The NFL has been around for over 100 years, providing fans with moments that are etched in our memories. Some of the best plays in NFL history have cool names, like the Immaculate Reception, Music City Miracle, and The Catch. Others are just mind-blowing performances, such as a Barry Sanders run, where he makes the best jukes and somehow breaks 10 tackles and turns defenders inside out on his way to a touchdown.
But what about the top play from each team? Is it even possible to pick one play out of the hundreds of thousands of snaps in a franchise history? We took on this seemingly impossible task because we like watching NFL highlights – and it gave us a chance to get ready for the 2024 NFL season.
It doesn’t matter if you’re watching your favorite team play or tracking your fantasy team on Red Zone – the NFL is must-see TV in the fall and winter. Don’t miss any games because you’re on a Wi-Fi network that blocks streaming sites. Download CyberGhost VPN to ensure you can watch every game.
The Best NFL Plays from All 32 Teams
The fun thing about making a list like this is that there are no wrong answers. We had to differentiate between iconic plays and best plays, which caused some heated discussions in the writers’ room. For example, the Immaculate Reception is one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, but is it the best play in Steelers history? Read on to find out.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Roger Staubach Invents the Hail Mary
In one of the most iconic moments in NFL history, Roger Staubach launched a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson in the final seconds of a 1975 playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings. This incredible play, later dubbed the “Hail Mary,” not only secured a 17-14 victory for the Dallas Cowboys, but also etched Staubach’s name into football legend.
New York Giants: Tyree’s Helmet Catch Shocks Patriots
On 3rd and 5 with just over a minute left in the Super Bowl against the heavily favored Patriots, David Tyree made one the best catches in NFL history. It started with QB Eli Manning somehow avoiding a sack from multiple Patriots and launching a 32 yard pass to a leaping Tyree.
With several defenders around him, Tyree made a one-handed catch by pinning the ball against his helmet, setting up the game-winning touchdown. This play was crucial in the Giants’ 17-14 upset victory, ending the Patriots’ perfect season.
Philadelphia Eagles: The “Philly Special” in Super Bowl LII
With a 15-12 lead over the Patriots late in the second quarter, the Eagles faced 4th-and-goal. In a bold move, Nick Foles caught a touchdown pass from tight end Trey Burton on one of the best NFL trick plays in Super Bowl history, known as the “Philly Special.” It gave the Eagles a 22-12 lead and helped secure their first Super Bowl victory, 41-33, solidifying it as one of the best plays in NFL history.
Washington Commanders: John Riggins 43 Yard TD Run in Super Bowl 17
With his team down by 4 in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl 17, John Riggins willed his team to victory. He took a 4th down handoff, only needing a foot or two for the first down, and ran over a few defenders on his way to the end zone. It put his team in the lead and earned him the Super Bowl MVP.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers: Montana to Clark for “The Catch”
The 49ers were down 27-21 to the Cowboys in the closing seconds of the 1981 NFC Championship Game when Joe Montana made one of the best NFL moments of all time. He escaped the pressure from three Cowboys and found Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone to give the 49ers a 28-21 victory. The clutch performance earned Montana the nickname “Joe Cool” and two weeks later, the 49ers won their first Super Bowl and a dynasty was born.
Los Angeles Rams: Super Bowl Winning Tackle
Although the Rams were one of the best offensive teams in history, their win in Super Bowl XXXIV came down to an amazing defensive play. On the final play of the game, LB Mike Jones made what is simply known as “The Tackle,” bringing down WR Kevin Dyson just inches away from scoring a game winning TD.
Seattle Seahawks: Beast Quake Erupts Against the Saints in the 2010 Playoffs
Marshawn Lynch lived up to his “Beast Mode” nickname in the 2010-11 AFC Championshop Game. He took the handoff in the 4th quarter, with the Seahawks up 4, and just powered through the entire Saints defense for a 67 yard TD. He broke 6 tackles near the line of scrimmage, ran over a LB, and then put a legendary stiff arm into Tracey Porter before pushing him to the side.
Arizona Cardinal: Karlos Dansby Beats the Packers in OT in the Playoffs
Aaron Rodgers with the ball in hands in OT during a Wild Card game is a scary thought for most teams. But in 2009, Michael Adams strip-sacked Rodgers and Karlos Dansby scooped up the ball and took it in for a TD to win the game, propelling the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: “The Refrigerator” Scores a TD in the Super Bowl
To be honest, we really wanted to go with defensive play from the 85 Bears, the most dominant defensive team in history. Instead, it’s a defensive player who played on offense, in one of the first real trick plays in the Super Bowl. William Perry, a 335-pound defensive tackle nicknamed “The Refrigerator,” took a short handoff and powered his way into the end zone in Super Bowl XX.
Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford Beats the Cowboys with a Fake Spike
As a lifelong Lions fan, I know I should put a Barry Sanders play here, but our team couldn’t agree on one play. Instead, we went with Matthew Stafford capping a 4th quarter, 80 yard drive, no timeouts, and less than a minute to play, with a fake spike and QB sneak to shock the Dallas Cowboys and win the game as time expired.
Green Bay Packers: Antonio Freeman Catches the Ball While Lying on the Field
With the score tied 20-20 in OT against the Vikings, the Green Bay Packers’ Anotonio Freeman made one of the best and most improbable catches in NFL history. Brett Favre threw a pass to a diving Antonio Freeman that was broken up by the Vikings defender. Or was it?
The ball hit the defender’s hands, bounced off his body, and bounced off Freeman’s back, and he was able to catch it before it hit the ground. The defender, thinking he blocked the pass, wasn’t looking at Freeman, who got up and ran in for the winning touchdown.
Minnesota Vikings: Randy Moss Catch and Lateral for a TD as Time Expires
In a week 7 game against the Denver Broncos, Randy Moss made a brilliant play as the first half ended. He caught a 50-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper at the yard line, surrounded by 3 defenders. Knowing this was the last play of the half, Moss flipped the ball behind his head as he was being tackled to running back Moe Williams for the TD.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints: Recovering an Onside Kick in the Super Bowl
The Colts were beating the Saints 10-6 at halftime of Super Bowl XLIV when coach Sean Payton made one of the gutsiest calls in Super Bowl history. Instead of kicking off to the Colts to start the second half, Payton called for an onside kick, catching everyone by surprise. The Saints recovered the kick and went on to win the game 31-17.
Atlanta Falcons: Prime Time Returns a Punt for a TD in His First NFL Game
The Falcons have had some of the flashiest and fastest players in NFL history, such as Bo Jackson, Mike Vick, and Julio Jones. But the best of them all was Deion Sanders. His punt return in 1989 was the stuff of legends. He initially dropped the football, but was able to recover it, break multiple tackles, before high-stepping his way to the end zone.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton Flips into the End Zone
Cam Newton showed off his athleticism in many ways on NFL Sundays. But, in my opinion, nothing is more impressive than a short 4-yard draw against the Houston Texans. He took a few steps toward the end zone and then jumped over a diving defensive player and did a complete somersault in the air. He stuck the landing in the end zone for an impressive touchdown.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joe Jurevicius Tips the Ball to Himself
This is a play you have to see to believe. In a red zone offense from the 10 yard line, and facing a jailbreak blitz, QB Johnson threw the ball to Jurevicius and an Eagles player closing in on him. Jurevicius got a hand on the ball, popping it in the air, he then continued to the end zone and caught the ball before another Eagles defender could intercept it.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Don Beebe Chases Down Leon Lett
The Cowboys stripped the ball from QB Jim Kelly and Leon Lett scooped it up and headed to the end zone. He didn’t realize the Bills WR Don Beebe was racing to catch up to him, and he spread out his arms and started celebrating. Beebe caught up and knocked the ball out of Lett’s hand, not only stopping the TD, but the Bills got the ball back.
It doesn’t matter that the Bills were being blown out in the 4th quarter by the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII. Beebe taught us all what it means to be a professional and never give up on a play, no matter the situation.
Miami Dolphins: The Miami Miracle
Down by 5 points with 7 seconds left against the heavily favored Patriot, the Dolphins needed a miracle. That’s exactly what they got. QB Ryan Tannehill threw a short pass to Kenny Stiles, and craziness ensued. Stiles lateraled the ball to DeVante Parker, who scrambled a bit before lateraling to Kenyan Drake. Drake managed to avoid multiple Patriot defenders and scamper 52 yards downfield for the game winning TD.
New England Patriots: Butler’s INT at the Goal Line Seals Super Bowl Win
This was a tough one. We went back and forth between several Super Bowl winning plays. Ultimately, we went with the Butler interception at the goal line, because it was a great individual play and obviously occurred at the most clutch time, the final seconds of the Super Bowl.
Players and fans alike will debate whether the Seahawks messed up by throwing the ball instead of running it, but that doesn’t take away from the greatness of Malcom Butler’s interception.
New York Jets: “Revis Island” With an Amazing Interception
In a big game in 2010 against the San Diego Chargers, with playoff implications on the line, Darrelle Revis made an incredible interception. Facing some pressure, Phillip Rivers threw a pass to Vincent Jackson and Revis was able to knock the ball out. It squirted through Jackson’s hands and bounced off his legs into the air. Then, Revis got his hands on the ball and was able to secure the interception while laying on his back.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: Elway’s Helicopter Spin in Super Bowl XXXII
John Elway knew he needed a Super Bowl win to cement his legacy and be considered one of the greatest QBs of all time. In the 3rd quarter, with the score tied against the heavily favored Green Bay Packers, the 37 year old Elway scrambled on a 3rd down in the red zone.
Instead of taking the safe way out and sliding or running out of bounds to settle for a FG, Elways leaped in the air at the 3 Packers defenders. He was knocked around in a complete circle while in the air, landing after the first down marker. The Broncos went on to score a TD and win Elway’s first Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs: Mike Garret’s TD Run in the 196 AFL Championship Game
There are literally dozens of Patrick Mahomes plays that we could have chosen for the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, we decided to go way back to the 1966 AFL Championship game.
RB Mike Garrett took a handoff off to the left side, he avoided a few tackles, and then cut back all the way across the field, breaking more tackles. Then, he found some room and cut up field, weaving through multiple Bills defenders on his way to an 18 yard TD run.
Las Vegas Raiders: The “Sea of Hands” Pass in the 1974 AFC Divisional Game
In the final minutes of the 1974 AFC Divisional Game against the mighty Miami Dolphins, Ken Stabler and Clarence Davis hooked up for an incredible TD. Stabler’s first option was star WR Fred Biletnikoff, but he was tightly covered.
Stabler was scrambling, but a Dolphins player was pulling him down from behind when he found Davis in the end zone. He somehow managed to pass the ball, while being tackled from behind, and Davis pulled in the TD catch with 3 Dolphins surrounding him to give the Raiders a 28-26 victory.
San Diego Chargers: Antonio Cromartie 109 TD Return on a FG Miss
Ryan Longwell and the Minnesota Vikings attempted a 59-yard FG to close the half in a week 9 matchup with the Chargers in 2007. The kick was just short, but the Chargers had wisely placed cornerback Antonio Cromartie in the end zone. He caught the missed kick at the end line, and returned it 109 yards, setting a record for the longest play in NFL history, for a TD to end the first half.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers: Santonio Holmes’ Game Winning Catch in Super Bowl XLIII
We decided not to go with the “Immaculate Reception,” one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. Our reason is simple: the Steelers lost the next game and didn’t win the Super Bowl that year.
However, Santonio Holmes’ tiptoe catch in the back corner of the end zone in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLVIII won the game. Not only that, but it caught over 3 Cardinal defenders while falling out of bounds. Ask any Steelers fan and they’d rather a Super Bowl winning play than an iconic wild card winning play.
Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis Pick Six Wins AFC Divisional Game
Ray Lewis is known for his big hits and being one of the most fearsome LBs in NFL history. In the 2000 AFC Divisional game against the Titans, he showed he can also drop back in coverage. He picked off a Steve McNair pass, while it was being juggled by Eddie George, and returned it 50 yards for the TD.
Cincinnati Bengals: Stanford Jennings 93 Yard Kickoff Return in Super Bowl XXIII
In the 3rd quarter of a close Super Bowl, Stanford Jennings gave the Bengals hope against the favored 49ers. He took a kickoff deep in his own territory and weaved his way up through the middle of the field. The blocking was so good that Jennings wasn’t touched until a 49ers dove at his heels while he crossed into the end zone.
Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb Makes Improbable TD Catch
Running backs are typically known for their catches, but the Browns Nick Chubb made one of the most impressive TD catches we’ve seen. Baker Mayfield floated the ball to the front corner of the end zone, the ball was little underthrown, nearly hitting the Bengals defender in the back of the head.
Instead, Chubb went up in the air and caught the back over the back of the defender, pinning the ball against the back of his helmet. As the two players fell into the end zone, Chubbs was able to pull the ball into his chest and control it before rolling out of bounds.
AFC South
Houston Texans: JJ Watt 29 Yard Pick SIx in the 2011 AFC Wild Card
JJ Watt was one of the best defensive players in NFL history. In addition to big sacks and stopping the runs, he had a knack for getting his hands up and batting down passes at the line of scrimmage. In the 2011 Wild Card game against the Bengals, Watt was able to intercept a pass while rushing the QB and take it to the house for a big TD.
Indianapolis Colts: John Mackey Steamrolls Entire Lions Defense with a 64 Yard TD
In a 1966 regular season game against the Detroit Lions, John Mackey showed just how hard it was to bring him down. He caught a short pass and sidestepped the first defender, then he ran into a crowd of Lions. He was surrounded by 5 defenders, with one jumping on his back, and somehow Mackey stayed on his feet. He pushed forward, running into his own teammate and knocking him down, before continuing all the way to the end zone.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Brunell Uses His Feet to Beat the Broncos on the 1996 AFC Divisional Game
The Jaguars made the playoffs in just their second season in the NFL, which is an impressive feat by itself. But they weren’t content with just being there. Going up against the heavily favored Broncos, QB Mark Brunell knew he could lead his team to victory.
On a crucial drive in the 4th quarter, Brunell took off for a 30 yard QB run, avoiding multiple defenders and staying in bounds to keep the clock running. The very next play, he threw a 21-yard TD pass to seal the victory.
Tennessee Titans: Derrick Henry’s 99 Yard TD Run
Most long touchdown runs happen when the RB beats a blitz and goes to the end zone virtually untouched. That wasn’t the case with Derrick Henry’s record setting 99 yard TD run against the Jaguars. Running up the sideline nearly the entire time, Henry stiff-armed 3 different defenders, managing to throw them off, while saying in-bounds and not giving the rest of the Jaguars defense a chance to catch up and knock him down.
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FAQ
According to the official NFL Greatest 100 Plays, it’s the Immaculate Reception, but the CyberGhost sports team disagrees. That might be the most controversial play or amazing play, but we don’t even think it’s the best play in Steelers history. The best play is a Super Bowl winning play, such as Malcolm Butler’s interception, Santonio Holmes TD catch, Patrick Mahomes OT winner, or John RIggins rumbling for a 43 yard TD.
The Immaculate Reception is the most memorable play in NFL history. In a 1972 playoff game, Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back Franco Harris caught a deflected pass inches from the ground and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown, leading to a dramatic win over the Oakland Raiders. This play is famous not only for its improbable nature but also for its impact on the Steelers’ legacy, marking the beginning of their dynasty in the 1970s.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to go undefeated all season and win the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots nearly matched them, going undefeated in a longer regular season, but were upset in the Super Bowl, thanks to an amazing catch by David Tyree.
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers each have 6 Super Bowl titles. However, it’s tough to call the Patriots an all time great franchise, because they did it all in the “Tom Brady era.” The Steelers have been incredibly consistent. as one of the most dominant franchises for the past 60 years, making them the best all-time franchise.
The “Tuck Rule” play in the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders changed the NFL forever. The controversial ruling, which changed a crucial Tom Brady fumble to an incomplete pass, led to a Patriots victory and sparked a rule change, altering how similar plays would be officiated.
There are great plays happening every week in the NFL, that you might not be able to watch live because of where you’re located. A VPN changes your virtual location, allowing you to watch out-of-market games or connect to your streaming platforms while traveling abroad. Not all VPNs are good for watching sports, though. CyberGhost VPN has a global network of streaming-optimized servers, unlimited bandwidth, and fast speeds to really enjoy the NFL from anywhere.
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