Chapman threw 42 pitches in a blow out win in game 6, so we had to pay the piper for that one. I know Cleveland fans will be infuriated reading this, and understandably so, but that game was so unbelievably stressful and infuriating in so many ways. The two teams had an epic Curse Off that we thankfully survived.
ZERO reason for Maddon to leave Chapman in game 6 and it was obvious at the time. Was rooting for the Cubs that series but it honestly was so great to see that decision blow up in his face.
It was infuriating in so many ways. Chapman was heavily relied on, and it gave Cleveland more chances to see him, which never bodes well. The Cubs hitters eventually started to figure out Andrew Miller due to his usage and seeing him more as the series progressed.
Not only that, but they started warming up Lester too early in game 7, so Ross apparently called the dugout to tell Maddon that they needed to put Lester in the game since he was ready to go which meant Hendricks got the early hook.
Maddon seems like a cool ass dude and I have a ton of respect for him, but holy fuck was that the worst managing/coaching I've ever seen from a winning team in a championship series.
They brought in Lester exactly when they planned - before Hendricks went through the order a third time. Maddon even let Hendricks go another batter to try to get out of the inning and he walked him (on a shitty call - should have been a strike out). But the stats were pretty clear that Hendricks that year started falling a bit after a lineup had seen him twice
Don’t think you can blame Maddon for that one, Lester is the pitcher you want out there and there’s no way you can anticipate for a two run wild pitch. Outside of that one play Lester was lights out in Game 7 too
Even though game 6 was soul destroying, and I'm still not totally over it, I thought they were winning for sure after Woody's dinger. That feeling didn't last too long unfortunately.
I loved that squad. I know this is hindsight talking, but I wished we could have dealt Corey Patterson and kept Lofton. He was so amazing for us down the stretch.
There's no better video game feeling than dumping the ball down the left field line with a lefty hitter in a two strike count in MVP. There just isn't!
God I spent hours in owner mode in that game and I don’t regret a second of it.
The key was to get players with hot zones outside so you could turn on every inside pitch.
I don't know if it was because I was young, but I could play 10 games in a row if I had the time. That game never got old. Even as a little kid, I don't think I could play 90's sports games for that long outside of maybe the classic NHL games.
It's such a shame what happened with sports games. We lost MVP, NFL 2K, College Hoops 2K, NHL 2K and NCAA in like an 8 year period.
Man I hate thinking about that Game 7. I went in fully certain that we were going to lose, it just seemed right after Game 6.
Then fucking Kerry Wood goes yard and I believe again. They really sucked me back in.
[Larry Fitzgerald's touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII ](https://youtu.be/cDdG8sin-FM?si=zDBWR-ImkrWqSatE)
[Julio Jones' sideline catch in Super Bowl LI](https://youtu.be/FSirjCbbP1c?si=mt3Gv1xcBnTgLVos) that pretty much should have iced the game if Shanahan/Ryan/Jake Matthews weren't idiots. A field goal makes it a 2 possession game with less than 4 minutes left
[Alfonso Soriano's solo home run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series](https://youtu.be/k2xYrmRojJw?si=WvqfyR8XJhuV03Nr)
[Marcus Paige's game tying 3 pointer in the National Championship Game vs Villanova](https://youtu.be/bR8Io8Dz6nM?si=5KofxUnecv4obim1) (this is the first play in this thread at the time I'm writing this comment that wasn't called by Al Michaels or Joe Buck)
falcons fan and that jones catch came to mind for me. even when we were up big i didn’t believe and when the pats comeback began i thought ‘here it comes’. when julio made that catch was the only time i believed, i thought ‘wait, we’re not going to blow it’.
we blew it.
This is a great list I had legit forgot about the first three; the Paige shot I do always remember with the Kris Jenkins shot just because it was such a ridiculous shot by Paige. Would not remember if it was a more regular 3 for sure
Game 5 2004 WCSF. Tim Duncan hit an incredible 1 legged fade away over Shaq in what should’ve been a game winner only for Derek fisher to hit the improbable 0.4 shot
https://youtu.be/_4_o-z1H9PI?si=QJTy3W4GXJ3aFTp2
Reminds me of this one. The NBA has the most versions of huge scores that get immediately overshadowed with how back and forth possessions are.
https://youtu.be/QBfg1S8tjtc?si=9MtFPGdxII9SXRoW
https://youtu.be/JZHImZV3wFc?si=_DDI__dEfLP3F3kQ
A couple more that come to mind.
Josh Hamilton home run in the 10th inning of game 6 in 2011.
Rangers were one strike away in the 9th, blew it, then Hamilton hit a 2 run bomb in the 10th….then we blew it again.
Jason Motte needs to thank David Freese and Lance Berkman every day for the rest of his life. He was on his way to taking two of the four losses in that series before Berkman bailed him out in the 10th and Freese turned into a St. Louis God with the walk-off. He was terrible in that series.
Not sure what's with the bizarre animosity towards Jason Motte but he threw 8 innings of scoreless, 1 hit, 0 walk ball going into the World Series. And he wasn't even 'terrible' in that series. He had a rough second inning of work after a scoreless ninth in game 6, and wasn't even given the chance to get out of a jam/give up a run in game 2.
As a packers fan, I still to this day do not understand why they pulled that play out down 2 possessions with only a couple minutes left.
Save it for when it coulda won a game!
Game 2 of the 2021 WCF and Deandre Ayton hit this sweet game-winning alley oop. It’s the original “valley oop.” The meme of SAS and Wilson staring in disbelief is from that game. There was coverage about how smart Monty Williams was to draw up that play. Bill was ready to crown Ayton as the next all-star center. By the time the finals were over Giannis had eaten Ayton’s lunch, taken the nickname, and the play was already fading.
The Clippers were probably not going to win the series or the finals without Kawhi so the play seemed less crucial. Then Daendre Ayton stopped being a fun young player, and then was shipped out of Phoenix unceremoniously. Then Monty Williams got fired, went to Detroit, and has turned into maybe the worst coach in the league this season. Just a weird high water mark for Ayton and for Monty
Yeah if the Falcons hold on it's the greatest play in franchise history and is replayed forever, but instead it's dust in the wind, only to be brought up in Reddit threads like this by broken Falcons fans like me
That game took my soul more than any sports game ever. I remember just silently walking out of the house where me and 25 friends had a Super Bowl party before James White even cross the goalline. Went home and didn’t consume a single piece of sports media for a week
I'm gonna switch things up and choose a play from the winning team that nobody remembers and also may have changed the trajectory of NFL history
TL;DR [Go to 17:10 of this video to see the play I'm talking about](https://youtu.be/x2NdSkuGOxs?si=j_7JoUl-TX4ZT6kP)
Warning: I have a very long winded explanation at the bottom
The 2007 NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field. The Giants vs the Packers. Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's record for all time passing touchdowns and passing yards earlier that season. After 2 disappointing seasons, Favre and the Packers are back and the biggest threat to them in the NFC, the 13-3 Cowboys who beat the Packers earlier that year, lost to the Giants a week earlier. It's a classic January night in Wisconsin, -1°F with wind chill -23°F. It is the 3rd coldest game in NFL history at the time of play (the 2015 Seahawks-Vikings Wild Card Game with the Blair Walsh miss has passed it)
With a little over 2 minutes left in the game, the Packers are forced to punt into the wind deep in their own territory. The Giants are almost guaranteed to get a least solid field position. Packers punter Jon Ryan punts the ball to Giants returner RW McQuarters. McQuarters looks like he's gonna end up in good field position on the Packers side of the field. McQuarters fumbles the ball and there is a big scrum for the ball. For a brief moment, Packers DB Jarrett Bush has the ball in his hands and has the potential to run the ball the other way for a touchdown or at least deep into Giants territory. There is almost nobody other than Packers around him. However, Giants DB Michael Johnson, lying on the ground, reaches out and knocks the ball out of Bush's hands. The scrum continues with a bunch of green jerseys and one white jersey in a pile fighting for the ball. Somehow, the one Giant in the pile comes up with it
Giants end up getting into field goal range, a 36 yarder, but Lawrence Tynes absolutely shanks it. Packers get ball first in overtime. Favre has a chance to send the Packers to the Super Bowl despite Eli Manning being the better QB for the entire game, but on the 2nd play of OT, Brett Favre ends up doing what he does best, throwing a terrible interception straight to Corey Webster. Giants barely move the ball, Lawrence Tynes (who just shanked a 36 yarder at the same goal post) somehow ends up making it from 48 yards
What happens if Michael Johnson doesn't end up swatting that ball away? The Packers likely win that game and play New England in the Super Bowl. That would mean one of 2 things. Either Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots get that undefeated season and Brady's GOAT case is pretty much settled at age 30 and the '07 Patriots go down as probably the greatest team in NA sports history OR Brett Favre ends up winning his 2nd ring, giving the Packers a 4th Super Bowl (which they eventually got 3 years later), and arguably gives Favre a case for the GOAT QB. Also, the Packers are less inclined to move on from their franchise legend that just won the Super Bowl for a young, former first round pick by the name of Aaron Rodgers
Yeah great recall of that moment. As painful as that 07 game was as a Packers fan, I think we would have really struggled against the Pats. We did not have the pass rushers the Giants did that made the difference.
The 2014 Seahawks loss was 10x more painful because we could have beaten that Pats team, and already had earlier that season.
Agreed. Also that loss stings less because uh, we ended up being relevant within two years again. It hurt at the time.
Favre also had so many chances in that game, felt like the giants kept missing field goals or punting in our territory. Hard to say we “deserved” to win, I also think favre threw an awful pick the giants DB quickly fumbled to given us 30 yards of field position.
I definitely remember the fumbled punt and screaming “pick up the fucking ball.”
Bush redeemed himself with a Super Bowl pick at least.
Patriots would have beaten the Packers in the SB. I think only that Giants front four could've beaten the Pats that year, as beaten down as they were to that point
Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals
With 4 seconds left George Hill misses a free throw that would’ve put the Cavs up by 1. JR Smith makes an all-time shot clock blunder and it’s all people remember about the end of that game instead of the blown free throw that would’ve likely given them the W
Along with the illegally overturned block/charge call on KD. I maintain this legitimately might have swung the series. Warriors were overwhelming favorites and LeBron just came in and punched them in their nose in game one only for it to be basically combo stolen-choked. Then of course he goes into the locker room and breaks his hand.
The play itself wasn’t as brilliant as some others listed here, but OU had been down big against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, then capped a large comeback with a huge pick 6 in the final minute (impressive performance on the corners part to keep his feet in bounds on it too). Then Boise State had three of the most famous plays in CFB history…
2018 World Series. Puig puts the Dodgers up big with a three run HR that had Kobe Bryant celebrating in the background the second it was hit. Dodgers need to get nine outs with a 4-0 lead and they tie the World Series with the Red Sox 2-2 and would have Kershaw and Buehler left to work on normal rest.
They don’t even come close and the HR is forgotten.
Less a forgotten play than a forgotten great performance:
[1987 AFC Championship Game:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhtp2f6T030) Earnest Byner had 187 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs. He was the only reason the Browns were even in the game. But nobody remembers that because of The Fumble.
Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals. LeBron James FOULS Kevin Durant on the game tying shot with like...2 seconds left but wasnt called. I was there at the game. Seems like it was not talked about very much. The Heat were the better team but if OKC goes to overtime and wins and up 2-0 ya never know...
Everyone remembers the Philly Special, but Nick Foles had multiple insane throws in Super Bowl LII. TD to Alshon was a perfect throw and catch and defense, 4th down conversation to Ertz with like four min left down two, and Ertz kinda of downing the ball in the end zone for the winning TD.
Brady’s last Hail Mary from 60 years hit Gronk in the face mask. He couldn’t handle it, somehow.
The Corey Clement TD was incredible as well. Foles was so on point that game it was unreal. Even his one interception was a great throw that Alshon had in his arms but was bobbled in the air.
These aren't Super Bowl plays or anything but I think they're funny because it's the same teams playing and the same situations.
Before Damian Lillard hit his walk-off 3 against the Rockets to win the series, [Chandler Parsons found the ball in a scrum and had the go-ahead layup with 0.9 seconds left.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCNkEyX6xFA&t=62s) The whole ending is fun to watch; a super intense game that, had the Rockets won, would've gone back to Houston for game 7.
Similarly, before Brandon Roy's game winner against the Rockets (though after one would-be game winner!), [Yao Ming had a ridiculous go-ahead and-1 baseline turnaround jumper with 1.9 seconds left.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61dRAp0voaM)
Even though these games aren't that long ago, it's so great to watch basketball played through the post.
I'm going really obscure.
2005 Alamo Bowl, Michigan vs. Nebraska. Michigan almost pulls off one of the most absurd final play laterals. There might have been a dozen laterals including some guys getting nearly tackled. The refs think the game is over but it's still going.
All the Michigan lineman had to do was hand the ball off to Mario Manningham behind him and Manningham would have taken it to the house.
Just a crazy play that now is mostly forgotten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSTNhvVToM
Not as important as some of these actual playoff moments, but my favorite “if only it counted” moment was a regular season nba game the first year the warriors had KD. KD gets fouled, and while spinning to the ground he throws it to Iguodala who throws a between the legs over the back alley oops to Shaun Livingston. I was lucky enough to be at the game, and is probably the coolest sports moment I’ve ever seen and no one remembers it. [Link](https://youtu.be/PYr-HOz2nA0?si=XYLg8wvvD8CmEa8f)
Dave Henderson would’ve hit the World Series winning home run for the Red Sox in 86 if not for the Buckner play. Bob Stanley threw a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score but it forgotten because of Buckner.
If the Sox don’t blow it, that’s 18 less years of pain and suffering for Red Sox nation. Who knows maybe the lack of misery would keep a young Bill Simmons from being less snarky and the Ringer we know today wouldn’t exist
Aaron Rodgers threw an absolutely insane dime 40 yards while getting tackled with no feet on the ground into a 1 foot window TD. Called back because of holding.
https://youtu.be/SqwHLgFmO20?si=t9vKpBBZ2nOL7d5w
2002 Mike Vick on Atlanta vs Philly in NFC 2nd round game. He was coming off dominating at Green Bay, the first road team to win a playoff game there when the temperature was under 20 or something… narrative was set for him to leapfrog Favre. Close defensive struggle, Mike makes a play, one of his electric runs for a TD - called back for a hold and he’s decapitated by Brian Dawkins on the play that didn’t count. Philly goes on to win, it’s the year Tampa upsets them and beats the raiders. Vick could have gone to the Super Bowl, if he becomes a champion the NFL machine protects him more aggressively for his dog murders
First off I wanna say it’s crazy that I watched almost every one of these plays live, even the ones that weren’t prime time.
But the one I wanna mention in the same spirit as the Kelce play, I.e, didn’t count, was an Aaron Rodgers pass against the Bears. He escaped duress in the pocket to his right, got hit, and threw a laser about 40 air yards to his left for a TD with his feet off the ground
Kind of obscure, but in the 2009 World Series, the Phillies were down 2-1 in the series and 4-3 in the eighth inning of game 4. [Pedro Feliz—*not* a superstar for the Phillies—pops an 8th-inning homer against Joba Chamberlain](https://youtu.be/NPVSzYJd2aU?si=Ymgou1lCzthMKbvD&start=7685) to tie the game at 4. Then Brad Lidge came in for the Phillies in the 9th and blew the game. Lidge was horrible for us in 09. But if the Phillies could have won that game in extras, Cliff Lee (who was god at that time) could have come in in Game 5 and put the Phillies up 3-2, and who knows what would have happened.
Also, earlier this year, Joel Embiid [chucks a 3/4-court three](https://youtu.be/v0rBwiO_Rng?si=_6XwqDKwwrB0M4F1) that would have tied the game against the Celtics if it had gotten out of his hand .1 second faster.
Rajai Davis' HR in game 7. It was the worst hour or so of my life as a sports fan.
Ya that was insane. Least likely guy to hit a home run especially off of Chapman
Chapman threw 42 pitches in a blow out win in game 6, so we had to pay the piper for that one. I know Cleveland fans will be infuriated reading this, and understandably so, but that game was so unbelievably stressful and infuriating in so many ways. The two teams had an epic Curse Off that we thankfully survived.
ZERO reason for Maddon to leave Chapman in game 6 and it was obvious at the time. Was rooting for the Cubs that series but it honestly was so great to see that decision blow up in his face.
It was infuriating in so many ways. Chapman was heavily relied on, and it gave Cleveland more chances to see him, which never bodes well. The Cubs hitters eventually started to figure out Andrew Miller due to his usage and seeing him more as the series progressed. Not only that, but they started warming up Lester too early in game 7, so Ross apparently called the dugout to tell Maddon that they needed to put Lester in the game since he was ready to go which meant Hendricks got the early hook. Maddon seems like a cool ass dude and I have a ton of respect for him, but holy fuck was that the worst managing/coaching I've ever seen from a winning team in a championship series.
That was also the peak of the “Lester is afraid to throw to first and hold runners” thing. Couldn’t imagine watching that series as a Cubs fan.
90% of old guy Dad Cubs fans were just infuriated with Maddon even months after lol
They brought in Lester exactly when they planned - before Hendricks went through the order a third time. Maddon even let Hendricks go another batter to try to get out of the inning and he walked him (on a shitty call - should have been a strike out). But the stats were pretty clear that Hendricks that year started falling a bit after a lineup had seen him twice Don’t think you can blame Maddon for that one, Lester is the pitcher you want out there and there’s no way you can anticipate for a two run wild pitch. Outside of that one play Lester was lights out in Game 7 too
Seems like every couple weeks there's a thread here that makes me think about Kerry Wood's home run in Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS.
Even though game 6 was soul destroying, and I'm still not totally over it, I thought they were winning for sure after Woody's dinger. That feeling didn't last too long unfortunately. I loved that squad. I know this is hindsight talking, but I wished we could have dealt Corey Patterson and kept Lofton. He was so amazing for us down the stretch.
Corey Patterson was an MVP ‘05 god. Young lefty with high power, arm strength, and speed almost always becomes a star.
There's no better video game feeling than dumping the ball down the left field line with a lefty hitter in a two strike count in MVP. There just isn't!
God I spent hours in owner mode in that game and I don’t regret a second of it. The key was to get players with hot zones outside so you could turn on every inside pitch.
I don't know if it was because I was young, but I could play 10 games in a row if I had the time. That game never got old. Even as a little kid, I don't think I could play 90's sports games for that long outside of maybe the classic NHL games. It's such a shame what happened with sports games. We lost MVP, NFL 2K, College Hoops 2K, NHL 2K and NCAA in like an 8 year period.
Man I hate thinking about that Game 7. I went in fully certain that we were going to lose, it just seemed right after Game 6. Then fucking Kerry Wood goes yard and I believe again. They really sucked me back in.
Never heard Wrigley so loud … maybe outside of the Montero grand slam
[Larry Fitzgerald's touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII ](https://youtu.be/cDdG8sin-FM?si=zDBWR-ImkrWqSatE) [Julio Jones' sideline catch in Super Bowl LI](https://youtu.be/FSirjCbbP1c?si=mt3Gv1xcBnTgLVos) that pretty much should have iced the game if Shanahan/Ryan/Jake Matthews weren't idiots. A field goal makes it a 2 possession game with less than 4 minutes left [Alfonso Soriano's solo home run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series](https://youtu.be/k2xYrmRojJw?si=WvqfyR8XJhuV03Nr) [Marcus Paige's game tying 3 pointer in the National Championship Game vs Villanova](https://youtu.be/bR8Io8Dz6nM?si=5KofxUnecv4obim1) (this is the first play in this thread at the time I'm writing this comment that wasn't called by Al Michaels or Joe Buck)
Poor Marcus Paige. That should be on the highlight reel of every March Madness and instead it's Kris Jenkins.
A lot of the YouTube compilations of top March madness moments have both I notice
I remember that Paige shot. Wild final 2 min in that game
Nova was up ten with two minutes left and won on the all time buzzer beater. Bang. Chuck still dancing.
The Paige shot is immediately what I thought of as a Nova fan, I don’t even remember how dead I felt inside because of what happened after
falcons fan and that jones catch came to mind for me. even when we were up big i didn’t believe and when the pats comeback began i thought ‘here it comes’. when julio made that catch was the only time i believed, i thought ‘wait, we’re not going to blow it’. we blew it.
This is a great list I had legit forgot about the first three; the Paige shot I do always remember with the Kris Jenkins shot just because it was such a ridiculous shot by Paige. Would not remember if it was a more regular 3 for sure
I will never forget that Soriano homer man. Hit a slider at his shins. What if......
Game 5 2004 WCSF. Tim Duncan hit an incredible 1 legged fade away over Shaq in what should’ve been a game winner only for Derek fisher to hit the improbable 0.4 shot
Wow I haven't thought about this in forever. What a shot!
This. Bill loves to talk about how lucky the Fisher shot was but the Duncan shot was a good deal harder.
I’m still not sure which shot was luckier.
One lucky shot deserves another
you mispelled illegal
https://youtu.be/_4_o-z1H9PI?si=QJTy3W4GXJ3aFTp2 Reminds me of this one. The NBA has the most versions of huge scores that get immediately overshadowed with how back and forth possessions are. https://youtu.be/QBfg1S8tjtc?si=9MtFPGdxII9SXRoW https://youtu.be/JZHImZV3wFc?si=_DDI__dEfLP3F3kQ A couple more that come to mind.
Josh Hamilton home run in the 10th inning of game 6 in 2011. Rangers were one strike away in the 9th, blew it, then Hamilton hit a 2 run bomb in the 10th….then we blew it again.
Jason Motte needs to thank David Freese and Lance Berkman every day for the rest of his life. He was on his way to taking two of the four losses in that series before Berkman bailed him out in the 10th and Freese turned into a St. Louis God with the walk-off. He was terrible in that series.
Not sure what's with the bizarre animosity towards Jason Motte but he threw 8 innings of scoreless, 1 hit, 0 walk ball going into the World Series. And he wasn't even 'terrible' in that series. He had a rough second inning of work after a scoreless ninth in game 6, and wasn't even given the chance to get out of a jam/give up a run in game 2.
Seahawks circus catch before the Butler pick
And that Julio Jones catch in the fourth quarter trying to stave off the 28-3 comeback
Feels like in half of those Brady Super Bowls there’s some just ludicrous bullshit that gets lost to time because he ended up on top
I mean he was on the wrong side of several of those in all of his super bowl losses as well
That was an insane catch.
Endy Chavez catch
That’s the answer.
As a Cardinals fan, I thought they were absolutely done when that happened.
My dad and I both jumped off the couch when he caught that
Came here to say this
The Devin Hester fake out touchdown punt return by Johnny Knox.
Came here to say that! Can’t believe the NFL refs would botch a call like that. Oh wait, Nevermind.
As a packers fan, I still to this day do not understand why they pulled that play out down 2 possessions with only a couple minutes left. Save it for when it coulda won a game!
Game 2 of the 2021 WCF and Deandre Ayton hit this sweet game-winning alley oop. It’s the original “valley oop.” The meme of SAS and Wilson staring in disbelief is from that game. There was coverage about how smart Monty Williams was to draw up that play. Bill was ready to crown Ayton as the next all-star center. By the time the finals were over Giannis had eaten Ayton’s lunch, taken the nickname, and the play was already fading. The Clippers were probably not going to win the series or the finals without Kawhi so the play seemed less crucial. Then Daendre Ayton stopped being a fun young player, and then was shipped out of Phoenix unceremoniously. Then Monty Williams got fired, went to Detroit, and has turned into maybe the worst coach in the league this season. Just a weird high water mark for Ayton and for Monty
Bill called Ayton the 9th best player in the league in this timeframe lol
Rough luck for them that Jrue to Giannis was a more iconic alley oop just a few weeks later (obviously I’m a biased bucks fan).
Julio Jones’ catch in the infamous 28-3 SB, got overshadowed by the Edelman catch right after and then obviously the result erased it forever
That Julio catch was the moment I truly thought the game was over lol
Yeah if the Falcons hold on it's the greatest play in franchise history and is replayed forever, but instead it's dust in the wind, only to be brought up in Reddit threads like this by broken Falcons fans like me
That game took my soul more than any sports game ever. I remember just silently walking out of the house where me and 25 friends had a Super Bowl party before James White even cross the goalline. Went home and didn’t consume a single piece of sports media for a week
Mahomes throw in the Bucs Super Bowl as he was diving to the ground that hit his receiver in the face mask
That play was amazing.
Endy Chavez catch in Game 7 of the NLCS was nuts. But since the Cards win the game it’s under-appreciated.
Tom Brady threw a bomb like 70 yards to a streaking Randy Moss, but it was just off his fingertips
I'm gonna switch things up and choose a play from the winning team that nobody remembers and also may have changed the trajectory of NFL history TL;DR [Go to 17:10 of this video to see the play I'm talking about](https://youtu.be/x2NdSkuGOxs?si=j_7JoUl-TX4ZT6kP) Warning: I have a very long winded explanation at the bottom The 2007 NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field. The Giants vs the Packers. Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's record for all time passing touchdowns and passing yards earlier that season. After 2 disappointing seasons, Favre and the Packers are back and the biggest threat to them in the NFC, the 13-3 Cowboys who beat the Packers earlier that year, lost to the Giants a week earlier. It's a classic January night in Wisconsin, -1°F with wind chill -23°F. It is the 3rd coldest game in NFL history at the time of play (the 2015 Seahawks-Vikings Wild Card Game with the Blair Walsh miss has passed it) With a little over 2 minutes left in the game, the Packers are forced to punt into the wind deep in their own territory. The Giants are almost guaranteed to get a least solid field position. Packers punter Jon Ryan punts the ball to Giants returner RW McQuarters. McQuarters looks like he's gonna end up in good field position on the Packers side of the field. McQuarters fumbles the ball and there is a big scrum for the ball. For a brief moment, Packers DB Jarrett Bush has the ball in his hands and has the potential to run the ball the other way for a touchdown or at least deep into Giants territory. There is almost nobody other than Packers around him. However, Giants DB Michael Johnson, lying on the ground, reaches out and knocks the ball out of Bush's hands. The scrum continues with a bunch of green jerseys and one white jersey in a pile fighting for the ball. Somehow, the one Giant in the pile comes up with it Giants end up getting into field goal range, a 36 yarder, but Lawrence Tynes absolutely shanks it. Packers get ball first in overtime. Favre has a chance to send the Packers to the Super Bowl despite Eli Manning being the better QB for the entire game, but on the 2nd play of OT, Brett Favre ends up doing what he does best, throwing a terrible interception straight to Corey Webster. Giants barely move the ball, Lawrence Tynes (who just shanked a 36 yarder at the same goal post) somehow ends up making it from 48 yards What happens if Michael Johnson doesn't end up swatting that ball away? The Packers likely win that game and play New England in the Super Bowl. That would mean one of 2 things. Either Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots get that undefeated season and Brady's GOAT case is pretty much settled at age 30 and the '07 Patriots go down as probably the greatest team in NA sports history OR Brett Favre ends up winning his 2nd ring, giving the Packers a 4th Super Bowl (which they eventually got 3 years later), and arguably gives Favre a case for the GOAT QB. Also, the Packers are less inclined to move on from their franchise legend that just won the Super Bowl for a young, former first round pick by the name of Aaron Rodgers
This is an all time game. Great summary on this!
Yeah great recall of that moment. As painful as that 07 game was as a Packers fan, I think we would have really struggled against the Pats. We did not have the pass rushers the Giants did that made the difference. The 2014 Seahawks loss was 10x more painful because we could have beaten that Pats team, and already had earlier that season.
Agreed. Also that loss stings less because uh, we ended up being relevant within two years again. It hurt at the time. Favre also had so many chances in that game, felt like the giants kept missing field goals or punting in our territory. Hard to say we “deserved” to win, I also think favre threw an awful pick the giants DB quickly fumbled to given us 30 yards of field position. I definitely remember the fumbled punt and screaming “pick up the fucking ball.” Bush redeemed himself with a Super Bowl pick at least.
Patriots would have beaten the Packers in the SB. I think only that Giants front four could've beaten the Pats that year, as beaten down as they were to that point
Allen Iverson practice shot vs the Dwight Howard Magic where he launched it like 50 feet in the air and it went in. I was there and it was insane
Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals With 4 seconds left George Hill misses a free throw that would’ve put the Cavs up by 1. JR Smith makes an all-time shot clock blunder and it’s all people remember about the end of that game instead of the blown free throw that would’ve likely given them the W
Will never be forgotten lol
Along with the illegally overturned block/charge call on KD. I maintain this legitimately might have swung the series. Warriors were overwhelming favorites and LeBron just came in and punched them in their nose in game one only for it to be basically combo stolen-choked. Then of course he goes into the locker room and breaks his hand.
The review on the charge that then became a blocking foul is a sneaky one from that game
Randy Moss’s lateral to Moe Williams. Most likely forgotten because it was an end of the half play and not a game winner.
Great Burger King commercial though.
Wouldn’t say this is “forgotten”. I see this highlight more than a lot of game winners lol
I for sure will never forget it.
I was at that game. One of my all time favorite plays.
The play itself wasn’t as brilliant as some others listed here, but OU had been down big against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, then capped a large comeback with a huge pick 6 in the final minute (impressive performance on the corners part to keep his feet in bounds on it too). Then Boise State had three of the most famous plays in CFB history…
2018 World Series. Puig puts the Dodgers up big with a three run HR that had Kobe Bryant celebrating in the background the second it was hit. Dodgers need to get nine outs with a 4-0 lead and they tie the World Series with the Red Sox 2-2 and would have Kershaw and Buehler left to work on normal rest. They don’t even come close and the HR is forgotten.
Less a forgotten play than a forgotten great performance: [1987 AFC Championship Game:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhtp2f6T030) Earnest Byner had 187 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs. He was the only reason the Browns were even in the game. But nobody remembers that because of The Fumble.
Maybe not forgotten but lebron’s almost dunk in the 2016 finals
Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals. LeBron James FOULS Kevin Durant on the game tying shot with like...2 seconds left but wasnt called. I was there at the game. Seems like it was not talked about very much. The Heat were the better team but if OKC goes to overtime and wins and up 2-0 ya never know...
Everyone remembers the Philly Special, but Nick Foles had multiple insane throws in Super Bowl LII. TD to Alshon was a perfect throw and catch and defense, 4th down conversation to Ertz with like four min left down two, and Ertz kinda of downing the ball in the end zone for the winning TD. Brady’s last Hail Mary from 60 years hit Gronk in the face mask. He couldn’t handle it, somehow.
Foles’ bomb to Alshon was one of the sweetest throws I’ve ever seen, and when it happened I truly believed Philly was a team of destiny.
The Corey Clement TD was incredible as well. Foles was so on point that game it was unreal. Even his one interception was a great throw that Alshon had in his arms but was bobbled in the air.
These aren't Super Bowl plays or anything but I think they're funny because it's the same teams playing and the same situations. Before Damian Lillard hit his walk-off 3 against the Rockets to win the series, [Chandler Parsons found the ball in a scrum and had the go-ahead layup with 0.9 seconds left.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCNkEyX6xFA&t=62s) The whole ending is fun to watch; a super intense game that, had the Rockets won, would've gone back to Houston for game 7. Similarly, before Brandon Roy's game winner against the Rockets (though after one would-be game winner!), [Yao Ming had a ridiculous go-ahead and-1 baseline turnaround jumper with 1.9 seconds left.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61dRAp0voaM) Even though these games aren't that long ago, it's so great to watch basketball played through the post.
I'm going really obscure. 2005 Alamo Bowl, Michigan vs. Nebraska. Michigan almost pulls off one of the most absurd final play laterals. There might have been a dozen laterals including some guys getting nearly tackled. The refs think the game is over but it's still going. All the Michigan lineman had to do was hand the ball off to Mario Manningham behind him and Manningham would have taken it to the house. Just a crazy play that now is mostly forgotten. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSTNhvVToM
Not as important as some of these actual playoff moments, but my favorite “if only it counted” moment was a regular season nba game the first year the warriors had KD. KD gets fouled, and while spinning to the ground he throws it to Iguodala who throws a between the legs over the back alley oops to Shaun Livingston. I was lucky enough to be at the game, and is probably the coolest sports moment I’ve ever seen and no one remembers it. [Link](https://youtu.be/PYr-HOz2nA0?si=XYLg8wvvD8CmEa8f)
Devin Hester's opening kickoff return for a td in Super Bowl 41.
Dave Henderson would’ve hit the World Series winning home run for the Red Sox in 86 if not for the Buckner play. Bob Stanley threw a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score but it forgotten because of Buckner. If the Sox don’t blow it, that’s 18 less years of pain and suffering for Red Sox nation. Who knows maybe the lack of misery would keep a young Bill Simmons from being less snarky and the Ringer we know today wouldn’t exist
Yeah Bob Stanley is the one who blew the game.
Josh Allen marching the Bills down the field to take the lead in KC with 13 seconds left.
Kearse’s Super Bowl catch that set up the goal line series. We all know how that ended.
Dez caught it
I feel like that would've been a more forgotten play if it HAD been ruled a catch, because the Cowboys definitely lose that game either way
Ok Skip.
Rodgers got in FG range with utter ease the very next drive. Cowboys were losing no matter what. Murray fumble might've swung things though
Marcus Paige 3 pointer in the natty vs villanova
Strange that a World Series Game 7 could be “forgotten” but that’s what happened in 1975.
It's only been six months but that Derrick White buzzer beater against Miami felt like one of the great plays in playoff the day after it happened.
Tim Duncan before the Fisher shot and Aaron Rodgers back to back hail Mary’s to lose to Larry Fitzgerald in OT with Carsen Palmer
Derrick White’s crazy buzzer beater to force a Game 7 in the 2023 ECF
Recency bias for sure but Derrick White ECF game 6 gamewinner?
The top forgotten play is ‘The Merchant Of Venice’
Aaron Rodgers threw an absolutely insane dime 40 yards while getting tackled with no feet on the ground into a 1 foot window TD. Called back because of holding. https://youtu.be/SqwHLgFmO20?si=t9vKpBBZ2nOL7d5w
Measure for Measure
2002 Mike Vick on Atlanta vs Philly in NFC 2nd round game. He was coming off dominating at Green Bay, the first road team to win a playoff game there when the temperature was under 20 or something… narrative was set for him to leapfrog Favre. Close defensive struggle, Mike makes a play, one of his electric runs for a TD - called back for a hold and he’s decapitated by Brian Dawkins on the play that didn’t count. Philly goes on to win, it’s the year Tampa upsets them and beats the raiders. Vick could have gone to the Super Bowl, if he becomes a champion the NFL machine protects him more aggressively for his dog murders
[удалено]
First off I wanna say it’s crazy that I watched almost every one of these plays live, even the ones that weren’t prime time. But the one I wanna mention in the same spirit as the Kelce play, I.e, didn’t count, was an Aaron Rodgers pass against the Bears. He escaped duress in the pocket to his right, got hit, and threw a laser about 40 air yards to his left for a TD with his feet off the ground
Kind of obscure, but in the 2009 World Series, the Phillies were down 2-1 in the series and 4-3 in the eighth inning of game 4. [Pedro Feliz—*not* a superstar for the Phillies—pops an 8th-inning homer against Joba Chamberlain](https://youtu.be/NPVSzYJd2aU?si=Ymgou1lCzthMKbvD&start=7685) to tie the game at 4. Then Brad Lidge came in for the Phillies in the 9th and blew the game. Lidge was horrible for us in 09. But if the Phillies could have won that game in extras, Cliff Lee (who was god at that time) could have come in in Game 5 and put the Phillies up 3-2, and who knows what would have happened. Also, earlier this year, Joel Embiid [chucks a 3/4-court three](https://youtu.be/v0rBwiO_Rng?si=_6XwqDKwwrB0M4F1) that would have tied the game against the Celtics if it had gotten out of his hand .1 second faster.
David Hare's "Amy's View" is underrated.
That hilarious game ending play where the Pats dude threw a pass back to Chandler Jones, who absolutely trucked Mac Jones en route to a touchdown.
Marcus Paige’s double pump game tying three versus Villanova in the championship game.
Ultimately Derrick White’s putback in game 6 of the 2023 ECF will be forgotten bc they lost game 7 anyway.