ESPN poll: most memorable plays in team history

Because they're bored, I guess, ESPN's football writers have come up with a poll of the most memorable plays in each team's history.

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-...eelers-top-play-immaculate-reception#comments


I am not sure I'd go with Ben to Santonio. Tough call there. I think Bradshaw's two bombs to Swann in SB X and the game-winner to Stallworth in SB XIV also deserve serious consideration.

BTW: Check out the Patriots list. All field goals. WTH!

 

While we're at it...How about the flip side? What are your three most "Painful" plays in Steelers history?

Four yards short against the Chargers in '94 AFCCG?
O'Donnell's second pick in SB XXX?
Malone's late second half pick against the Dolphins in '84 AFCCG?
The Dolphins' fake punt in the '72 AFCCG?
Franco's rib injury on a run vs Colts in '76 AFC playoffs (painful in many respects)
Metcalf's second punt return for TD in 93?
Rodgers' 3rd and 10 conversion in SB XLV?
The FG block TD return vs Pats in '01 AFCCG?
The "roughing the kicker" call against Titans in '02 divisional playoffs?
The missed hold vs Jaguars in '07 wild card?
Tebow's TD pass in OT in '11 wild card?

 

TTF I dont know if you could do this but could you do a poll tournament of all the greatest plays.

 

Yep, that`s blasphemy.
But you make a good case for it.
The fact that the entire defense blocked for Silverback, on that return, and how, they all said they had been practicing that type of play all year long, under Lebeau`s tutelage..
Yeah...
Pretty Damn Impressive. Not to mention, a 200+ pound LB`r doin a 100 yard sprint.
But at that point, we were USED to winning Superbowls/getting to the playoffs..
When Franco caught that ball off his toes...
We were the Same Old Steelers...(at least to anyone not born in "Da Burgh")..
That turned all of Pittsburgh`s expectations around... We really had a chance after that...
So, I have to respectfully say that you are commiting blasphemy...
Harrison`s play gave us a chance to keep cementing our place as one of the best franchises to ever play in the league.
Franco`s play, put us on the path...
And as for the "flip side", that 12 to 88 asked about?
Without a doubt, in my mind, is O`Donnell`s 2nd pick, to the SAME Cowgirl defender that picked him off earlier in the game.
BECAUSE...
It`s the first Superbowl we ever lost.
We lost it to the friekin` Cowgirls.
And O`Donnell had been SO accurate with the ball, all season long, leading up to that.
Yes, their have been other dissapointments, in playoff games, leading up to the Superbowl, but, we got there again, damnit, against one of our biggest rivals, and had every chance to win, if he hadn`t just choked!
Forgive me for speaking his name again.
GO STEELERS!

 

It's interesting, because "most memorable" is not necessarily the same as "most important", or even "most spectacular".

For example, when Mark Malone caught what was then (not sure if it's still the record?) the longest reception in Steeler's history, that was pretty spectacular, but it's not a play we seem to remember an awful lot.

Likewise, FWPs record run in SB 40 broke the back of the game, but I don't tend to see it replayed all that much in Steeler's retrospectives.

I remember the picks that O'Donnell threw in Superbowl XXX much more clearly. So is that one of the most memorable plays?

I think for me the Harrison INT TD summarised that team so much for me - aggression, anticipation, preparation, gutsy teamwork, fighting for every yard. That kind of play might have just finished with the defender taking a knee to take us to half time, or the rest of the D not following them down the field to pick up the blocks. But it was that kind of all-out, gunslinging approach that made that team what it was.

 

I think Bens tackle on the intercepting defensive play for the Colts should be up there. That game would have been over and out.

Bman

 

As far as overall impact to a game, I'd agree with Ray here. Harrison's td run came in the SuperBowl, and completely changed the tide of the game. That was at least a ten point swing with that play.

I'd like to pick another one though that I think is pretty memorable. The multi-lateral play against the Dolphins this past season. Even though they didn't pull it off, it was quite the memorable play.

 

Had Antonio kept his toe in bounds, that would have made a case for the one of the most memorable plays in NFL history, let alone Steelers.

 

To me, the most memorable play in team history has been settled for eternity, THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION! All others are competing for number two. FWIW, the Harrison 100 yard INT return for a TD is number two in my book.

 

It's not. Ben and Wallace broke it against the Cards a couple of years ago.

 

To me I tend to think the series in the AFC divisional game against the Colts where Porter pretty much slammed the door on Manning and the Colts looms very large in my memory. I tend to look at plays that people think are more mundane and go man that was a heck of a thing to see. I still remember a game against the Bills shortly after Cowher became the HC where the defense just about knocked out all of the star players on the Bills that night.

 

I agree. The nature of the play and the fact that it was the franchise's first playoff victory lock the Immaculate Reception into first not just for the Steelers but for the whole NFL in my opinion. I'd take Harrison's as the second as well and it may be the best defensive play in SB history.