When a trick play works, its mastermind and those who carry it out look like geniuses who deserve to be carried about the streets of their hometowns on the shoulders of lesser men. When a trick play fails, however, that same mastermind and his minions look like they should be out of a job. That being said, for the football fan and non-fan alike, trick plays make for some of the most serious excitement in the NFL.
As the season winds down and the playoffs draw near, fans everywhere are feeling the love and the pressure along with their favorite teams. Whether you’re cashing in rewards points for gear or getting another tattoo to prove your devotion to your favorite team, this time of year is ripe with the kind of risk that makes trick plays — no matter who pulls them off — incredibly exciting. Here are five of them — four of the best and one of the worst.
Marino’s Clock Play
An old favorite that’s been replicated numerous times since, one of the best trick plays of all time occurred when Dolphins’ quarterback, Dan Marino, completely fooled the Jets with just 30 seconds left on the clock. After having been down 24 to 6 in the third quarter, the Dolphins were within striking distance of a hard-fought win. Marino decided to bring a little theater to the moment by yelling out, “Clock! Clock!” while motioning to the ground as if to signify to his team that he was going to spike the ball to get the clock to stop. Since this move made sense to the Jets defense, they all relaxed. The ball was snapped, and Marino found Dolphins wide receiver, Mark Ingram, Sr., in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
The Randle EL to Ward Reverse Option
It’s not every day that a team plays in the Super Bowl, and it’s definitely not everyday that a team playing in the Super Bowl calls a trick play. The Pittsburgh Steelers did both and pulled it off back in Super Bowl XL when Antwaan Randle El, the Steelers’ wider receiver, faked a reverse and went deep to Hines Ward. It was the second time they’d run the play that season, but no one thought they’d use it during the Super Bowl. Not only did it result in a touchdown, but it also definitively put the game out of reach for the Seahawks.
The Secret Lineman
There was a time not too long ago when the Buffalo Bills were something of a daredevil special teams team. They ran fake field goals on the regular and managed to retain an air of mystery that kept defenses guessing. While playing the Seahawks in 2008, they pulled a stunt that will probably always cause pangs of sorrow for Seattle fans. As the field goal unit took the field, Ryan Denney, a defensive lineman, lingered on the side of the field, far from the action and completely out of sight and out of mind. Once the ball was snapped, placeholder Brian Moorman stood up, and made an easy pass to Denney for a touchdown.
Wycheck’s Lateral
Back in 1999, a little something called the Music City Miracle happened during the AFC Wild Card game. As time expired, Frank Wycheck lateralled to Kevin Dyson while down 16-15 with just seconds left on the clock that was completely shocking. Not only did it flummox the entire Buffalo Bills defense — the top defense in the NFL at the time — but it led to a Titans win when Dyson made it all the way into the end zone.
The Colts’ Fake Punt
This failed trick play occurred earlier in the 2015-16 season, while the Colts were trailing the Patriots by a touchdown. On 4th and three at their own 37-yard line, the Colts’ punt team took the field. As nine members of the offense moved to the right side of the field — including the kicker — the Colts’ wide receiver snapped the ball to Colt Anderson, who was immediately tackled by a Patriots defense that had stayed put. The result was a four-yard loss, and the Patriots managed to run away with the game after that.
While the football fan doesn’t need extra incentive to care about the game, the sleight of hand occasionally offered up in the trick play adds a level of excitement even the non-fan can appreciate.
IMG_8676 image by AngieSix from Flickr.com