Greatest Play In NFL History

[maust]

They will 100% choose the helmet catch #1. I would put money on it.

I'd take that bet.

 

[VectorPrime]

The Tyree Catch did not win the game. The Pats absolutely had opportunities on defense to hold the Giants after that play and blew it. The Butler Interception on the other hand singularly won the Super Bowl snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

[tasmlab]

Helmet catch is going to be ranked way higher than it should.

Given that it was in the big game with the perfect season on the line, the stakes so high, and what the Pats continued to do, I would see it earning its top five status.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Top 5 (in no order) in terms of iconic

Montana to Clark
Butler INT
Immaculate Reception
Starr QB keeper in Ice Bowl with Kramer’s block
Helmet Catch

Edelman’s Cleat Catch was better than Tyree’s but won’t get on because of the story line

Santonio Holmes catch possibly but I think the others are stronger choices

Elway helicopter run is a possibility

Porter’s pick 6 on Manning is a top 5 in my book

Vinatieri’s snow Bowl/tuck rule field goal clearly one of the best but lost in the controversy to most people

***Martellus Bennett would have been in the discussion if he hadn’t been tackled for a DPI in Super Bowl 51. That was the game right there and would have been the most classic pass of Brady’s career.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Mine, in no special order
Snowbowl kick to tie
Malcolm Go
Montana to Clark
Immaculate reception
Music city miracle
McGinnest goal line tackle
Helmet catch
Butt fumble
Colts weird punt formation

 

[Wheelman]

**** me. That David Tyree catch is going to be top 10 at least.

 

[Simpelton]

How could the Butler INT not be #1? I can't think of a bigger play.

Except that the nature of fan and media preference for offense over defense means that a lot of attention is going to focus on how it was a bad offensive play, and less focus goes to how well Browner and Butler did on the play.

Whatever they do, the #1 play is probably going to be an offensive play. Simply because fans, unless invested directly in 1 of the 2 teams, prefer touchdowns to defensive stops.

I mean, WE know that that might be the single biggest play in Patriots history, as it ignited Phase 2 of the Dynasty. but I don't think it's quite seen that way leaguewide.

 

[italian pat patriot]

BUTLER int
AV the Kick in the show
WATSON play @Denver

3 number 1...

 

[PatsWSB47]

And tackling him won the game.

I'll go as far as calling it an important play. Yes it ended the game but it was not a great play. It was a good tackle but not an extraordinary one. If not for being the last play you could call it almost routine. Butler's interception was great. Edelman's catch was great. Tyree's catch was great. The discussion is the greatest play in NFL's history. Cripes an extra point could win the game.

 

[Boomer B]

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

 

[1960Pats]

Except that the nature of fan and media preference for offense over defense means that a lot of attention is going to focus on how it was a bad offensive play, and less focus goes to how well Browner and Butler did on the play.

Whatever they do, the #1 play is probably going to be an offensive play. Simply because fans, unless invested directly in 1 of the 2 teams, prefer touchdowns to defensive stops.

I mean, WE know that that might be the single biggest play in Patriots history, as it ignited Phase 2 of the Dynasty. but I don't think it's quite seen that way leaguewide.

Maybe they should have a greatest defensive and offensive play.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

The rams tackling the titan wr at the 1 on the last play of the Sb.

It wasn't to win the game, that failed Titans play was only to TIE the game, yes ?

.

 

[ivanvamp]

The play impacts its game not the future.
Nonetheless it could be one of the most impactful single plays in NFL history, but not ahead of the rams/titans tackle at the 1 on the mast play of the game.

This was published in 2015, so obviously doesn't account for anything since, but it has, based on the swing in win expectancy, Butler's pick as by FAR the most impactful play in terms of influencing a team winning (or losing) the Super Bowl.

One Play Away: The Updated List of the Most Influential Plays in NFL History

Do with it what you will. I can take a guess as to what you'll do with it.

 

[ivanvamp]

It wasn't to win the game, that failed Titans play was only to TIE the game, yes ?

.

Correct. And if we're going to play that game, where would we put the Giants BARELY tipping the ball away from Moss on that 70 yard pass at the end of SB 42, where, if he catches it, likely races into the end zone for the greatest play in NFL history? That tipped pass saved the day for NY.

Or...

The Giants preventing the Hail Mary that fell like a half yard away from a lunging Gronkowski at the end of SB 46? He's on a good ankle, or a yard closer, and it's a miracle TD. Last play of the game, the entire game in the balance.

The reason that the Butler play swung the game so much is because if Seattle scores there (which had a high likelihood of happening given that they had another play or two to try), the game is over and Seattle wins. The Rams/Titans play - as phenomenal and impactful as it was - would have only tied the game for Tennessee - IF they had first made the PAT (Del Greco was 43-43 in PATs that year so that seems pretty likely but still...it had to happen). And THEN Tennessee MAY have won in overtime.

The Butler play took near certain victory and turned it into certain defeat.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Immaculate Reception. Never underestimate marketing.

For that reason, The Catch, The Helmet Catch and Music City Miracle will also be way up there.

Butler's pick needs a catchy nickname for a nationwide audience other than Seattle Should Have Run It.

Edit to clarify: The above is how I see the panel selecting plays, not my personal picks.

Regards,
Chris

 

[Ring 6]

It wasn't to win the game, that failed Titans play was only to TIE the game, yes ?

.

They won by stopping it.

 

[Uptown]

My favorite is Edelman’s SB cleat catch. That simply CANNOT be re-simulated.

But I’d have to go with Butler’s INT.


Very interesting debate.

 

[PatsWSB47]

They won by stopping it.

Its the play that ended the game. That doesnt make it a candidate for one of the greatest plays in NFL history in my book. It was a good tackle. If he had muffed it then it would have gone down as a monumental failure on a very makeable tackle. Think if Welker had made that catch against the Giants in the SB. Right now its viewed as the reason the Pats lost that game. If he had made it they wouldn't be lauding it as one of the greatest plays in NFL history. They'd be calling a key play in the game I think

 

[Ring 6]

Its the play that ended the game. That doesnt make it a candidate for one of the greatest plays in NFL history in my book. It was a good tackle. If he had muffed it then it would have gone down as a monumental failure on a very makeable tackle. Think if Welker had made that catch against the Giants in the SB. Right now its viewed as the reason the Pats lost that game. If he had made it they wouldn't be lauding it as one of the greatest plays in NFL history. They'd be calling a key play in the game I think

Ok you can think what you want and I can think what I want.
Stopping the last play of the game at the 1 yard line is a huge in my book. It doesnt have to be, in yours. We can have different books.

 

[bormio]

A lot of these plays are lucky. Butler’s INT was not.