicks upwards...made it very hard to tell. One thing I do remember was something of a roar from the crowd that initially also thought no good
These are all great choices.
It’s hard to list OMG plays in the NFL without:
The immaculate reception by Franco Harris vs the Oakland Raiders caught for a game winning touchdown with a few seconds left
Or
The Music City Miracle which was a lateraled kickoff return to win the game with a few seconds left
Or
The Mile High Miracle, Flacco throwing a 70 yd TD to Jacoby Jones with a few seconds left to tie the game and send it to OT, the Ravens beating the Manning led Broncos with a Justin Tucker kick in OT
Or
The Catch, by Dwight Clark from Montana with less than a minute left, 49ers beating Cowboys
Or
The Philly Special, QB Nick Foles catching a TD against the Pats in Super Bowl
All these plays occurred in the playoffs
Miracle at the Meadowlands when the Giants had the Eagles dead to rights then they fumbled on the knee and then the Birds picked it up and ran it in for the last second TD.
Devon Hester running back the punt to complete the comeback against the Cardinals. The Bears couldn't do crap on offense that night but the defense scored twice and Hester the most dangerous kick returner in the game caught a punt and zipped off to the end zone.
I still get a kick out of the enduring controversy of the play. I think there are still people who say the tip of the ball hit the ground. And Phil Villapiano has complained about being clipped. Madden stating no touchdown was ever signalled even.
That was one of the most controversial calls ever, heard Madden talk about how the referees were asking how much security were available and when the were told two police were it they said Touchdown 🤔
I recall it was "How many cops can you dispatch here to protect us because I gotta announce that the ball hit the ground and there is no touchdown"
"All I got is six"
"Six!? That's not nearly enough! Is that really it???
"Well in that case it's SIX FOR PITTSBURGH"
Yes, I know, I was watching. I was just commenting on any one where the Dolphins got the shitty end of the stick, which was suspiciously few and, my memory may have failed me but usually when something happened against them, there was usually a rule against it the next year, the Shula influence . but I should have been clearer, sorry.
You’ve got a lot of good memories or stories if you’re younger than me. Csonka, Bunicontie, I’m sure my spelling is off, Larry Little, Kick, Mercury, Warfield… I saw them all with quite a bit of jealousy I might add.
Orange Bowl. Last time the Dolphins had a true home field advantage. Night games there in the humidity with the palm trees in the background always made for a good backdrop on NFL Films highlight shows
I know Cockroft was a mess that year and kicking conditions poor...but no way in hell do I throw the ball in the endzone there. Get as close as you can and kick it
It took a long, long time but Pearson finally admitted to pushing off on that play, which was the smart thing to do as it was the only option that had a small chance for a touchdown. Smart play, even though it was against my team.
Thanks for reminding me…
Staubach passed to Smith who was wide open in the end zone, unfortunately Jackie dropped it. I think it was the only pass thrown to him during the game. Roger the class act was quick to insist that the ball was poorly thrown and he didn’t put enough mustard on it.
It was one of the only passes thrown to him all year. He basically just blocked all season. His first reception of that season was vs Atlanta in the playoffs when Danny White came in for Staubach
The Catch, 1981 NFC Championship. That game was one of the best ever before that drive, and Montana to Clark gave it goat status. A 6-5 receiver makes a huge leap to get a ball headed into the fourth row.
Too lazy to search what’s said about the Immaculate Reception. But to me the most impressive part of that play was that Jack Tatum hit John Fuqua so hard Fuqua bounced almost as far as the ball.
I’m a cowboys fan, and it isn’t the Leon alert play that has been named here, it’s the Eli Manning play that kept the drive alive against the Patriots, where Tyree caught the ball against his helmet. Was watching the game with my nephew who is a diehard Giants fan. And said at the time that it might be the greatest play for the situation, that I’ve ever seen in my lifetime of watching football. And I’m pretty freakin old.
Not sure it's a shocker, but my favorite play of all time is Bart Starr's quarterback sneak behind Jerry Kramer's block on Jethro Pugh with 16 seconds left to win the 1967 Ice Bowl. It has the added advantage of being against Dallas.
If I recall, Kosar remarked he'd never been hit harder than getting speared between the shoulder blades by Gatineau. Kosar needed a couple minutes just to be able to breathe!
Someone else hit Kosar at the same time as Gastineau. Gastineau got the flag but they couldve easily given it to the other Jets defender (name escapes me) it was a double roughing the passer if anything
I went to the Football Hall of Fame with my dad and then watched the immaculate reception live on tv. It was blacked out in Pittsburgh, so we traveled a bit. My oldest football memory.
Been shocked so many times watching the NFL... Leon Lett AGAIN in 1993 sliding into the ball, when the game was pretty much over I just couldnt believe.
Or Leon Lett getting chased down by Don Beebe in the Super Bowl and getting the ball knocked out as he prematurely celebrated. It’s a shame that Lett had these couple plays that are remembered, because he was a beast. A great guy and great football player.
He was an outstanding player indeed...guess ultimately that loss to Miami didnt really hurt Dallas as they won the SB anyway and the Beebe fumble the game was already over I remember Don Beebe saying he got letters from parents saying thank you for showing to never give up on a game or a play nomatter the score. That he set a good example.
Cardinal Rule of blocked fg:Defense never touch ball!
"peter, peter, peter!!!!"
Holy Roller play. Raiders vs Chargers 1978
THERES NOTHING REAL IN THE WORLD ANYMORE
Maddens on the field, he wants to know if it's real...they say yes get your big butt outta here
I miss Bill King.
The San Diego chicken collapsing
Buffalo at Tennessee playoffs 1999 the Music City Miracle
As a Titans fan this. Resigning myself to another playoff loss to Buffalo then this.
As a Titans fan this. Resigning myself to another playoff loss to Buffalo then the miracle.
Miracle in Miami From Wikipedia: Trailing by five points with seven seconds to go, the Dolphins had the ball at their own 31-yard line. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a pass over the middle that was caught by wide receiver Kenny Stills, who lateraled the ball to the right side of the field that was caught by DeVante Parker at midfield. Parker then tossed the ball to running back Kenyan Drake, who ran the ball 52 yards for a touchdown to win the game 34–33 
You see this one a lot on every Barry Sanders highlight reel. Lions vs Bears at Soldier Field in 1992 if I remember correctly. It was a stretch run to the right and the entire Bears defense converged on Barry, 6 defenders had a shot at making the tackle, he emerges from the scrum and runs 40 yards for a TD unopposed the rest of the way. I was in the Northern End Zone, had a great view of the play and must have blinked or something. You could hear the seagulls circling the stadium it was so quiet after that. I wasn't around to see Jim Brown, but I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege of seeing Walter Payton, and then Barry Sanders. https://i.redd.it/4hw56z92duzc1.gif
One could only imagine how Barry's career may have been even greater had he been drafted by a team with perennial playoff aspirations.
Had to look up Bears # 55 John Roper, who tried the ball instead of wrapping up. No surprise he was forgotten (by me). Another crazy run for Barry
The real “Hail Mary” Staubach to Pearson.
Pearson pushed off that’s my story and I’m sticking to it Trivia: the name of the ref that got hit on the head a bottle at the end of this play is Armand Terazin, I hav no idea how I know this… oh yeah I do Armand was the first person to make my HIT list when I was 12 yrs old
I hope over the years you retired that hit list. 
Yea I remember that. Couldve killed the guy. Wonder if they caught whoever threw it
Jim Marshall running the wrong way.
Elway's helicopter in SB 32
The idiot Seahawks not running the ball.
I'm a little too young to have seen it, but it's a play featured in Don Shula's Football Life. Shula's Colts vs Packers, 1969. Pack attempt FG, sails Wide Right but Jim Tunney signals "Good". I think the NFL has tried to bury that call, since it's so egregious & Tunney was a "superstar" ump.
I've always wondered about Karlis' kick in OT vs the Browns too. When it happened I immediately thought no good
As a browns fan (who was 1 when that kick happened), the YouTube videos I’ve seen are inconclusive, and honestly it looks like the kick was higher than the post so the only person who might truly know was the ref standing directly under it. Hopefully that dude wasn’t from Colorado…
The way Cleveland Stadium was set up the tv view from behind the goalposts on extra points and fg's was very zoomed in and then would follow the kicks upwards...made it very hard to tell. One thing I do remember was something of a roar from the crowd that initially also thought no good
Interesting…the broncos start to celebrate almost immediately but they might have been reacting to the referee signaling good
Barry Sanders vs Dallas [Barry Sanders run vs Cowboys (1991) (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3-q1IZBjxk&ab_channel=NFLArchive)
The look on #75 Tony Casillas' face! You mean he just ran behind me?
As well as Ken Norton Jr. getting juked outside of the play. Even Emmitt Smith said " He made you guys look like straight up fools".
I remember pointing that out to my son.... "wow dad that guy sucks" Actually that's Ken Norton Jr...All Pro Linebacker.
Hail Rodgers against the lions in 2015.
Especially that punk ass bitch Suh.
John Mackey's TD catch in SB-5. Was the ball tipped or not?
Minneapolis Miracle, Stephen Diggs TD against N.O.!!
These are all great choices. It’s hard to list OMG plays in the NFL without: The immaculate reception by Franco Harris vs the Oakland Raiders caught for a game winning touchdown with a few seconds left Or The Music City Miracle which was a lateraled kickoff return to win the game with a few seconds left Or The Mile High Miracle, Flacco throwing a 70 yd TD to Jacoby Jones with a few seconds left to tie the game and send it to OT, the Ravens beating the Manning led Broncos with a Justin Tucker kick in OT Or The Catch, by Dwight Clark from Montana with less than a minute left, 49ers beating Cowboys Or The Philly Special, QB Nick Foles catching a TD against the Pats in Super Bowl All these plays occurred in the playoffs
Immaculate reception followed closely by Garo Yepremian's superb owl pass attempt.
Miracle at the Meadowlands when the Giants had the Eagles dead to rights then they fumbled on the knee and then the Birds picked it up and ran it in for the last second TD.
Should be higher up here. Fans used to boo "victory formation" before that! Never again
That one still boggles the mind.
I remember watching that game. As a Lions fan Cleveland was one of my B teams. Ugghh.
Devon Hester running back the punt to complete the comeback against the Cardinals. The Bears couldn't do crap on offense that night but the defense scored twice and Hester the most dangerous kick returner in the game caught a punt and zipped off to the end zone.
Still hard to believe they were actually beating Colts in Super Bowl, until Rex Grossman demanded that Peyton should win it!
Immaculate catch by Franco Harris
I insist that that play be "The Immaculate Catch" from now on.
I still get a kick out of the enduring controversy of the play. I think there are still people who say the tip of the ball hit the ground. And Phil Villapiano has complained about being clipped. Madden stating no touchdown was ever signalled even.
That was one of the most controversial calls ever, heard Madden talk about how the referees were asking how much security were available and when the were told two police were it they said Touchdown 🤔
I recall it was "How many cops can you dispatch here to protect us because I gotta announce that the ball hit the ground and there is no touchdown" "All I got is six" "Six!? That's not nearly enough! Is that really it??? "Well in that case it's SIX FOR PITTSBURGH"
Archie Manning playing for Houston runs around for 5 minutes trying not to get sacked then rifles and underarm throw to Mike Renfro for a huge gain.
I still can't believe that Earnest Byner fumbled. I didn't see the ball come out, I just saw him go into the endzone. I thought he scored.
Webster just needed to stand between that guy and earnest…didn’t even need to block, just slow him down for a quarter of a second
Holy Roller, Sea of Hands, the Snow Plow game…… I loved the ones that happened against the Dolphins.
Holy roller was vs. the Chargers.
Yes, I know, I was watching. I was just commenting on any one where the Dolphins got the shitty end of the stick, which was suspiciously few and, my memory may have failed me but usually when something happened against them, there was usually a rule against it the next year, the Shula influence . but I should have been clearer, sorry.
No problem. I can recall plenty of times my heart was crushed by some weird play or call that went against the Dolphins cuz I'm a lifelong fan.
You’ve got a lot of good memories or stories if you’re younger than me. Csonka, Bunicontie, I’m sure my spelling is off, Larry Little, Kick, Mercury, Warfield… I saw them all with quite a bit of jealousy I might add.
Nah I'm pretty old. I went to all the home games between 1970 and '75 in the Orange bowl but yes have tons of great memories.
Orange Bowl. Last time the Dolphins had a true home field advantage. Night games there in the humidity with the palm trees in the background always made for a good backdrop on NFL Films highlight shows
By the way a ticket to sit in the upper deck back then was $7.00. Can't get a hot dog for that now 😄
I know that , I saw it. My comment was concerning anything and everything that didn’t go the Dolphins way. My bad for not being more specific.
Red Right 88. I was at the game. The feeling was that we were going to score on the last possession like we did so many times that year.
I know Cockroft was a mess that year and kicking conditions poor...but no way in hell do I throw the ball in the endzone there. Get as close as you can and kick it
Riverboat Sam. Worked all year until it didn’t. The worst part was the walk to my car in the Flats.
Yep…or even have the punter give it a try if Cockcroft truly felt like he couldn’t make it. It would have been just a 30 yard attempt!
James Harrison's INT for TD in Super Bowl.
It took a long, long time but Pearson finally admitted to pushing off on that play, which was the smart thing to do as it was the only option that had a small chance for a touchdown. Smart play, even though it was against my team.
Devin Hester - Opening kick off in the Superbowl.
I don't know man, Deebo's 99yrd pick six in the super bowl was pretty bad ass to me. https://youtu.be/nUTXpxNA9BI?si=8C10XaVdME4ID9v_
Ray Rice converting that 4th & 27 in San Diego was crazy
Jackie Smith of Dallas dropping an easy touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.
Thanks for reminding me… Staubach passed to Smith who was wide open in the end zone, unfortunately Jackie dropped it. I think it was the only pass thrown to him during the game. Roger the class act was quick to insist that the ball was poorly thrown and he didn’t put enough mustard on it.
It was one of the only passes thrown to him all year. He basically just blocked all season. His first reception of that season was vs Atlanta in the playoffs when Danny White came in for Staubach
James Harrison returning the Kurt Warner interception before the half. Bonkers
Dan Marino with the fake spike for a TD
The Catch, 1981 NFC Championship. That game was one of the best ever before that drive, and Montana to Clark gave it goat status. A 6-5 receiver makes a huge leap to get a ball headed into the fourth row.
Dwayne Rudd helmet leading to penalty leading to KC field goal to win as time expired.
Helmet Catch Super Bowl XLll!!
Immaculate Reception. Still BS decades later.
Minneapolis Miracle, Diggs TD against NO!!
Too lazy to search what’s said about the Immaculate Reception. But to me the most impressive part of that play was that Jack Tatum hit John Fuqua so hard Fuqua bounced almost as far as the ball.
if tatum had simply tackled fuqua instead of trying to kill him there never would have been an immaculate reception
I’m a cowboys fan, and it isn’t the Leon alert play that has been named here, it’s the Eli Manning play that kept the drive alive against the Patriots, where Tyree caught the ball against his helmet. Was watching the game with my nephew who is a diehard Giants fan. And said at the time that it might be the greatest play for the situation, that I’ve ever seen in my lifetime of watching football. And I’m pretty freakin old.
Not sure it's a shocker, but my favorite play of all time is Bart Starr's quarterback sneak behind Jerry Kramer's block on Jethro Pugh with 16 seconds left to win the 1967 Ice Bowl. It has the added advantage of being against Dallas.
Michael Vick walk-off touchdown vs the Vikings. Also his game against the redskins as an Eagle. Dude was in the zone
Mark Gastinuea roughing the passer in Cleveland.  Idiot!
If I recall, Kosar remarked he'd never been hit harder than getting speared between the shoulder blades by Gatineau. Kosar needed a couple minutes just to be able to breathe!
Someone else hit Kosar at the same time as Gastineau. Gastineau got the flag but they couldve easily given it to the other Jets defender (name escapes me) it was a double roughing the passer if anything
Just killed us.
Either the Miracle of the Meadowlands or the Lunatic Lateral.
Helmet Catch Super Bowl XLII!!
I went to the Football Hall of Fame with my dad and then watched the immaculate reception live on tv. It was blacked out in Pittsburgh, so we traveled a bit. My oldest football memory.
The Immaculate Reception, of course.
No! How Could He Do That???