This past weekend the New York Giants pulled the biggest New York Jets move of all time and literally beat themselves. Only a couple of yards away from the goal line and about two minutes left to play, Giants quarterback Eli Manning instructed running back Rashad Jennings not to score.The Giants would go on to lose the game by one point.
Are you f*cking kidding me, Manning?! I’d would be pissed, but as we all know, Eli is gonna Eli whenever Eli damn pleases.
As a Jets fan, I’ve seen my fair share of crazy sh*t, but somehow, there’s always something worse. Below, the top seven most excruciating NFL end plays you’ve ever seen, in no particular order.
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Miracle at the New Meadowlands (2010)
Sorry Giants fan, but I’m leading off with you guys again. To this day, this is the most incredible comeback I have ever witnessed. Down 21 points with just 8 minutes left in the game, Michael Vick led the Eagles storming back for the win. With the game tied 31-31, the Giants punted the ball to the Eagles’ Desean Jackson. The rest, as they say, is history.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yh1DyvTuDA”]
Tony Romo Botching the Extra Point vs. the Seahawks (2007)
For better or for worse, the world was introduced to Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo in 2006. After Drew Bledsoe was knocked out of the game (again) Romo, then backup quarterback, took his starting position and never gave it back (again). That very year, the Romo helmed Cowboys would make it to the playoffs, facing the Seattle Seahawks in the first round.
With the Cowboys trailing by 1 with just 1:20 left in the game, all Romo had to do was hold the football in place so kicker Martin Gramatica could kick the 15 yard field goal to give Dallas the two point lead. Unfortunately for Gramatica, the Cowboys, the population of Dallas, and the state of Texas, Romo completely f*cking blew it. He still catches heat for it 10 years later.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf3oX9kIQy0″]
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Tebow to Demaryius Thomas in the Playoffs (2010)
Also known as the “3:16 game” or the Birth of Tebow Time, the divisional round of the 2010 playoffs saw one of the worst quarterbacks of all time orchestrate one of the greatest plays in the history of the playoffs. With a quarterback who literally can’t throw, it was a miracle in it of itself that the Broncos were ever competitive in this game, let alone making it to overtime.
After two hours of watching Tebow trip, stumble, and fall a** backwards into big play after big play, the Broncos luck seemed to be running out. However on the first snap in overtime, Tebow delivered the best ball of his NFL career to Demaryius Thomas, who made Tebow look way better than he is by stiff arming a dude straight to hell and taking the ball 80 yards to the crib. However a week later, the Tebow-led Broncos would be smacked by the New England Cheaters Patriots 41-23. Thank god, I really couldn’t stand listening to Skip Bayless gargle Tebow’s balls anymore.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMK9FKMG3Nc”]
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The Fake Spike Game (1994)
The earliest entry on this list, the Fake Spike Game, is famous for two reasons: the awesomeness of Dan Marino and the hilarious ineptitude of the New York Jets.
With 30 seconds left and trailing 24–21, the Dolphins had the ball at the Jets’ 8-yard line with only one timeout. Running to the line of scrimmage, Marino nodded to Ingram and yelled “Clock! Clock! Clock!” and motioned that he was going to spike the ball to stop the clock. The Jets defense, anticipating a spike, relaxed. Marino took the snap, but instead of spiking the ball, he dropped back to pass while Ingram ran to the corner of the end zone with rookie Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn biting on the fake. With the Jets caught off-guard, Marino threw the pass to an open Ingram in the front-right corner of the end zone. Oh my poor, poor, Jets. Will they ever learn?
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8gq2JTPCj8″]
The Fail Mary: Seahawks vs. Packers (2012)
Famous for marking the end of the “replacement referees” (the actual referees were on strike), the Fail Mary from the 2012 meeting between the Seahawks and Packers is the most recent entry on this list. It is considered by many to be the worst call ever made.
On the final play of the game, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary pass into the end zone, which was intended for wide receiver Golden Tate. Both Tate and Packers defender M.D. Jennings got their hands on the ball while the two players were still in the air. The two officials near the play initially gave separate signals of touchdown and touchback, and eventually ruled that the players had simultaneous possession. This resulted in a Seahawks game-winning touchdown.
Two days after the game, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association announced they had reached an agreement to end the lockout. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that the negative attention the game drew to the referee situation was impetus for ending the labor dispute.
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Viking’s Brett Favre to Greg Lewis (2009)
Brett Favre is my favorite NFL player of all time, even though he basically used the Jets like a dime store hooker. The dude was all fun, heart, and grit. With 321 consecutively started games (and that’s including the playoffs), 71, 383 passing yards, three consecutive NFL MVP awards and the only quarterback to win a playoff game over the age of forty, Favre’s rep speaks for itself. But he also has the most interceptions of all time, clocking in at 336 (!!!), showing off his “f*ck it, I’ve got this” gunslinging attitude that fans grew to love. However the best part of Favre’s game was the unbridled joy that he played with. It was like watching a grey-haired 12-year-old clown on a bunch of 25-year-old athletic studs – it was awesome.
This clip highlights everything I love about Brett Favre: sheer balls, skill, toughness (he gets DESTROYED), and most importantly, joy. Oh yeah, he made this play at the ripe age of 40. 40. What the f*ck will you be doing at 40?
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvDOHYy49V0″]
“Anyone know what time the game starts?” I miss you, Brett.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfz4JViRkoA”]
The Music City Miracle (2000)
Imagine being a Buffalo Bills fan (one of the few things worse than being a Jets fan) and living your life know that THIS is the last time your team was in the playoffs.
After the Bills had taken a 16–15 lead on a field goal with 16 seconds left in the game, Titans tight end Frank Wycheck threw a lateral pass across the field to Kevin Dyson on the ensuing kickoff return, who then ran 75 yards to score the winning touchdown and earn a 22–16 victory. The Bills have yet to have a winning season since.
Luckily for the Bills, Rex Ryan is in town, and I’m calling it now: this season he will lead the Bills to their first post season since 2000. The Rex is the truth.
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