Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The Packers just beat Detroit with a 62- yard Hail Mary as time ran out to beat Detroit 27-23, and the win probably saved their season as they came back from a 20-0 deficit. I know every team tries this as time runs out, but I can't think of too many times it has happened from over 50 yards on the final play of regulation to turn a loss into a win. Has it happened 20 times in pro football history? A dozen? I don't think it has happened too many times on the final play of the game, but it was one of the greatest finishes I have ever seen.

As Charlie Brown would say, "How did the other team feel?"

I just watched that game. Some ending and some throw by Rodgers.

Over 50 yards to turn a loss into a win has happened before, but that's the first time with an untimed down after a phantom facemask penalty.

And the spirit of Bobby Lane smiles in grim satisfaction...

Combining this ending with the end of the Ravens/Browns game Monday Night and we've some amazing endings this week.
And we've seen why the Browns are the Browns and the Lions are the Lions.

It seemed almost fated, didn't it?

In live action the facemask looked a lot worse than it was. Rodgers' facemask moves when the lineman take a big paw swipe at his head. Dumb to even get that close, Rodgers was going nowhere. They could have just stood around him and he probably would have taken a knee once he got the ball.

Defense on the Hail Mary was terrible. The only way he can even make that throw is breaking contain to the right sideline, which is what they let happen. The defensive end even overpursued Rodgers trying to get a sack. Let him dance back there for 30 seconds, who cares, don't lose contain. Then there was no one in front of the receiver (other Rodgers) who caught the ball. For a Hail Mary it was such an easy catch, he almost couldn't miss.

I'm a Packers fan, but it was terrible defense on that Hail Mary. First time a Wisconsin team has been on the good side of one of those.

After the game, Dean Blandino, the league’s vice president of officiating, provided an explanation that doesn’t necessarily say it was the right call.

“Hand up to the mask, quick grab with finger and head gets turned,” he wrote on Twitter. “At full speed official is going to make that call almost every time.”

Backup to what I said earlier, it was just a bad looking play that looked like a facemask in real time.

Reaser wrote:Over 50 yards to turn a loss into a win has happened before, but that's the first time with an untimed down after a phantom facemask penalty.

"I will just say this: At least our guy really caught the ball in this one," McCarthy said with a small smirk. "You can quote that." #FailMary

I heard that it was the longest Hail Mary pass play in NFL history, although that was from ESPN Radio so I can't completely trust them. It pales in comparison to Kordell Stewart's Hail Mary pass at Colorado, but a pretty remarkable throw-and-catch nonetheless.

https://vine.co/v/exmn6A7EP1A

By rule - some say there was no violation.
By nfl preference - some say do anything you can do to help (___insert team___) get to the play-offs.

Facemask rule, as written, wasn’t violated by Lions

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -by-lions/

Elias was saying that the only other final play TD that was longer ironically took place 55 years ago today: 12/4/60, when the Lions' Earl Morrall threw from his own 35, connected with Jim Gibbons at approximately midfield and watched him outrun the Colt defenders to win 20-15. The Colts had been in position to win it after scoring with 14 seconds left.

BD Sullivan wrote:Elias was saying that the only other final play TD that was longer ironically took place 55 years ago today: 12/4/60, when the Lions' Earl Morrall threw from his own 35, connected with Jim Gibbons at approximately midfield and watched him outrun the Colt defenders to win 20-15. The Colts had been in position to win it after scoring with 14 seconds left.

Funny that it also involves the Lions. Lenny Moore's TD catch with 14 seconds left is one of the greatest catches in NFL history.

Wouldn't Chad Morton's 96-yard OT kickoff return by the longest final play TD?