NFL.com the greatest play of all time is... Jackson's punt return TD!?

[ReMeDy]

http://www.nfl.com/bracketologyround6

 

It's not official, but it may as well be. Jackson's play has 58,620,900 votes to Young's 42,840,290. Maybe I'm missing something, but how is Jackson's punt return TD the Greatest play of all time!? How did it even get to the top 2 in the first place? Even better than Eli eluding multiple pass rushes and throwing the helmet catch to Tyree? Even better than Marshawn Lynche and his beast mode? Even better than (insert any other play here).

 

Only thing I can think of is a bunch of Philly fans rallied the community and did some funky spam technique to raise the number of votes.

[Moncrief]

Young fans obviously

[Fx Stryker]

Didn't he muff the punt initially? 

[Indyfan4life]

This play has no business being considered greatest of all time. Was a fluke on the Giants part.

[CR91]

it was an awesome play though. i agree with the whole young voters thing.

[supremecoltsfan300]

That was an amazing play, couldnt believe it when i saw it live on tv.

It probably isnt the greatest play ever but in terms of the match-ups it should have won every round. The other half of the bracket had more high quality plays than the one jackson was on. Some of the best plays ever lost fairly early on which is a little head scratching.

[RGIII]

That was an amazing play, couldnt believe it when i saw it live on tv.

It probably isnt the greatest play ever but in terms of the match-ups it should have won every round. The other half of the bracket had more high quality plays than the one jackson was on. Some of the best plays ever lost fairly early on which is a little head scratching.

 

Most of what makes a great play a great play is the gravitas of the situation.  Casual fans or younger/newer fans aren't going to be able to comprehend that and likely represent the majority of people participating in this kind of thing.

[Dustin]

Lol how did that possibly beat "The catch"?

[21isSuperman]

The greatest play I have ever seen was Marshawn Lynch's run against the Saints.  I can't stand DeSean Jackson and that play was more of a mistake by the Giants.  The punter should have kicked it out of bounds.  The play itself is nothing special.  It's the entire 4th quarter comeback that was special.  I've seen better punt and kickoff returns.  So to call that the single greatest play is incorrect, in my opinion.  It depends if you are looking for single best play regardless of situation (in which case, DeSean's punt return is nothing special) or the best moment in NFL history (in which case, the punt return is more meaningful, but still not the best moment).  Typical NFL.com/NFL Network.  They have nothing to fill the airways during the offseason so they do these ridiculous "best play of all time", "best players of 2013", "best players of all time" lists which are completely inconsistent.

 

The offseason can't end fast enough.  At least make the draft hurry so we have something real to talk about

[Yehoodi]

well it depends on your perspective

. . . does it have to be in the SB or playoffs or not?

. . . does have to early or late in the game?

. . . does it have to be game deciding or not?

. . . was it a fluke or a great play by a player?

. . . does it have to run the length of the field or not?

. . . does it have to involve a great player or not?

. . . and so on . . .

nothing against Tyree but if the trajectory of the ball had been flatter the ball sails throughs his hands and perhaps the Gmen don't win . . .

I liked Lynch's run as he ran through the entire Saints defense and scored a TD, and would put that ahead of Tyree's catch . . . however from what I remember it was not game deciding but was a major factor . . . also, it was not expected and it just happened, as with the Tyree catch . . .

On the other hand, the Johnson run was 100% old west show down mano mano, we know what we need to do and we know what they need to do, and everyone in the building was waiting to see if the man could run the ball back or not, if he could, its ends the game and also the Giants season as they would be knocked out of the playoffs . . . so both teams, the fans, the coaches, the broadcasters, were all on the edge of their seats for a last play of the season play and the only real way it would work if the returner could take it to the house, which he did for all to see, thanks for watching, walk off TD, have fun golfing Gmen, this has been brought to you by the NFL, have a nice night . . . this is why I would put this ahead of the above two . . .

so the difference with the Johnson play was it was a punt return for a TD, which is rare, this rare event coincided with the last play of the game which the above two did not . . .

Yes the catch was great, but one would guess, that rolling out to your right and throwing a pass for a TD has a higher percentage of result than a punt return TD . . . both were game ending, but a punt return for TD is rarer that a rollout pass for a TD . . . that is why i would put Jackson's put retrun before Montana's roll out pass . . .

[Dustin]

Yes the catch was great, but one would guess, that rolling out to your right and throwing a pass for a TD has a higher percentage of result than a punt return TD . . . both were game ending, but a punt return for TD is rarer that a rollout pass for a TD . . . that is why i would put Jackson's put retrun before Montana's roll out pass . . .

 

One of them was a game-winning TD in the NFC Championship game that propelled the 2nd greatest dynasty in league history to it's first Super Bowl and another one was a walk off TD that sent the Eagles to 9-4 on route to going 1 and done in the playoffs. I think the catch was better just because of the circumstances.

[Vance]

I knew the whole voting thing was stupid when I saw the immaculate reception going up against 'Troy Polamalu flying tackle'.

[amfootball]

Bo Jackson was pure electricity. Loved watching him play. I am not surprised his run is winning the race.

 

Just so many to choose from. I really liked DeSean Jackson's punt return agains the Giants from a couple of seasons ago. I can't remember if it tied the game or gave Philly the win but I know it was at the end of the game after a historic comeback and he initially muffed the punt and then took it to the house. That play officially knocked the Gmen out of the playoffs that year and let GB in who eventually won the SB.

[Yehoodi]

One of them was a game-winning TD in the NFC Championship game that propelled the 2nd greatest dynasty in league history to it's first Super Bowl and another one was a walk off TD that sent the Eagles to 9-4 on route to going 1 and done in the playoffs. I think the catch was better just because of the circumstances.

fair enough . . . I realized now that I forgot to add another criteria to my list and that being - do you value the moment as much as the actual play, or does the later count more . . . for me this decribes the catch, the moment/effect makes the play bigger than it was, as you described it it was a game winning TD that helped a team, that eventually won 4 SBs, to its first SB . . . but if they lost to Cinn, and say won only SB in the 80s, are we worried about the catch that much . . .

the actual play itself from what I remember was a 3rd down and short from the Cowboys 10 yard line with about one minute to go . . . so the 49ers had two chances to punch it in, and Montana rolled out on a routine rolled out play and throw it away if no one its open play, which is all that it was, nothing more nothing less, just a vanilla roll out . . . indeed coach Walsh thought he has thrown the ball away and had turned his back to the play and was dialing up a 4th down play . . . Montana claimed he was not throwing it away and threw it to a spot where he thought only Clark could catch it . . . great throw no question, but a bigger moment for me than the play itself . . .

Lets look at a recently play that does not get the limelight and perhaps some have forgotten about . . . Big Ben's throw in SB43 to Holmes near the end of the game . . . it was only 2nd down, but it was the SB . . . Big Ben goes back and throw a dart to a point where only Holmes could catch, he was covered and so a throw foot or so inside would of been deflected incomplete, and throw 6 inches farther out drags holmes out of bounds, as holmes was running out of real estate and had to tip toe his feet to stay in bounds . . . that was a great throw and catch at the end of a long drive for a go ahead TD in a SB . . . not that different frankly than the Catch, but the Catch has more folk lore . . . which is fine, but from a play stand point they are the same in my eyes . . .

Kind of like Tyree's and Manningham's catches, both on game winning TD drives for the Giants, but for me the throw to a spot on the sidelines by Eli and the over the shoulder catch by manningham is a better play than the Tryee play which was like a hail mary throw a jump ball to stationary WR play that had a storybook ending . . . Tyree might have more folk lore than Mannningham, so for some it is a better play . . . for me I like to look at the play itself . . . just a difference of criteria . . .

Speaking of great plays and playoffs . . . i would put the original Hail Mary up there too, in fact ahead of the Catch . . . Starbaugh throw to Drew Pearson at the end of the playoff game to beat the Vikings in '75, that drive started with less than 2 mins to go deep in Dallas territory . . .

[ReMeDy]

So now it truly is official, and it's funny what NFL.com says:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000158603/article/the-greatest-play-in-nfl-history-is-

 

 

"It's an understatement to say this selection comes as a surprise. Jackson was a No. 10 seed before he started busting brackets en route to a final-round win over Steve Young's winding touchdown run. But more than 58 million of you decided it was the greatest play in NFL history, so who are we to argue?

 

(Actually, we'd totally argue. There's no way this is a better play than the Immaculate Reception, Music City Miracle or David Tyree's Helmet Catch. This is the ugly side of democracy. Hope you are happy.)"

 

lol this is why fans voting in pro bowls is also a bad idea.

[Yehoodi]

So now it truly is official, and it's funny what NFL.com says:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000158603/article/the-greatest-play-in-nfl-history-is-

 

 

 

lol this is why fans voting in pro bowls is also a bad idea.

it a way yes and in a way no . . . who is to say that some "expert" like Heath Evans or Peter King knows more what is great than some coal miner struggling to feed a family of four in western Pennsylvania? . . . it really comes down to what criteria one wants to use . . . and it comes down to personal opinion . . . the reason why the NFL is touting said plays is becuase the media like to harp on them and they cannot likely come back and say "hey we where wrong after all, boy are we dumb" . . . it is job security if you will for one push something they have been pushing all alone . . . for me one has to earn the play, and two of the plays the NFL mention, Immaculate Reception and Tyree's catch where fluky deflection plays . . . i guess if one is fine claiming a fluky/deflection play as the greatest play, then so be it . . . and the Music City Miracle was great play, but it was a trick play, and was the same thing as Jackson a run back for a TD, that is a ST TD . . .

Jackson play was the only play of the four mentioned which was mano mano, this what i am going to do, you know what I am going to do, the fans know what I am going to do, but can you stop me . . . and they couldn't . . . it was not based on some deflection or trick when the opponent was off gaurd by the play . . . just old west, here i come down main street and see if you are man enough to stop me . . .and for me that carry weight regardless of what some intern or "expert" at the NFLN says . . .

most poeple would love to see a clean goal in hockey off a great rush and move by a single player, than a goal which is the result of a deflection off a defenders skate to a player near the net that make a single move and scores . . .

my two cents . . .

[bayone]

http://www.nfl.com/bracketologyround6

 

It's not official, but it may as well be. Jackson's play has 58,620,900 votes to Young's 42,840,290. Maybe I'm missing something, but how is Jackson's punt return TD the Greatest play of all time!? How did it even get to the top 2 in the first place? Even better than Eli eluding multiple pass rushes and throwing the helmet catch to Tyree? Even better than Marshawn Lynche and his beast mode? Even better than (insert any other play here).

 

Only thing I can think of is a bunch of Philly fans rallied the community and did some funky spam technique to raise the number of votes.

 

 

it was an awesome play though. i agree with the whole young voters thing.

 

 

One of them was a game-winning TD in the NFC Championship game that propelled the 2nd greatest dynasty in league history to it's first Super Bowl and another one was a walk off TD that sent the Eagles to 9-4 on route to going 1 and done in the playoffs. I think the catch was better just because of the circumstances.

 

 

Many a so called Specialist / analyst  has said throughout the years the greatest play ever was a short / medium pass unitas to TE Mackey who simnply refused to go down & scored a 50 yard TD , broke to many tackles to count but as was recently shown on NFL network, at least over 10, at 1 point literraly 5 guys were mauling him and he blasted them apart all of a sudden and then the same with thoise that followed as with those that came before

 

BYE

[MAC]

The only astonishing thing about either of the two final plays was that over 100 MILLION votes were cast. It's not all that far off the vote totals for the presidency. Something wrong with this picture?

 

I detest Sean Jackson, and all I see is his almost flubbing the play, and then running straight up the field. Wow, I've never seen that before, except for about 70 times a season - except normally they don't flub the ball first. Give me a break.

 

As others have noted the context of the play may matter depending on the criteria you are using. The timing of that play made it more important than your typical return, but otherwise it was a big nothing.

 

Here's some perspective for you: the only Colts play listed is a Johnny U to Mackey pass. There are however something like 5 Giants plays and 6 Steeler plays. There is no way on this earth that that was Unitas's best play ever. And considering the fact that I watched Peyton and Marvin alone have dozens of plays each SEASON that were far more interesting than either the Jackson play or the Mackey play, it's hard to take it too seriously.

[Vance]

The only astonishing thing about either of the two final plays was that over 100 MILLION votes were cast. It's not all that far off the vote totals for the presidency. Something wrong with this picture?

 

I detest Sean Jackson, and all I see is his almost flubbing the play, and then running straight up the field. Wow, I've never seen that before, except for about 70 times a season - except normally they don't flub the ball first. Give me a break.

 

As others have noted the context of the play may matter depending on the criteria you are using. The timing of that play made it more important than your typical return, but otherwise it was a big nothing.

 

Here's some perspective for you: the only Colts play listed is a Johnny U to Mackey pass. There are however something like 5 Giants plays and 6 Steeler plays. There is no way on this earth that that was Unitas's best play ever. And considering the fact that I watched Peyton and Marvin alone have dozens of plays each SEASON that were far more interesting than either the Jackson play or the Mackey play, it's hard to take it too seriously.

 

To be fair I bet a large portion of votes from kids under 18 lol.

[bayone]

The only astonishing thing about either of the two final plays was that over 100 MILLION votes were cast. It's not all that far off the vote totals for the presidency. Something wrong with this picture?

 

I detest Sean Jackson, and all I see is his almost flubbing the play, and then running straight up the field. Wow, I've never seen that before, except for about 70 times a season - except normally they don't flub the ball first. Give me a break.

 

As others have noted the context of the play may matter depending on the criteria you are using. The timing of that play made it more important than your typical return, but otherwise it was a big nothing.

 

Here's some perspective for you: the only Colts play listed is a Johnny U to Mackey pass. There are however something like 5 Giants plays and 6 Steeler plays. There is no way on this earth that that was Unitas's best play ever. And considering the fact that I watched Peyton and Marvin alone have dozens of plays each SEASON that were far more interesting than either the Jackson play or the Mackey play, it's hard to take it too seriously.

 

 

I hadnt followed the voting, didnt know  Unitas to Mackey was included  , but trhats not the great one to Mackey that many analysts say is greatest ever

 

here is one they show http://www.nfl.com/bracketologyround1 near the bottom, u can still watch it

 

OK its an 80 yard td, , from the 20, unitas throws to the 50 ,. the ball tipped in air, near end of flight , Mackey is right there as DB misjudged it trying to pick it off &   just straight runs rest of way for the td ,  was already behind all the DBs when he cuaght it, nothing speacial

 

it lost to Emmit smith breaking 3 tacklers at 1 time  ,

 

Thats nothing compared to 

 

  The great one i talked about , was Mackeys tremendous multi tackle breaking   TD run after the catch as noted in comment 17

 

again it was 

 

 

Many a so called Specialist / analyst  has said throughout the years the greatest play ever was a short / medium pass Unitas to TE Mackey who simply refused to go down & scored a 50 yard TD , broke to many tackles to count but as was recently shown on NFL network, at least over 10, at 1 point literraly 5 guys were mauling him and he blasted them apart all of a sudden and then the same with those that followed as with those that came before

 

Mackey ran like a bulldozer down the field flattening all in his way

[bayone]

Here's some perspective for you: the only Colts play listed is a Johnny U to Mackey pass. There are however something like 5 Giants plays and 6 Steeler plays. There is no way on this earth that that was Unitas's best play ever. And considering the fact that I watched Peyton and Marvin alone have dozens of plays each SEASON that were far more interesting than either the Jackson play or the Mackey play, it's hard to take it too seriously.

 

absolutely correct that was routine, why its there I have no idea

 

Some of Unitas throws so astonishingly accurate & deep and not just to great receivers & also he ran from coverage too and even for Tds  , but for example 

 

RB Lenny Moore runs to the sidelines and them upfield, Unitas escapes defenders coming in  buying time sees him and delivers a pass that in my memory traveled 50 yards to hit Moore perfectly in full stride who ran another 20 for the 70 yard TD, I think that sticks in my mind over some of Berry's highlights as their were so many , the way Unitas often did that with Moore out of the Backfield, Unitas, Berry & Moore were the triplets of the time

 

No one I mean no other QB at all ever did that back then with such frequency & he made them look like routine pitch & catch in the back yard, just pure effortlessness 

[oldunclemark]

MAC is right...

 

A meaning less regular season play on special teams is more important than DEvin Hester opening the Super Bowl with a KO return TD...?

 

This play that won is about play 74,000 ...

 

...somebody screwed up a good contest idea by not taking it seriously

[Le Neon]

 

(Actually, we'd totally argue. There's no way this is a better play than the Immaculate Reception, Music City Miracle or David Tyree's Helmet Catch. This is the ugly side of democracy. Hope you are happy.)"

 

 

   

[dgambill]

IMO the tuck play was the greates play in nfl history. without that call brady may not have ever been brady. interesting how one play could have shaped the modern game so much.

[Yehoodi]

IMO the tuck play was the greates play in nfl history. without that call brady may not have ever been brady. interesting how one play could have shaped the modern game so much.

 

yes that rule was key . . . actually to be honest had they called the blow to the head it would of been 15 yards automatic first down and tuck rule would not even been an issue . . . but given the fact that they missed the blow to the head call . . . the tuck rule coming into play was extremely key in the 2001 run . . . had woodsen just gotten there a half second later and missed Brady's head it would of been a fumble and game over . . .

 

who knows what would of happened in 03 and 04, but something tells me that we would of still one in those years . . .

 

But these kind of plays just goes to show ya that many times the line between winning and losing is a lucky bounce, or the four corners of an NFL rule . . .

[dgambill]

yes that rule was key . . . actually to be honest had they called the blow to the head it would of been 15 yards automatic first down and tuck rule would not even been an issue . . . but given the fact that they missed the blow to the head call . . . the tuck rule coming into play was extremely key in the 2001 run . . . had woodsen just gotten there a half second later and missed Brady's head it would of been a fumble and game over . . .

 

who knows what would of happened in 03 and 04, but something tells me that we would of still one in those years . . .

 

But these kind of plays just goes to show ya that many times the line between winning and losing is a lucky bounce, or the four corners of an NFL rule . . .

However you want to justify that play I could care less....just saying I can't think of a more significant play in the last decade or more. Helped change the landscape of the NFL and put in motion the only dynasty in modern FA.

[Yehoodi]

However you want to justify that play I could care less....just saying I can't think of a more significant play in the last decade or more. Helped change the landscape of the NFL and put in motion the only dynasty in modern FA.

 

Whatever floats your boats it does not matter to me . . . btw I did agree with you that it was a key play and that it came down to a rule . . . but is a rule whether we like it or not, so it was not like a decision by a ref that ruled it one way earlier in the game and then the other way, in our favor, later in the game . . .  for for example calling PI two different ways in the same game . . .

 

As for "changing" the landscape of the NFL I am not so sure what you mean by this . . . it was merely one play in a divisional playoff between two teams that were not on the radar to win the SB . .. the pats still needed to drive the ball to score, in this case make the FG, then win in OT,  they still had to beat Pit in Pit, they still had to beat the Rams . . . and so on, plus they still had to win in 03-04 . . . one play did not go that far . . .

 

as for key plays that are many each year, we just don't hear about them as the team did not go on to win the SB . ..

 

as for key plays that helped the eventual SB winner, what about the Giants in the 2011 NFCCG and that blown call on the fumble that was called "forward progress" by the refs, to me it was a fumble and has been called that way many times . . . had the refs called the way it called many times it is a fumble by Bradshaw, recovered by SF  in the red zone with just outside the 2 min warning in regulation . . . the game would of been over had they called it that way, but the Gmen survived, punted, won the game in OT and the SB . . .so we gonna say that called change things . . .if the Giants go on to win two more SB in the new few years are we going to say that play by Bradshaw changed the landscape of the NFL? really?

 

Yes it change one game, but the team still has to go on to win later on . . . it only gave the pats the opportunity to move on in that year, but did not effect any games in 2003 or 2004 any more or less how the bradshaw call is going to effect the giants in 2013 and 2014 . . .

[dgambill]

Whatever floats your boats it does not matter to me . . . btw I did agree with you that it was a key play and that it came down to a rule . . . but is a rule whether we like it or not, so it was not like a decision by a ref that ruled it one way earlier in the game and then the other way, in our favor, later in the game . . .  for for example calling PI two different ways in the same game . . .

 

As for "changing" the landscape of the NFL I am not so sure what you mean by this . . . it was merely one play in a divisional playoff between two teams that were not on the radar to win the SB . .. the pats still needed to drive the ball to score, in this case make the FG, then win in OT,  they still had to beat Pit in Pit, they still had to beat the Rams . . . and so on, plus they still had to win in 03-04 . . . one play did not go that far . . .

 

as for key plays that are many each year, we just don't hear about them as the team did not go on to win the SB . ..

 

as for key plays that helped the eventual SB winner, what about the Giants in the 2011 NFCCG and that blown call on the fumble that was called "forward progress" by the refs, to me it was a fumble and has been called that way many times . . . had the refs called the way it called many times it is a fumble by Bradshaw, recovered by SF  in the red zone with just outside the 2 min warning in regulation . . . the game would of been over had they called it that way, but the Gmen survived, punted, won the game in OT and the SB . . .so we gonna say that called change things . . .if the Giants go on to win two more SB in the new few years are we going to say that play by Bradshaw changed the landscape of the NFL? really?

 

Yes it change one game, but the team still has to go on to win later on . . . it only gave the pats the opportunity to move on in that year, but did not effect any games in 2003 or 2004 any more or less how the bradshaw call is going to effect the giants in 2013 and 2014 . . .

Certainly the Pats had every reason to believe they were headed in the right direction...but considering the struggles they had the following year after the SB and depending on what they would have done at QB it definately made developing that dynasty an easier task. We all know if you change one thing it could have a compounding effect. The topic was just greatest plays and while it wasn't a great play...it was the most significant play in the modern nfl landscape that i can think of. I mean...so what..philly gets to the playoffs with that winning play...but they didn't go on to win a SB or change the landscape of the NFL. I would have an easier time with the Tyree play since it set up a SB win and denied yet another important SB in the Brady/Belichek dynasty...but still the tuck play was the biggest play to me....which yes is different from greatest...but thats my opinion lol.

[T Y Goodbye]

Its hard to define the greatest of anything...To me, two plays stood out as my choice for greatest plays from the old days, and one from newer times..

 

The newer times has to go to Marshawn Lynch..that run seemed to last forever...and was truly amazing.

 

My two from older times didn't even result in TD's but to me were just awesome..

 

First..Earl Campbell bursting through the line...flattening out Pro Bowl Linebacker Isiah Robertson..the running down field with guys just on his back, ripping his jersey off trying to take him down.

 

The second was Lynn Swann's catch where he leaped tipped the ball over the defender as they went up together and while falling forward catching the pass he tipped himself...

 

There are other awesome plays..those are just three of my favorites...