Buzz
It's that exciting time of the year once again. As Hank Williams Jr. would sing, "Are you ready for some football?" Here at Mytour, we are, and we're thrilled to bring you the Top 10 Most Unforgettable NFL Moments. But before we get started, here are a few things to note:
- Iconic moments like "The Catch" are not included as they've appeared on other lists. For more, check out this list. So, to the 49ers fans, please, no hate mail.
- For those who may not be familiar with American football, here's a quick guide to the terminology. In football, a team is given four plays, or downs, to gain ten yards and earn another set of downs. If on first down you are at 1st and 10, and then gain two yards, it becomes 2nd and 8. If 8 or more yards are gained, it's another 1st and 10. If the offense doesn’t reach a first down, the ball is turned over, or on 4th down, the team can choose to punt to push the opposing team further down the field.
10. 4th and 26
The Philadelphia Eagles' playoff hopes were on the line in the final minutes of a divisional game against the Green Bay Packers. Trailing by 3 points with just over a minute left, they faced a tough challenge after Donovan McNabb's incomplete pass. The Eagles were penalized for a false start, setting them back by 5 yards. McNabb was then sacked for an 11-yard loss, leaving them with a daunting 3rd-and-26 situation. But in a dramatic turn, McNabb made a perfect pass to Freddie Mitchell, who caught it for a 28-yard gain. The Eagles' season was still alive, leading to a game-winning field goal by David Akers in overtime.
9. Miracle at the Meadowlands
In a highly anticipated game against their fierce rivals, the New York Giants faced the Philadelphia Eagles with the clock ticking down in the fourth quarter. While most teams would have taken a knee to run out the clock, the Giants chose to run a play. Quarterback Joe Pisarcik handed the ball to Larry Csonka, but Csonka fumbled, and the ball hit the ground. Herman Edwards, a cornerback for the Eagles, seized the opportunity, scooping up the loose ball and racing 26 yards to score a game-winning touchdown. This iconic play, known as the Miracle at the Meadowlands, sealed a playoff spot for the Eagles and sent the Giants to the bottom of their division. It also forever changed how teams handle the game's final moments.
8. Super Bowl I
The game that started the legendary Super Bowl tradition deserves its place on this list. In 1966, the National Football League Champion faced off against the American Football League Champion in a game that wasn’t even called the Super Bowl yet. The Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs were mismatched, but the Chiefs kept it close, trailing by only four points at halftime. However, in the second half, Vince Lombardi’s Packers dominated, defeating the AFL champions 35-10. This historic matchup paved the way for future Super Bowls and was instrumental in the eventual NFL-AFL merger.
7. Music City Miracle
In a thrilling 2000 wild card playoff game, the Tennessee Titans were about to lose to the Buffalo Bills, who were leading by 1 point with just 16 seconds remaining. The Titans received a kickoff, and Lorenzo Neal passed the ball to Frank Wycheck. Wycheck threw a lateral pass across the field to Kevin Dyson, who sprinted 75 yards to score a touchdown, clinching the victory in one of the most unforgettable plays in NFL history.
6. Wide Right
A kicker's job in the NFL might seem straightforward, but the pressure is immense, especially in crucial moments. In Super Bowl XXV, with just eight seconds left, the Buffalo Bills were down 20-19 to the New York Giants. The Bills called on veteran kicker Scott Norwood, their leader in points scored, to attempt a 47-yard field goal for the win. Everything went according to plan—the snap and ball placement were flawless. Norwood’s kick had the right distance, but unfortunately, it veered wide to the right. As the clock ran out, the Giants celebrated their victory, and Norwood’s chance at legend status slipped away.
5. One Yard Short
Kevin Dyson came agonizingly close to clinching a Super Bowl victory for the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, but fate had other plans. The Titans trailed the St. Louis Rams 23-16 and had mounted a spectacular drive in the dying seconds of the game. From the ten-yard line, they were one touchdown away from forcing overtime. With only six seconds left, quarterback Steve McNair threw a pass to Dyson, who was sprinting unchallenged toward the end zone. Just as Dyson stretched out to score, Rams linebacker Mike Jones dove and tackled him, preventing the touchdown by mere inches. Despite Dyson’s heroic effort, the Rams were crowned Super Bowl champions by a single yard.
4. The 1972 Miami Dolphins
In 1972, the Miami Dolphins were unstoppable, finishing the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record and securing the Super Bowl victory. To this day, they are the only NFL team to remain undefeated throughout an entire season. Despite losing their star quarterback, Bob Griese, in week 5, Earl Morrall stepped in without missing a beat. In Super Bowl VII, held in Los Angeles, the Dolphins faced the Washington Redskins, who surprisingly entered the game as slight favorites. The Dolphins’ dominant 'No Name' defense shut down the Redskins, limiting them to crossing midfield just once in the first half, giving the Dolphins a 14-0 lead at halftime. In the 4th quarter, the Dolphins muffed a field goal, allowing Washington to return it for a touchdown. Nevertheless, the Dolphins held firm, winning the game 14-7, and completed the first and only undefeated season in NFL history.
3. Giants Beat the Patriots
Has any NFL team been as dominant as the 2007 New York Giants? With five receivers capable of starting for any other team, they finished the season with a +315 point differential and clinched their division by a remarkable 9-game margin. Going into the Super Bowl, no one expected them to stand a chance. The Giants had already lost to the Patriots earlier in the season, and with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady poised to capture a third title in four years, as well as secure the second undefeated season in NFL history, the odds were stacked against New York. However, with just 2:39 left and the Giants trailing by 4 points, Eli Manning led an 83-yard, 12-play drive. It culminated in a stunning play where Manning evaded a sack and threw a miraculous pass to David Tyree, who caught the ball with his fingertips and pinned it to his helmet. Moments later, Plaxico Burress caught the game-winning touchdown on a fade route, securing one of the most memorable Super Bowl victories of all time.
2. Joe Namath Guarantee
After two dominating victories in the Super Bowl, no one saw the AFL standing toe-to-toe with the NFL. Many thought it would take several more years before the leagues could successfully merge. The AFL Champion New York Jets were huge underdogs against the legendary Baltimore Colts, one of the NFL's greatest teams. Joe Namath, in front of the press, was heckled by a fan, and famously responded, 'We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.' Before the game, this was seen as an absurd claim, but after leading the Jets to a 16-7 victory and winning the MVP award, Namath was the only one laughing. His bold prediction set the stage for the AFL-NFL merger and made Namath an iconic figure both on and off the field.
1. The Immaculate Reception
Voted by NFL Films as the Greatest Play in NFL History, this iconic moment unfolded during a divisional playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers. Facing a crucial 4th-and-10 from their own 40-yard line, and trailing 7-6 with time running out, the Steelers had one last chance. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw, under heavy pressure, threw a pass to his running back. The ball deflected off a defender and was miraculously caught, just inches from the ground, by rookie fullback Franco Harris. Harris then ran the ball all the way downfield, scoring a touchdown with just five seconds remaining. A Pittsburgh fan who called into a radio station that night coined the term 'Immaculate Reception,' a play on the Christian phrase. The play is widely considered the greatest catch in NFL history.
