The Hail Mary - 50 Years Later

[SeahawkFever]

50 years ago today, the famous Hail Mary touchdown in the 1975 NFC Divisional Round matchup between the Cowboys and Vikings occurred.

Out of curiosity, what do you all think of the play, the pass, or if it should have triggered a flag or not? (I’ve heard some claim it should have)

And one other thing: In the third part of the Vikings dorktown documentary Jon Bois and Alex Rubenstein point out that Alan Page wasn’t on the field for that snap, instead Bob Lurtsma was in his place, and they found no articles or any evidence of anyone noticing that he wasn’t on the field for that play.

Do you think that could’ve impacted things like they implied and if so, are the Vikings in the Super Bowl again like that doc suggest?

Me personally, if they beat Dallas, I’d favor them over Los Angeles (the two NFC Championship Games those two played were fairly close at least by the final scores but Minnesota won them both), and I’d favor Pittsburgh over them if they reach Super Bowl X; the Steelers in 1975 were better than 1974 from what I’m aware of.

[ShinobiMusashi]

This play was the only thing that kept the Vikings from losing 4 Super Bowls in a row. I watched the full game on NFL Now over a decade ago and thought it was one of the best games I've ever seen, just hard battle from start to finish.

[Brian wolf]

The Pearson catch on 4th down was one of the greatest catches in NFL history. The Vikings claim it was out-of-bounds but Pearson forced the force out with great body control, as the officials gave it to him on effort. I believe he would have caught it in-bounds without the contact anyway. Another reason he is in the Hall Of Fame.

Though I saw the actual game nearly 25 years too late, Thanks to VHS collectors, the shot-gun snap was so dreadful for Dallas in this game, it has only reinforced my hatred for the play. Will QBs ever get back to simply taking the snap from center?

[SeahawkFever]

This play was the only thing that kept the Vikings from losing 4 Super Bowls in a row. I watched the full game on NFL Now over a decade ago and thought it was one of the best games I've ever seen, just hard battle from start to finish.

Are the Vikings beating the Rams in the next round like the year before and after? I'd favor them, but those other two NFC Championship Games weren't the most one sided.

[Brian wolf]

True, you can never discount a Chuck Knox coached, Rams team but it would have been interesting to see what a young Jaws could have done against the Vikings? Would the Rams have went to Minny for the Championship game?

[SixtiesFan]

If the Hail Mary pass had failed, the Vikings would have hosted the Rams in the 1975 NFC Championship game. The Vikings of that era always said the 1975 team was their best, better than the teams that made (and flopped in) the Super Bowl.

[Some Guy From Mars]

If the Hail Mary pass had failed, the Vikings would have hosted the Rams in the 1975 NFC Championship game. The Vikings of that era always said the 1975 team was their best, better than the teams that made (and flopped in) the Super Bowl.

In my opinion, if the Vikings in 1975 were good as advertised they would have put the Cowboys away earlier in the game. My point being the Vikings should have owned a commanding several touchdown lead late in the game and not be in a position to lose on a 'Hail Mary' at the end.

[SeahawkFever]

If the Hail Mary pass had failed, the Vikings would have hosted the Rams in the 1975 NFC Championship game. The Vikings of that era always said the 1975 team was their best, better than the teams that made (and flopped in) the Super Bowl.

In my opinion, if the Vikings in 1975 were good as advertised they would have put the Cowboys away earlier in the game. My point being the Vikings should have owned a commanding several touchdown lead late in the game and not be in a position to lose on a 'Hail Mary' at the end.

When I did the math on every team's strength of schedule going back to the beginning, the 1975 Vikings by opponent win percentage showed up as playing the single easiest schedule by opposing win percentage since 1936 (.332). (before which point not everyone's schedule was intended to be the same length)

It's a good team for sure, but they had easier schedules than the teams around them did.

[sheajets]

Curious before the famous Staubach to Pearson Hail Mary that gave the play its name...what other last second desperation heaves that that won games or brought a team an XP away from tying the score can people remember?

for what it's worth the catch that Pearson made on 4th and 17 to set up the Hail Mary was absolutely unreal and as clutch as it gets. Very similar to Al Dodd's catch to set up Tom Dempsey's field goal

[Brian wolf]

Nothing new for Pearson, who also caught the game-winning heave from Longley to beat the Redskins on Thanksgiving in 1974. The game winning TD to beat Atlanta in the 1980 playoffs.

Remember the 50 yard heave from Brett Favre to Rashee Rice to beat the 49ers in 2009 with the Vikings?

The beautiful heave from Favre to Sharpe to beat the Lions in the 1993 playoffs.

Of course Kramer to Rashad for the winning TD against the Browns in 1980. Kramer had another big completion before that pass, similar to Staubach to Pearson.

The desperate pass from Keenum to Diggs to win the playoff game against the Saints in 2017/18

The Immaculate Reception of course.

A number of Rodgers hail mary passes, where the defense forgot how strong his arm was ...