This is a list of several dozen National Football League (NFL) games and plays that have been given names by the media, football fans, and as part of a team's lore because of a distinctive play, unusual outcome, or other circumstance. [1] This list does not include games named only for their position in the NFL playoff structure—e.g., the 1963 AFL Championship or Super Bowl XXXI.
Name | Date | Away team | Score | Home team | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Sneakers Game | December 9, 1934 | Chicago Bears | 13–30 | New York Giants | 1934 NFL Championship Game. Giants players switched to basketball sneakers in the middle of the game. [2] |
73–0 | December 8, 1940 | Chicago Bears | 73–0 | Washington Redskins | The Chicago Bears scored 11 touchdowns and won 73–0, the most lopsided victory in NFL history. [3] |
The Greatest Game Ever Played | December 28, 1958 | Baltimore Colts | 23–17 | New York Giants | First NFL playoff game to be decided in sudden death overtime. [9] Marked the beginning of the NFL's popularity surge and eventual rise to the top of the United States sports market. [10] |
Ice Bowl | December 31, 1967 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–21 | Green Bay Packers | 1967 NFL Championship Game. The coldest NFL game ever played, with a wind chill of −36 °F (−38 °C). [11] |
Heidi Game | November 17, 1968 | New York Jets | 32–43 | Oakland Raiders | Broadcaster NBC chose to break coverage in the East Coast to broadcast the television film Heidi , causing many viewers to miss the Raiders' two-touchdown comeback. [12] [13] |
The Santa Claus Game | December 15, 1968 | Minnesota Vikings | 24–17 | Philadelphia Eagles | Eagles fans upset by their team's poor season used snowballs to pelt a Santa Claus actor in a halftime Christmas parade. [14] [15] |
The Guarantee | January 12, 1969 | New York Jets | 16–7 | Baltimore Colts | Super Bowl III. 19-1⁄2-point underdog American Football League (AFL) champion New York Jets upset the NFL champion Baltimore Colts, after Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed his team's victory. [16] [17] [18] |
Miracle at the Met | December 14, 1980 | Cleveland Browns | 23–28 | Minnesota Vikings | Down 23–9 in the fourth quarter, the Minnesota Vikings came back with two touchdowns in the final two minutes to wide receiver Ahmad Rashad, including a 46-yard Hail Mary pass caught with one hand on the last play of the game. [19] [20] |
Announcerless Game | December 20, 1980 | New York Jets | 24–17 | Miami Dolphins | NBC game broadcast without commentators as an experiment. [21] |
Epic in Miami | January 2, 1982 | San Diego Chargers | 41–38 | Miami Dolphins | Exceptional performances by players on both teams produced 79 combined points in this 1981-82 NFL playoff game, setting numerous NFL records. [22] |
Freezer Bowl | January 10, 1982 | San Diego Chargers | 7–27 | Cincinnati Bengals | 1981 AFC Championship Game. Coldest game temperature in NFL history by wind chill: −59 °F (−51 °C) under the calculation method then in use. [23] |
Snowplow Game | December 12, 1982 | Miami Dolphins | 0–3 | New England Patriots | A snowplow operator cleared snow in front of New England kicker John Smith at the request of Patriots head coach Ron Meyer, enabling a game-winning but controversial field goal. [24] [25] |
Snowball Game (1985) | November 11, 1985 | San Francisco 49ers | 16–17 | Denver Broncos | Spectators at Denver's Mile High Stadium disrupted a 49ers' field goal attempt by throwing snowballs from the stands, helping the Denver Broncos to win. [26] [27] |
Snow Bowl (1985) | December 1, 1985 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0–21 | Green Bay Packers | Played as a snowstorm dropped more than 14 inches (36 cm) of snow before, during, and after the game. [28] [29] |
Fog Bowl | December 31, 1988 | Philadelphia Eagles | 12–20 | Chicago Bears | Dense fog rolled over Chicago's Soldier Field during the 2nd quarter, cutting visibility to 15 to 20 yards for the rest of the game and preventing many players from seeing the sidelines or first-down markers. [30] [31] |
Instant Replay Game | November 5, 1989 | Chicago Bears | 13–14 | Green Bay Packers | A penalty call was overturned by using instant replay, allowing a game-winning Green Bay Packers touchdown to stand against their division rival Chicago Bears. [32] [33] |
Bounty Bowl | November 23, 1989 | Philadelphia Eagles | 27–0 | Dallas Cowboys | Notable for allegations that the Eagles put a $200 bounty on Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas, who had been cut by Philadelphia earlier that season. [34] |
Bounty Bowl II | December 10, 1989 | Dallas Cowboys | 10–20 | Philadelphia Eagles | Rematch of Bounty Bowl I. Eagles fans threw objects at Cowboys players and coaches, game officials, and game announcers. [35] |
Body Bag Game | November 12, 1990 | Washington Redskins | 14–28 | Philadelphia Eagles | Nine Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders) players left with injuries. [36] |
No Punt Game | September 13, 1992 | Buffalo Bills | 34–31 | San Francisco 49ers | First NFL game without a punt by either team. Featured multiple future Hall of Famers; widely regarded as one of the NFL's best games,. [37] |
The Comeback | January 3, 1993 | Houston Oilers | 38–41 | Buffalo Bills | During this 1992–93 playoff game, the Buffalo Bills overcame a 35–3 deficit to defeat the visiting Houston Oilers 41–38 in overtime—the largest comeback in NFL history until the 2022 NFL season. [38] [39] [40] |
Fake Spike Game | November 27, 1994 | Miami Dolphins | 28–24 | New York Jets | Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino ran a trick play, pretending to stop the game clock but instead threw a pass that scored the game-winning touchdown, ultimately giving Miami the 28–24 victory. [41] |
Snowball Game (1995) | December 23, 1995 | San Diego Chargers | 27–17 | New York Giants | After a snowstorm, fans threw snowballs in the stands and onto the field. The Giants were nearly forced to forfeit the game. [42] [43] [44] |
The Catch II | January 3, 1999 | Green Bay Packers | 27–30 | San Francisco 49ers | Wild Card Playoff game which saw a 49ers game-winning pass to Terrell Owens with 8 seconds left in regulation. [45] [46] |
Pickle Juice Game | September 3, 2000 | Philadelphia Eagles | 41–14 | Dallas Cowboys | The Eagles used pickle juice to hydrate as field temperatures reached 130 degrees F. [47] [48] |
Monday Night Miracle | October 23, 2000 | Miami Dolphins | 37–40 | New York Jets | Jets comeback game with 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 30, winning in overtime. [49] |
Bottlegate | December 16, 2001 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 15–10 | Cleveland Browns | Browns fans threw beer bottles and other objects onto the field after referees overturned a Browns 4th-down conversion made two plays earlier. This decision, which violated NFL rules, ended the game early. [50] [51] |
Tuck Rule Game | January 19, 2002 | Oakland Raiders | 13–16 | New England Patriots | 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game in which a Patriots fumble was ruled an incomplete pass by officials because Patriots quarterback Tom Brady appeared to "tuck" the ball in. The Patriots won the game, and then Super Bowl XXXVI. [52] [53] |
Favre's Dad Game | December 22, 2003 | Green Bay Packers | 41-7 | Oakland Raiders | Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw for 399 yards and 4 touchdown passes the day after his father died of a heart attack. The game kept the Packers' playoff hopes alive and extended Favre's consecutive-start record. [54] [55] |
We want the ball and we're going to score! | January 4, 2004 | Seattle Seahawks | 27–33 | Green Bay Packers | 2003 NFC Wild-Card Playoff Game in which Seahawks' quarterback Matt Hasselbeck won the overtime coin toss; proclaimed, "We want the ball and we're going to score!"; and threw a game-losing pick-six. [56] [57] |
4th and 26 | January 11, 2004 | Green Bay Packers | 17–20 | Philadelphia Eagles | 2003–04 playoff overtime victory for the Eagles, whose quarterback Donovan McNabb completed a 28-yard pass on 4th-down-and-26-yards-to-go to wide receiver Freddie Mitchell in the 4th quarter. [58] [59] |
Fútbol Americano | October 2, 2005 | San Francisco 49ers | 14–31 | Arizona Cardinals | Marketing name for the first NFL game held outside the United States, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. [60] [61] |
"Rebirth" game | September 25, 2006 | Atlanta Falcons | 3–23 | New Orleans Saints | The first game played at the Louisiana Superdome following Hurricane Katrina. [62] |
They are who we thought they were! | October 16, 2006 | Chicago Bears | 24–23 | Arizona Cardinals | Bears won after trailing by 20 points at halftime; notable post-game rant by Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. [63] [64] |
Snow Globe Game | January 12, 2008 | Seattle Seahawks | 20–42 | Green Bay Packers | 2007 NFC Divisional playoff game in which the Packers mounted their largest comeback in playoff franchise history. [65] |
Miracle at the New Meadowlands | December 19, 2010 | Philadelphia Eagles | 38–31 | New York Giants | Comeback victory for the Eagles after being down by 21 points with eight minutes left in the 4th quarter, scoring four unanswered touchdowns and DeSean Jackson winning on a punt return as time expired for the first time in NFL history. [66] [67] |
Matt Flynn Game | January 2, 2012 | Detroit Lions | 41–45 | Green Bay Packer | Record-setting game by backup quarterback Matt Flynn. |
3:16 game | January 8, 2012 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 23–29 | Denver Broncos | 2011–12 NFL playoff game with five statistics containing three digits in the order 3–1–6, exactly three years after Broncos QB Tim Tebow wore eye black with the John 3:16 Bible verse. [68] [69] [70] |
Mile High Miracle | January 12, 2013 | Baltimore Ravens | 38–35 | Denver Broncos | 2012 AFC Divisional playoff game with 28 points scored in the first 11 minutes, five lead changes, decided by double overtime. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco threw a game-tying 70-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jacoby Jones with under a minute left in regulation. [71] [72] |
The Pick at the Stick | December 23, 2013 | Atlanta Falcons | 24-34 | San Francisco 49ers | 49ers clinched a playoff spot when NaVorro Bowman intercepted Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and returned the interception for an 89-yard touchdown. This was the last 49ers home game played at Candlestick Park. [73] |
Dez Caught It | January 11, 2015 | Dallas Cowboys | 21–26 | Green Bay Packers | 2014 –15 Divisional Playoff. Officials ruled that Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant had not caught the ball as he was lunging towards the end zone, but the allowing the Green Bay Packers to win. |
Miracle in Motown | December 3, 2015 | Green Bay Packers | 27–23 | Detroit Lions | Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard (56 m) Hail Mary pass into the end-zone that was caught by tight end Richard Rodgers for the game-winning touchdown after trailing 20–0 in the second half. [74] [75] |
The Meltdown at Paul Brown | January 9, 2016 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 18–16 | Cincinnati Bengals | Game with multiple injuries and personal fouls by both teams, culminating in two game-losing penalties: one issued for a helmet strike by Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict against Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, the second for Adam "Pacman" Jones arguing with Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter. [76] [77] [78] |
28–3 | February 5, 2017 | New England Patriots | 34–28 | Atlanta Falcons | Super Bowl LI. Down 28-3 midway through the third quarter, the Patriots won the first Super Bowl to go to overtime, overcoming an estimated 99.8% chance of a Falcons victory in the third quarter. Regarded by many media outlets as the best Super Bowl of all time. [79] [80] [81] [82] |
Snow Bowl (2017) / Snowvertime | December 10, 2017 | Indianapolis Colts | 7–13 | Buffalo Bills | Game held in the midst of a heavy lake-effect snow storm that ultimately dumped 16.7 inches (42 cm) of snow in Orchard Park, with 8 to 9 inches (20 to 23 cm) falling during the game alone. Alternate name due to the fact it went into overtime. [83] [84] |
Same Old Browns | January 10, 2021 | Cleveland Browns | 48–37 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2020–21 NFL playoff game with the Browns leading against the Steelers 28–0 by the end of the first quarter, resulting in the Browns' first playoff win in 26 years. The victory followed derogatory comments made by Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster calling the Browns' roster "nameless gray faces" and saying "The Browns is the Browns". [85] [86] [87] |
The Return | October 3, 2021 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 19–17 | New England Patriots | Tom Brady's first game at the New England Patriots' Gillette Stadium after leaving the team and signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [88] [89] [90] |
13 Seconds | January 23, 2022 | Buffalo Bills | 36–42 | Kansas City Chiefs | 2021 AFC Divisional playoff game featuring both the Bills' quarterback Josh Allen and the Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes throwing for 300 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and rushing for at least 50 yards, culminating in a Mahomes 44-yard drive with 13 seconds left to bring the game to overtime for the Chiefs to ultimately win. The game also resulted in changes to overtime rules to allow both teams to possess the ball. [91] [92] |
Minneapolis Miracle II | December 17, 2022 | Indianapolis Colts | 36–39 | Minnesota Vikings | The largest comeback in NFL history, with the Minnesota Vikings overcoming a 33–0 halftime deficit. [93] [94] |
Name | Date | Away team | Score | Home team | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Hit | November 20, 1960 | Philadelphia Eagles | 17–10 | New York Giants | The Eagles' Chuck Bednarik tackled the Giants' Frank Gifford, knocking him unconscious and giving him a deep concussion that required hospitalization. Considered to be among the most vicious tackles in professional football history. [95] |
The Wrong Way Run | October 25, 1964 | Minnesota Vikings | 27–22 | San Francisco 49ers | Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall accidentally ran the wrong way into his own end zone after retrieving an offensive fumble, causing a safety. [96] [97] |
65 Toss Power Trap | January 11, 1970 | Kansas City Chiefs | 23-7 | Minnesota Vikings | Super Bowl IV. Misdirection play called by Chiefs coach Hank Stram on third and goal on the 5-yard line, leading to a touchdown. Remembered as the decisive moment of the Chiefs' upset victory, as well as for the on-field recordings of Stram by NFL Films in the first NFL game featuring a head coach wearing a microphone. [98] [99] |
Immaculate Reception | December 23, 1972 | Oakland Raiders | 7–13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | In a 1972 AFC divisional playoff game, a Steelers pass bounced off of a Raider's helmet before being caught by Steelers fullback Franco Harris for a game-winning touchdown. [100] [101] |
The Sea of Hands | December 21, 1974 | Miami Dolphins | 26–28 | Oakland Raiders | In a 1974–75 NFL playoff game, Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler launched a touchdown pass to running back Clarence Davis, who wrestled the ball away from Miami defenders to secure victory for the Raiders and end Miami's historic run of Super Bowl appearances. [102] |
Hail Mary | December 28, 1975 | Dallas Cowboys | 17–14 | Minnesota Vikings | In a NFL playoff game, Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw a long last-ditch game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson. He later called it a Hail Mary pass, inventing the term. [103] [104] |
Ghost to the Post | December 24, 1977 | Oakland Raiders | 37–31 | Baltimore Colts | A 42-yard pass from Raiders QB Ken Stabler to Dave Casper, nicknamed "The Ghost", set up a game-tying field goal in the final seconds of regulation in the double-overtime 1977-1978 AFC divisional playoff game. [105] [106] |
Holy Roller | September 10, 1978 | Oakland Raiders | 21–20 | San Diego Chargers | Controversial game-winning play in which Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler fumbled the ball forward, followed by several other Raiders players pushing the ball towards the end zone for a touchdown that was ruled a forward fumble instead of a forward pass. [107] |
Miracle at the Meadowlands | November 19, 1978 | Philadelphia Eagles | 19–17 | New York Giants | Needing only to run out the final seconds to win, the Giants botched a handoff, causing a fumble that Eagles defensive back Herm Edwards recovered for a touchdown. Led to the universal adoption of the quarterback kneel to end games and the firing of Giants offensive coordinator Bob Gibson. [108] [109] [110] |
Red Right 88 | January 4, 1981 | Oakland Raiders | 14–12 | Cleveland Browns | In a 1980–81 NFL playoff game, the Browns passed up a field-goal attempt to run their "Red Slot Right, Halfback Stay, 88," pass play. Raiders safety Mike Davis intercepted the pass, ending the Browns' season. [111] [112] [113] |
The Catch | January 10, 1982 | Dallas Cowboys | 27–28 | San Francisco 49ers | During the 1981 NFC Championship Game, a 49er made a leaping grab in the back of the end zone to complete a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Montana, enabling the 49ers to defeat the Cowboys and go on to win Super Bowl XVI. [114] [115] |
The Drive | January 11, 1987 | Denver Broncos | 23–20 | Cleveland Browns | Broncos quarterback John Elway led a 98-yard, 5-minute-2-second drive in the 4th quarter of the 1986 AFC Championship Game to tie the game and allow a game-winning field goal in overtime. [116] [117] |
The Fumble | January 17, 1988 | Cleveland Browns | 33–38 | Denver Broncos | The 1987 AFC Championship Game, a rematch of The Drive game, saw the Browns fumble away a chance to pull ahead in the 4th quarter. [118] [119] |
Wide Right | January 27, 1991 | Buffalo Bills | 19–20 | New York Giants | Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard, would-be game-winning field goal, allowing the New York Giants to win Super Bowl XXV. [120] [121] |
Clock Play | November 27, 1994 | Miami Dolphins | 28–24 | New York Jets | See Fake Spike Game above. |
Immaculate Deflection | January 14, 1996 | Indianapolis Colts | 16–20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | In the 1995 AFC Championship Game, Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh threw a Hail Mary pass that was deflected by multiple players in the end zone and was almost caught by receiver Aaron Bailey before being ruled incomplete, enabling the Steelers to advance to Super Bowl XXX. [122] [123] |
The Helicopter | January 25, 1998 | Denver Broncos | 31-24 | Green Bay Packers | In Super Bowl XXXII, Broncos quarterback John Elway was hit so hard by three Packers defenders that he spun sideways in mid-air, yet recovered to dive for a first down. This play led to a Broncos lead and eventually their first world championship. |
Music City Miracle | January 8, 2000 | Buffalo Bills | 16–22 | Tennessee Titans | In a 1999–2000 playoff game, Titans tight end Frank Wycheck threw a lateral pass across the field to Kevin Dyson, who ran 75 yards to score the game-winning touchdown. [124] [125] |
One Yard Short | January 30, 2000 | St. Louis Rams | 23–16 | Tennessee Titans | On the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV, Rams linebacker Mike Jones tackled Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson on the one-yard line, preventing a game-tying touchdown. [126] [127] |
River City Relay | December 21, 2003 | New Orleans Saints | 19–20 | Jacksonville Jaguars | The Saints used three laterals to score a touchdown as time expired in regulation. New Orleans kicker John Carney missed the extra point that would have sent the game into overtime, giving Jacksonville the 20–19 victory. [128] [129] |
The Immaculate Redemption | January 15, 2006 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 21–18 | Indianapolis Colts | In a 2005 AFC Divisional playoff game, a late-game fumble by Steelers running back Jerome Bettis was recovered by Colts player Nick Harper, who was stopped near midfield by QB Ben Roethlisberger in a shoestring tackle that likely prevented a game-winning touchdown for the Colts. [130] [131] |
Helmet Catch | February 3, 2008 | New York Giants | 17–14 | New England Patriots | In the final two minutes of Super Bowl XLII, Giants QB Eli Manning escaped from three New England Patriots defensive players and threw a pass that David Tyree leapt and pressed against his helmet. A subsequent touchdown cemented an upset victory over the Patriots, who were on the verge of becoming the first National Football League (NFL) team to finish a season undefeated and untied since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. [132] [133] [134] |
The Dan Orlovsky | October 12, 2008 | Detroit Lions | 10–12 | Minnesota Vikings | Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky, making his first NFL start, accidentally ran out of the back of the end zone, helping to lose the game amid the Lions' eventual 0–16 season. [135] [136] Similar blunders by later quarterbacks, including Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew, have been called "pulling a Dan Orlovsky". [137] [138] [139] |
Miracle in Miami (2010) | February 7, 2010 | Indianapolis Colts | 17-31 | New Orleans Saints | In the final minutes of Super Bowl XLIV, Tracy Porter intercepted a Peyton Manning pass and returned it for a touchdown. The Colts retook possession of the ball with 3:12 remaining, only to turn over the ball on downs in six plays, leading to a Drew Brees quarterback kneel with 44 seconds left that gave the Saints their first world championship. |
Beast Quake | January 8, 2011 | New Orleans Saints | 36–41 | Seattle Seahawks | Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch broke nine tackles on a 67-yard touchdown run. The subsequent celebration of Seahawks fans registered on a nearby seismograph. [140] [141] [142] |
The Catch III | January 14, 2012 | New Orleans Saints | 32–36 | San Francisco 49ers | Last-second, game-winning touchdown pass caught by Vernon Davis. |
Fail Mary | September 24, 2012 | Green Bay Packers | 12–14 | Seattle Seahawks | The Seahawks won on a Hail Mary pass for a touchdown despite an offensive pass interference penalty and a simultaneous possession catch. [143] [144] |
Butt Fumble | November 22, 2012 | New England Patriots | 49–19 | New York Jets | Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collided with the buttocks of his teammate, offensive lineman Brandon Moore, causing a fumble that was recovered by the Patriots' safety Steve Gregory and returned for a touchdown. [145] [146] |
The Tip | January 19, 2014 | San Francisco 49ers | 17–23 | Seattle Seahawks | With 30 seconds left in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw a pass to Michael Crabtree that was deflected in the right corner of the endzone by cornerback Richard Sherman into linebacker Malcolm Smith's hands for an interception, sealing the Seahawks victory and allowing them their first Super Bowl win at Super Bowl XLVIII. [147] |
Colts Catastrophe | October 18, 2015 | New England Patriots | 34–27 | Indianapolis Colts | An unsuccessful Colts fake punt trick play in which upback Colt Anderson was to receive the ball from gunner Griff Whalen with no protection, resulting in an immediate tackle for a loss after the ball was snapped and an illegal formation penalty on the Colts. New England took over on downs. Broadly regarded as one of the worst plays in NFL history. [148] [149] [150] |
Immaculate Extension | December 25, 2016 | Baltimore Ravens | 27–31 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Catch by Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown at the Baltimore 1-yard line, which he extended over the goal line despite being tackled by two Baltimore defenders to take the lead and win the game. [151] |
Minneapolis Miracle | January 14, 2018 | New Orleans Saints | 24–29 | Minnesota Vikings | 2017–18 playoff game play where on the last play of the game, Vikings quarterback Case Keenum threw a pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs; Saints safety Marcus Williams missed a tackle, allowing Diggs to run to the end zone to complete the 61-yard touchdown pass. The game became the first in NFL playoff history to end in a touchdown as time expired. [152] [153] |
Philly Special | February 4, 2018 | Philadelphia Eagles | 41–33 | New England Patriots | Super Bowl LII trick play with the ball snapped by Eagles center Jason Kelce to running back Corey Clement, flipped to Trey Burton, and thrown to Eagles QB Nick Foles who ran for a touchdown, helping the Eagles win their first championship in 57 years. Nick Foles became the first player in Super Bowl history to both throw and catch a touchdown pass during a Super Bowl game. This is actually what the play is called in the Eagles’ playbook. [154] [155] [156] |
Miracle in Miami | December 9, 2018 | New England Patriots | 33–34 | Miami Dolphins | The first walk-off game-winning touchdown in NFL history to involve multiple lateral passes. [157] [158] |
Double Doink | January 6, 2019 | Philadelphia Eagles | 16–15 | Chicago Bears | 2018 NFC Wild Card game-ending field goal attempt by Bears kicker Cody Parkey that was partially deflected by Eagles defensive lineman Treyvon Hester before the ball hit the left upright and then bounced off the crossbar away from the scoring goal, resulting in a Bears loss. [159] [160] |
NOLA No-Call | January 20, 2019 | Los Angeles Rams | 26–23 | New Orleans Saints | Missed pass interference call on the Rams during the 2018 NFC Championship Game, resulted in backlash against NFL officiating. [161] [162] [163] |
Jet Chip Wasp | February 2, 2020 | San Francisco 49ers | 20–31 | Kansas City Chiefs | Super Bowl LIV. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' largest 2019 season air-distance completion at 57.1 yards in the air to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. [164] [165] |
Hail Murray | November 15, 2020 | Buffalo Bills | 30–32 | Arizona Cardinals | Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw a 43-yard Hail Mary pass into the end zone that wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught over three Bills defenders for the game-winning touchdown. [166] [167] |
The Butt Punt | September 25, 2022 | Buffalo Bills | 19–21 | Miami Dolphins | Dolphins punter Thomas Morstead kicked the ball into the backside of Dolphins blocker Trent Sherfield, causing the ball to roll out of the end zone for a safety. [168] [169] [170] |
Lunatic Lateral | December 18, 2022 | New England Patriots | 24–30 | Las Vegas Raiders | Game-losing double lateral thrown to Raiders defender Chandler Jones for a walk-off touchdown. [171] [172] |
Hell Mary / Fail Mary (2023) | November 24, 2023 | Miami Dolphins | 34–13 | New York Jets | Failed Hail Mary pass by Jets quarterback Tim Boyle led to a 99-yard pick-six by Dolphins safety Jevon Holland. [173] [174] [175] [176] |
Hail Maryland | October 27, 2024 | Chicago Bears | 15–18 | Washington Commanders | Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a Hail Mary pass as time expired that was tipped at the goal line by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson to Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown to win the game 18-15. [177] [178] [179] |
The Dagger | February 9, 2025 | Kansas City Chiefs | 22-40 | Philadelphia Eagles | Super Bowl LIX. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith to make the score 34-0 late in the third quarter. The broadcast crew (Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady) dubbed the play "The Dagger", as the Eagles chose to score quickly rather than run down the clock to protect their lead. [180] |
Buffalo Bills-From 32 points behind to win
The Buffalo Bills overcame a 32-point third-quarter Houston lead
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Of course, afterward in the locker room Stabler said he intentionally had fumbled the ball forward, which would have been an incompleted, forward pass under the rule.
There was the 1995 AFC championship game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, when the Colts trailed 20–16 in the final minutes