The Best Plays Ever: Must-Watch NFL Videos for Every Fan

Football is really not only about stats and records but about those moments that drop your jaw all the way down and are replayed ad infinitum. These are plays talked about by fans for years, the ones that live in highlight reels and history. Be it a game-saving catch or a TD run that defied all odds, NFL Videos have captured some totally unforgettable moments. Here’s a breakdown of the most iconic plays that every football fan needs to see.

Football’s Miracle Moment

No collection of NFL highlights is really complete without Franco Harris’s Immaculate Reception. The Pittsburgh Steelers, down 7-6 to the Oakland Raiders in the 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff, were all but defeated with just 22 ticks left on the clock. Then came the pass-deflected, bobbled, seemingly dead in the air before Harris snatched it inches from the ground and sprinted into the end zone. The impossible unfolded right before fans’ eyes. It’s that kind of moment that makes fans believe anything can happen. That single play put Harris and the Steelers into football legend and it’s regularly listed alongside the best NFL plays.

The Catch That Ended The Patriots’ Perfect Run

How could David Tyree’s Helmet Catch not make this list? The New York Giants were up against the virtually unstoppable New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Trailing 14 -10 in the final minutes, the Giants desperately needed a huge play. Eli Manning somehow escaped pressure, chucked the ball downfield and Tyree caught the football by pinning it to his helmet—while falling backward. That incredible impossible catch set up the game-winning touchdown and stopped the Patriots from completing a perfect season. That’s a highlight you can’t watch once.

Trick Play at Its Finest

Special teams might not always get all that glory, but the Music City Miracle proved a prime example of how special they can be. With the Tennessee Titans trailing the Buffalo Bills 16 -15 in the final seconds of the 1999 AFC Wild Card game, things looked bleak. Then came the kickoff. Frank Wycheck threw the lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson, who raced 75 yards for a touchdown. Voilà. The Titans took victory out of the jaws of defeat just like that. This is one of the most dramatic trick plays ever pulled off and is an absolute mainstay in NFL highlights.

The Catch

For the San Francisco 49ers in 1982, the NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys was going to come down to one play. With 58 seconds left and trailing by six, Joe Montana found Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone for what’s now known as The Catch. It wasn’t just the skillful leap or the fingertip grab that made it iconic, it was because it sent the 49ers to their first Super Bowl, starting up a dynasty. Anyone who appreciates football history should see this moment.

An NFC Playoff Stunner

For Vikings fans, Sunday, January 14, 2018, was a date to remember. With a mere tick of the clock remaining and trailing by a single point against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round, Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum launched a deep, desperate pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The receiver hauled in the catch sidestepped a would-be tackler and sprinted to the end zone as time expired. The Minneapolis Miracle was born. It’s one of those moments where everything stops and for a split second, nobody believes what they’ve just seen. The opposite, in fact, that’s easily one of the best NFL plays in recent memory.

Beast Quake

When people talk about power running, Marshawn Lynch is one presence. Lynch went full “Beast Mode” on the New Orleans Saints in the 2011 NFC Wild Card game. In that game, Lynch provided a 67-yard touchdown run that left onlookers with their jaws hanging. He bulldozed his way into the end zone, breaking no less than nine tackles, with a roar loud enough to register on local seismometers. It’s the kind of run that doesn’t just change a game, it cements a reputation. If you’re a fan of physical, unstoppable football, then this NFL video is a must-see.

A Comedy of Errors

Sometimes, a play makes history for all of the wrong reasons. That was the case with the Butt Fumble, among the most infamous moments in recent highlights of NFL history. During a 2012 Thanksgiving game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez ran directly into his own lineman’s backside and fumbled the ball. The Patriots scooped it up and scored. The play became an instant meme, replayed endlessly to the chagrin of Sanchez. It’s a comedy of errors, but just one of those NFL moments that must be seen.

One-Handed Masterpiece

Few touches have taken the collective public’s breath away quite like Odell Beckham Jr.‘s one-handed catch in 2014. In a Sunday night tilt between the Giants and Cowboys, Beckham reached behind him, fully extended his arm as long as it would go and somehow hauled in an impossible one-handed catch going backward and drew a pass interference penalty with it. This was one of those kinds of catches that, in an instant, went viral, putting Beckham in every household and making his move one of the greatest NFL moments. If you haven’t seen this play yet, do yourself a favor and find the video.

Honorable Mentions

With too many great moments in the NFL, many can’t be included on just one list. If you’re still hungry for more, check out this 2010 game-winning punt return by DeSean Jackson for the Eagles and Malcolm Butler’s Super Bowl-winning interception in 2015 a moment that sealed the Patriot’s championship. And then, of course, there are Aaron Rodgers’ many Hail Mary passes, each one more unbelievable than the last one. These plays didn’t just decide games, but they would become defining moments in football history, each earning its place within the endless reel of NFL video that fans can’t stop watching.

Football, in its essence, is about these very moments. One play, like the Immaculate Reception or The Catch, that decides games, shapes legacies, stirs emotions and ignites fan passion. As this collection of NFL best plays goes to show, any fan with a wish to relive pieces of drama, athleticism and unexpected twists that define the NFL gets the ultimate mix. Each one has a story to tell and each freezes pure gridiron greatness.