This weekend in NFL stupid is back for a third season, and this year we’re focusing on one extremely stupid winner with an honorable mention or two on a weekly basis. To close out Week 3 of the 2015 regular season, we look back on the team that blew the first game of the weekend.
The winner: New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall
The Jets had a chance to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2009 and beat the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time in history. And they had a chance to do it in style by coming back from a 24-0 deficit. That comeback attempt fell short, with Gang Green losing 24-17, but they might never have dug that hole had it not been for what Marshall admitted was “the worst play in NFL history.”
It happened when Marshall caught a pass at his own 43-yard line with the Jets trailing 17-0 in the second quarter. When the catch was made, the five closest players were members of the Eagles.
But upon getting tackled a moment later, that didn’t stop Marshall from attempting to lateral the ball right into Connor Barwin’s face, resulting in a hilariously stupid fumble.
The Eagles recovered at the New York 36-yard line and scored a few plays later, giving them a lead they’d never relinquish.
Runner-up: Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine
How does Pettine defend going back to a 36-year-old Josh McCown after Johnny Manziel gave the team such a great jolt in a Week 2 victory? Manziel wasn’t perfect, but it was a promising, turnover-free start. Then they went back to a career backup who had the highest interception rate and the second-lowest passer rating in football last year. Why, why, why!? They deserved to lose, because that was simply stupid.
