NFL
Top 5 Craziest Moments in NFL History
Summarising the greatest moments in NFL history is nearly impossible, as there have just been so many blockbuster moments, from miraculous touchdowns to unreal upsets.
Let’s dive into the action starting with our fifth greatest moment of all time.
5. Jets over Colts
We kick off the list with what some may call the greatest NFL upset in history, with the Colts heading into Super Bowl III as the 19.5 point favourites. To get those odds in a Super Bowl seems record worthy in itself, but with Jets actually beating the odds and taking home a 16-7 win, this surely must be one of the greatest moments in NFL history, and arguably the greatest Super Bowl upset in history.
4. One yard short – Super Bowl XXXIV 2000
For our next great NFL moment, it wasn’t a daring touchdown or record-breaking win, but an outstanding defensive play from the Rams linebacker Mike Jones.
To set the scene, it was in the dying moments of Super Bowl XXXIV, with both the Tennessee Titans and the St. Louis Rams bitterly fighting over which side would achieve their first Super Bowl win.
With one play left, the Titans desperately needed a touchdown to equalise from the 10-yard line. Titans quarterback Steve McNair passed the ball to Kevin Dyson right before the goal line and was inches away from achieving his dreams before Rams linebacker Mike Jones grabbed and brought him down, just one yard short of the goal line.
This will go down as one of the greatest challenges in NFL history and secured the St. Louis Rams their first ever Super Bowl win, a feat which they wouldn’t achieve again until 2022 when the now Los Angeles Rams bettered the Cincinnati Bengals by 23-20.
3. The catch – Joe Montana 80s
For third on our list, we head back to what is considered the most iconic NFL moment of the 1980’s, with what has simply become known as ‘The catch’. During the 1982 NFC Championship game between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, there were 58 seconds left on the clock when then quarterback Joe Montana lobbed a third down pass to Dwight Clark, who just made the catch by the tips of his fingers.
This iconic catch put the 49ers up 28-27 and earnt them their place in the Super Bowl. This play is often heralded as the starting point for the 49ers dominant dynasty that wreaked havoc throughout the 1980’s.
2. New York Giants Super Bowl upset
At Super Bowl XLII, there seemed to be one clear winner heading into the game. The New England Patriots were 18-0 heading into the match, and the last thing anyone expected was for the New York Giants to produce the upset, having come into the Super Bowl as a Wild Card team.
In the fourth quarter, the Giants were down 14-10, until something miraculous occurred, with the Giants on a third down, Eli Manning lobbed the ball to David Tyree in the middle of the field, who made a leaping catch by pressing the ball against his helmet.
The play led to a touchdown which marked the 17-14 victory over the Patriots, denying them of an undefeated and untied season, and achieving “Play of the Decade (2000s)” from NFL Films.
1. Steelers immaculate reception
More than five decades on from this jaw dropping moment, it is still NFL fan’s favourite play of all time according to the NFL website. The play was dubbed the ‘Immaculate Reception’ and occurred during the AFC divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders on December 23rd, 1973.
With just 30 seconds remaining on the clock, the Steelers were trailing when their quarterback Terry Bradshaw attempted to throw a pass to John Fuqua, but the ball bounced off the helmet of Raiders safety Jack Tatum, and into the hands of Steelers fullback Franko Harris, who ran for a game winning touchdown.
To truly understand the bizarre circumstance and excitement, you need to watch a replay, which still raises goosebumps every time. After NFL fans voted this their favourite NFL moment, and considering the gravity of the touchdown, the immaculate reception also marks our number one NFL moment of all time.
