Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Reaser wrote:

ChrisBabcock wrote:Or Earl Campbell in that famous MNF game vs. Miami.

Some famed championship Blanda to Cannon plays, too. I like the 88-yarder in '60.

Seahawks: Beast Quake, Smith int (off Sherman deflection which is the 'signature' part), Wilson to Kearse from that same game and Wilson to Kearse in this past NFC Championship - which interestingly a third Wilson to Kearse play possibly would have ended up as the signature play had this past SB ended differently. I'd say it's between the Lynch run and the Sherman/Smith play (Sherman Smith, Seahawks great himself) ...

"Some famed championship Blanda to Cannon plays, too. I like the 88-yarder in '60."

I saw the 88 yard Blanda to Cannon TD pass that clinched the first AFL Championship game. Pro football was pretty exciting in 1960 for a 10-year old watching on TV.

The Browns signature play has to be the Groza FG to beat the Rams in the 1950 NFL Championship:

I can't think of a signature play for the Bengals off the top of my head, perhaps Stanford Jennings returning the kickoff for the TD in Super Bowl XXIII:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXm3aYJhhG0

or Ickey Woods doing his shuffle, which isn't really a play.

Ravens has to be, I think, Ray Lewis returning the pick six against the Titans in the 2000 playoffs, or the 90-yard blocked FG return by Anthony Mitchell to break a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter of the same game.

Jacksonville may be Mike Hollis's game winning FG to upset the Bills in the 1996 Wild Card game.

Houston is drawing a blank.

Panthers would have to be the 69-yard pass from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith in the second OT to beat the Rams in the 2003 Divisional Playoffs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_tk9MFKAVs

Atlanta's is probably the Big Ben play against the Saints in 1978. I couldn't find that play but found one against the 49ers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJzVrnWKL9A

For the Saints, I would go with the Steve Gleason blocked punt against the Falcons in 2006 in their first game in the Super Bowl since Hurricane Katrina:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIGgBhNtOP4

For the Seahawks, I would go with Marshawn Lynch's run to upset the Saints in the 2010 wild card game in what was the greatest run I've ever seen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNBQEv11C4c

Rupert Patrick wrote:Jacksonville may be Mike Hollis's game winning FG to upset the Bills in the 1996 Wild Card game.

'96 Jags are one of my favorite single season teams. While Hollis is a favorite of mine (played HS football in WA), the '96 team had a lot of great moments.

Morten Andersen's missed FG was crazy, for example, but I think the signature play would come from the Broncos game. I like either of Brunell's TD passes (McCardell and Smith) though his run in that game may be the play.

oldecapecod 11 wrote:Jeremy Crowhurst » Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:34 pm
"...For Tampa Bay, maybe the signature moment is the Q&A with the reporter - 'I'm in favour of it.'"

Favour? Maybe in Hudson Bay but not in Tampa.

Don't be makin' fun of the Queen's English, eh, or I'll smack you with my toque!

With the Dolphins' perfect season, the Seiple fake punt in the AFCCG helped change the whole momentum of the game, which allowed them to get to the Super Bowl.

With the Broncos', The Drive had one signature play: connecting for a first down on 3rd and 18 from midfield with 1:47 left. What made that play even more amazing was that WR Steve Watson was in motion as the ball was snapped. The ball glanced off his hip and Elway was able to grab it and connect with Mark Jackson on a 20-yard catch.

Wow! I never have seen so many responses to one of my threads in such a short amount of time. Here are some of mine: Two stand out for Dallas, the Hail Mary Pass in 1975 and Bob Lilly's 29-yard sack of Bob Griese in Super Bowl VI. The Kansas City Chiefs: Otis Taylor's touchdown, clinching a victory in Super Bowl IV. The Baltimore Colts: Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal to win Super Bowl V. The New Orleans Saints: Tom Dempsey's 63-yard field goal to beat the Lions in 1970. The Oakland Raiders: Jack Tatum's hit on Sammy White in Super Bowl XI. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Okay, this is a reach, I know...Neil O'Donohue's game-winning field goal in the pouring rain against Kansas City to claim their first NFC Central Division Championship in 1979. That's all I can think of right now. Can you tell that I grew up in the 1970s? LOL.

Oh yeah, one other that I almost forgot. The Washington Redskins: Ken Houston's famous tackle of Walt Garrison on Monday Night Football in 1973, preserving a come-from-behind Washington victory.

Joe Zagorski

Jeremy Crowhurst » Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:24 pm
"Don't be makin' fun of the Queen's English, eh, or I'll smack you with my toque!"

Reversible? Stars and Stripes on one side, Maple Leaf on the other?

BTW - new restaurant in Tampa run by ex-RCMP: Real Canadians Making Pizza

Not really a signature play for Miami, unless signature for the no-name defense, was the interception by Dick Anderson in the 1971 AFC title game and then on the return the Dolphin defenders turning into fearsome blockers as Anderson weaves his way around Colts strewn on the field.

For the Baltimore Colts it has to be Unitas to Berry in 1958 title game.

For KC the signature (best remembered ?) probably is the SB catch and run by Otis Taylor which put the final nail in the coffin. But for me it was the Dawson throw and Taylor catch from their own two in the 1969 AFL title game; the term shift in momentum may be overused but it fits here.

For SF the play no one forgets is the Steve Young scramble against the Vikings.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Pittsburg. Best remember is Swann's SB catch against Dallas. But what really catches the spirit of those Steelers was Lambert's fury after Harris or Waters taunted their kicker.

Joe Zagorski wrote:Oh yeah, one other that I almost forgot. The Washington Redskins: Ken Houston's famous tackle of Walt Garrison on Monday Night Football in 1973, preserving a come-from-behind Washington victory.

That was a great and memorable play, but Riggins' fourth-down touchdown run in the Super Bowl, which Evan already pointed out, beats it easily. Perhaps out of natural contrariness, I'd like to nominate a play from the Sammy Baugh years, but nothing then could match Riggins' play either.