The 2024 NFL season has featured many amazing moments.
There was a field goal that was the first of its kind in almost 50 years. There were multiple Hail Mary completion touchdowns, one of which won a game for one team at the buzzer and served as a dagger for the losing team. There was even one move so special that Madden had to implement its uniqueness in an update to its video game.
The MVP favorite also made several notable plays that bolstered his case to win the award this season. One was so rare that it had only been done a few times in NFL history, while another could have prevented an undefeated season.
With the regular season in the books, let’s take a look at the 10 must-see plays of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The vast majority of 14-yard catches are pretty common. But Barkley’s 14-yard reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars was the highlight of his extraordinary first season with the Philadelphia Eagles. The star running back turned Jalen Hurts’ pass into a third-and-6 play in the second quarter in a spectacular moment when he spun around a Jacksonville defender before leaping over cornerback Jarrian Jones, with his back to him.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni might have put it better when he explained why the play was so special.
“It was the best play I’ve ever seen in my life,” Sirianni told reporters at the time. “What I think is cool is that there will be kids all over the country and all over Philadelphia trying to make that play and talking about that play and simulating that play while they’re playing backyard football or pee-pee football. They’re not going to be able to do it; I think he is the only one in the world who can do it.
It takes a special play to derail a winning team’s season. That’s what the Washington Commanders did to the then 4-2 Chicago Bears in Week 8. After the Bears took a 15-12 lead with 23 seconds left, the Commanders were able to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat as Daniels walked away. back to his 30-yard line before backing into the pocket to throw a pass that was deflected and into the arms of a relatively open Noah Brown for a 52-yard pass. landing.
After the game, a video surfaced of Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson taunting fans as the play began. As a result, Stevenson squandered his deep man assignment on the Hail Mary, allowing Brown to make an easy grab in the end zone.
Regardless, the play instantly became a tradition in Washington DC sports, quickly earning the nickname “Hail Maryland.”
The “stumbling” TD
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has shown off the tricks he has up his sleeve all season long. But his most creative play called for his quarterback and running back to do some action. In their Week 16 matchup against the Bears, Jared Goff intentionally tripped on a play with Jahmyr Gibbs going to the grass to fake diving for a loose ball. Goff was able to recover quickly before calmly hitting a wide-open Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
After the game it was revealed that the Lions called the play the “stumble” play. However, it is unknown what the Bears call it, as they are one of two teams on the wrong end of one of the best plays on this list.
Josh Allen passes and receives a TD… on the same play
Allen has done it all for the Buffalo Bills this season. In fact, he practically did it all in one play in their Week 13 win over the San Francisco 49ers. With the ball at the 49ers’ 7-yard line, Allen’s diagonal pass to Amari Cooper fell a little behind. The Bills wide receiver was able to make the grab, but was met by a group of 49ers defenders. With Allen running toward him, Cooper decided to pass the ball to his quarterback. Allen took the ball and ran along the sideline before diving into the post for a touchdown.
Allen became just the fourth player in NFL history to have a passing and receiving touchdown on the same play, with the last such instance coming in 2017. He also became the second player in recent years. 19 seasons to record a touchdown passing, rushing and receiving. in the same game thanks to that score.
There weren’t many highlights for the New York Jets in 2024, but Wilson gave them one of the best plays of the NFL season in their Week 9 win over the Houston Texans. Facing a third-and-12 in Texans territory, Aaron Rodgers threw a ball to Wilson in the back of the end zone. Wilson raised his right arm, secured the ball with his right hand and remained in possession of the ball as it fell to the ground.
The pass was initially ruled incomplete because it was deemed not to be in bounds. But he hit his left foot twice before falling off the field, reversing the decision on the field.
Sometimes the best works don’t start on a good note. Turpin found that out on a kick return late in the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 12 win over the Commanders. The Cowboys receiver and returner initially botched a return and had to retreat to their team’s 1-yard line to recover the ball. As the Commanders’ kicking team moved quickly down the field, Turpin broke out of a tackle at the 10-yard line before darting down the field. Turpin took off toward one of the sidelines while running near midfield and no Commanders player caught up with him until he reached the goal line after taking a high step in the final few meters.
Derrick Henry runs alongside Bills for 87-yard touchdown
“King Henry” has had some memorable long touchdown runs in his outstanding career. He added another to the list in his first season with the Baltimore Ravens. In their Week 4 matchup against the Bills, Henry left opposing defenders behind on the Ravens’ first practice play. He ran 87 yards for a touchdown, untouched along the way.
That touchdown set the stage for a crushing 35-10 victory for the Ravens, which was a key victory for them at the time, as it brought them back to .500.
Josh Allen hands the Kansas City Chiefs their first defeat
If there was an “MVP moment,” Allen’s came in Week 11. The Bills were in control for much of their matchup against the then-undefeated Chiefs, but likely needed to add another score in the final minutes to secure a victory. Leading 23-21, Buffalo faced a fourth-and-2 from the Kansas City 26-yard line with 2:27 left. Instead of kicking a field goal, the Bills opted to let their best player go to work.
Allen rewarded them. He started the play with a couple of fakes before running down the field. He slipped out of the reach of a tackler before staying on top as Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton hit him to secure the first down, and Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins stopped to celebrate and signal that he’d made it. first attempt. But Allen kept running toward the end zone. Chiefs safety Bryan Cook was the last man to beat, standing right in front of the goal line. Allen dove over it to reach the end zone and score a score that put the Bills up, 30-21, which ended up being the final score.
It’s rare to see a field goal as one of the best plays of the season. But when a certain field goal is a rarity, it must be included in the list. Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker scored a 57-yard field goal on a free throw in their Week 16 victory over the Denver Broncos. The shot, made possible by a Broncos penalty with time remaining in the first half, was the first free throw field goal made since 1976 and the longest free throw field goal ever made.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh called the free throw his “favorite rule” in the NFL. In fact, he had Phil Dawson attempt a 71-yard attempt during his tenure as the 49ers’ head coach, but the kick failed to go through the uprights.
Dicker’s kick actually ended up being instrumental to the Chargers’ playoff hopes. The kick cut the Broncos’ lead to 21-13 at the time, setting the stage for them to come back in the second half and win the game.
Darnold’s turnaround with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 has been nothing short of impressive. He could have sent an early signal that he was having the best season of his career in Week 2. Facing a second-and-9 from his own 3-yard line in the second quarter against the 49ers, Kevin O’Connell decided to call a pass. action with Jefferson running a deep route. Darnold advanced into his own end zone to connect with Jefferson down the field.
But Jefferson managed to grab him just a few feet from 49ers territory. However, he was able to find his way to the end zone by beating a pair of 49ers defensive backs. He stopped them in their tracks, changing direction before sprinting into the end zone for a 97-yard touchdown.
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