The 10 Best Last Second Plays In NFL History

There is nothing more clutch than when a player makes the play that wins their team the game. Much like a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation in basketball, these moments are especially memorable when they occur in the waning seconds of a contest.

RELATED: 10 NFL Players Who Hated Their Coaches

Some of the most iconic game-winning plays do not qualify for this list, as there was still some time on the clock when they occurred (like the Immaculate Reception and Santonio Holmes’ game-winning grab in Super Bowl 43). However, there are countless moments that are worthy of recognition for the best final plays in NFL history, and many of them have stood the test of time.

10

The River City Relay

There was little hype surrounding the matchup between the Jaguars and Saints in Week 16 of the 2003 season, as neither team inspired much confidence in their season-long prospects. Nevertheless, they played a competitive game that came down to the wire and featured one of the most exciting endings in NFL history. The Saints were down 20-13 late in the contest and had to attempt a hook-and-ladder play (from their own 25-yard line) to tie the game… assuming they made the extra point, of course.

With the help of three well-timed laterals, the team did the (nearly) impossible and scored on the play, which earned the title ‘The River City Relay.’ Unfortunately, kicker John Carney failed to complete the comeback when he sailed the extra point wide right, causing New Orleans to lose by one point. The moment takes a hit due to not being a high-stakes matchup, but the sheer insanity of everything that transpired makes it worthy of a place on this list.

9

The Catch II

While Dwight Clark’s game-winning touchdown in the 1981 NFC Championship game is ineligible for this list, Terrell Owens‘ grab at the end of regulation of the 49ers’ 1998 Wild Card win over the Packers is one of the most memorable moments in NFL history in its own right. San Francisco was facing a 3rd-and-3 from the 25-yard line with only eight seconds left when Steve Young connected with Owens on the go-ahead touchdown to put the 49ers up 30-27.

To say the receiver struggled mightily to that point would be an understatement, as he coughed up a ball on the 49ers’ opening drive and had a handful of crucial drops earlier in the contest. Nevertheless, Young still had enough confidence in Owens to look his way with the game on the line, and the 2018 Hall of Fame inductee made him look like a genius for doing so. Their season may have ended the following week after a Divisional Round loss to Atlanta, but they still created a moment that will stand the test of time.

8

Mike Jones Clutch Tackle

Super Bowl 34 between the Rams and Titans is considered one of the most entertaining of all time, and the game’s photo finish is one of the biggest reasons why that is the case. St. Louis was up 23-16 in the waning seconds, and Tennessee had a chance to tie the contest with one final play from the 10-yard line. Titans’ quarterback Steve McNair found receiver Kevin Dyson over the middle, and it looked like he had a path to the end zone before linebacker Mike Jones wrapped him up just inches from the goal line.

RELATED: 10 Undrafted Players Who Became Stars In The NFL

The team might be most known for their star power on the offensive side of the ball, but Jones’ clutch tackle proved, once again, that defense wins championships. ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’ would be remembered as a mere footnote in league history if the unheralded linebacker was a half-step slower in his pursuit.

7

The Inaccurate Reception

While the Immaculate Reception is ineligible for this list, the ‘Inaccurate Reception,’ which occurred during the 2012 Week Three contest between the Packers and Seahawks, is fair game. Seattle was trailing 12-7 with eight seconds left and had one last chance to get the ball in the end zone from the 24-yard-line. Russell Wilson’s hail mary attempt got simultaneously caught by Packers safety M.D. Jennings and receiver Golden Tate (who might have gotten away with a push-off) in the back of the end zone.

The moment marked the first time in NFL history that two teams won and lost a game at the same time, as the two refs on the call immediately signaled different outcomes. In the end, Seattle was granted the touchdown and came away with a 14-12 victory. To make matters worse for the replacement refs, the NFL, and practically everyone involved (besides the regular refs watching at home), the game occurred on Monday night, so the gaffe aired on primetime for the world to see.

6

The Holy Roller

The Raiders snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in their 1978 Week Two matchup against the Chargers, who held a 20-14 lead before tight end Dave Casper fell on a loose ball in the end zone to give the Raiders a last-second victory. The play, which was appropriately called “The Holy Roller” (or Immaculate Deception, depending on who you ask), is still one of the most controversial calls in NFL history, as Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler flipped the ball forward in an attempt to keep the play alive after getting wrapped up by the Chargers defense.

While one could make a sound argument that the play should have been called an incompletion, it remains one of the most memorable moments of all time. The league passed a rule that restricted fumble advances by the offense after the two-minute warning or on fourth down the following offseason in response to the play.

5

Justin Tucker’s Record-Setting Kick

If he had not already done so, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker cemented his legacy as one of the league’s all-time great kickers when he hit a record-setting 66-yard field goal against the Lions in Week Three of the 2021 season. While the kick would have put his name in the record books under any circumstance, the fact that it gave Baltimore a last-second 19-17 victory made it even more iconic.

RELATED: Predicting The 10 Worst Teams Of The 2022 NFL Season

The 32-year-old may have proven that he has ice water running through his veins, but the Lions did something even more impressive. They lost a game in ridiculous fashion and proved without a shadow of a doubt that being a Detroit Lions fan is the most strenuous task imaginable.​​​​​​​

4

Minneapolis Miracle

The NFC North has been taking on the chin thus far, but things are looking up for the division with this entry, as the Vikings pulled off one of the most miraculous last-second plays in NFL history in their 2017 Divisional Round matchup against the Saints. New Orleans held a one-point lead before giving up a 61-yard score to Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs, who streaked into the end zone for the game-winning score after outleaping a stumbling Marcus Williams.

Minnesota’s season may have ended embarrassingly against the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles a week later (they lost 38-7), but they still created a moment that won’t soon be forgotten. The play marked the first instance in NFL history where a playoff game ended with a walk-off touchdown as the clock expired.

3

Miracle At The Meadowlands

The Eagles and Giants share a heated rivalry with countless memorable games. However, none was more iconic than their matchup in Week 12 of the 1978 season, when Philadelphia escaped with a 19-17 victory after cornerback Herman Edwards recovered a loose ball (due to a botched handoff between quarterback Joe Pisarcik and fullback Larry Csonka) and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the waning seconds of the game.

RELATED: The 10 Most Important Players In NFL History

The play (which earned the nickname ‘Miracle at the Meadowlands’) was especially shocking because the Giants could have walked out with a victory if they ran out the clock with a quarterback kneel-down (which was more of a fall-down in ’78). Unsurprisingly, repercussions from the shocking incident were swift and unforgiving for Giants offensive coordinator Bob Gibson, who got fired the following day.

2

Miracle At The New Meadowlands

Another shocking chapter of the Eagles and Giants rivalry occurred in Week 15 of the 2010 season when the teams faced off in a high-stakes matchup where the winner would be alone on top of the NFC East. Philadelphia receiver DeSean Jackson helped the Eagles pull off an incredible come-from-behind (they were down by three scores with only eight minutes left in the game) 38-31 victory when he took a punt return 65 yards to the house as the clock expired.

The play earned the moniker ‘Miracle at the New Meadowlands’ since it was eerily similar to their matchup in ’78. This time, Giants punter Matt Dodge (who reportedly ignored his head coach’s suggestion to kick the ball out of bounds) played the role of scapegoat for the most recent gaffe, as he got replaced in the offseason. ​​​​​​​

1

Music City Miracle

This list opened with a successful hook-and-ladder play, so it seems appropriate it ends with one. There were high expectations for the 1999 Wild Card matchup between the Titans and Bills, but no one could have guessed just how iconic the ending, which featured the Titans scoring a walk-off touchdown on a successful hook-and-ladder play, would be. The Bills went ahead by one with only 16 seconds left in the game, and the Titans needed a spark on the kickoff to have a chance, and that is just what they got.

The Bills’ coverage unit got caught out of position when tight end Frank Wycheck lateraled the ball across the field to receiver Kevin Dyson. The pass-catcher followed his blockers and streaked to the end zone to help the Titans come away with a shocking 22-16 victory. Like many other entries on this list, the play was subject to controversy, as it looked like the ball could have been going forward (which would make it illegal). Nevertheless, the officials did not have enough evidence to overturn it and confirmed the call on the field.