15. Wide Left
The Vikings have had some crushing moments over the years, but none were as shocking as when Anderson, who had not missed a field goal or an extra point all season, missed a 38-yard kick that would have put the Falcons away in the 1998 NFC championship game. Atlanta would tie it up and then win in overtime, punching its ticket to a Super Bowl Minnesota likely would have been favored in.
14. Marshawn Lynch on the Richter Scale
In one of the greatest games — and greatest upsets — in NFL history, Lynch put the exclamation mark on Seattle’s amazing 2010 wild-card victory over the Saints with an unreal touchdown run that literally caused an earthquake.
13. Montana to Taylor
Capping a 92-yard drive with just half a minute remaining in Super Bowl XXIII, Joe Montana hit John Taylor to steal a championship from the Bengals.
12. Joe Theismann’s leg isn’t supposed to look like that
This one speaks for itself. National TV. Lawrence Taylor. Joe Theismann. The end of a career.
11. Jackie Smith’s drop
Strangely, two of the top 11 most memorable plays are actually gaffes from America’s Team. In this case, Smith dropped what would have been a game-tying touchdown against the Steelers in Super Bowl XIII — a game which Dallas went on to lose by four points. Verne Lundquist summed up the moment perfectly: “Bless his heart,” the play-by-play man said of Smith, “he’s got to be the sickest man in America.”
