“Immaculate Reception” greatest NFL play ever, Tyree 3rd

but his call sucked during that play

maybe give Tyree catch more love versus the other 2 because it was the only one in a Superbowl game...right?

Annoying thing about the Immaculate Reception is it’s such an odd play that the broadcast camera misses the most important part.

In comment 14590312 Oscar said:

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Annoying thing about the Immaculate Reception is it’s such an odd play that the broadcast camera misses the most important part.

Yup. Of course with Smart phones and iPads today, that would never have been missed.

When you consider how wild the play was, the teams on the field, the storylines of the players involved and the historical significance.

The immaculate reception was #1 because it has a very cool name

In comment 14590328 Ben in Tampa said:

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When you consider how wild the play was, the teams on the field, the storylines of the players involved and the historical significance. The immaculate reception was #1 because it has a very cool name

That’s a bad take. IR is a lot more than a cool name - it involved the dawn greatest team of the 70’s with one of its fiercest rivals for the decade, had at least a dozen hall of famers playing in it, was Madden vs Noll, and the fact that nobody to this day can say for sure exactly what happened gives it an air of mystery. Plus, the Raiders had owned the Dolphins at that point, and may well have ended their perfect season.

Thought Tyree would be 2, but “Clark catch was pretty special.

Don’t forget those two plays ended the game

I still don’t know how Clark got that high in the air.

But what makes the Helmet Catch better as a play is that Eli was nearly sacked, whereas Montana was pressured but threw the ball before he was touched by a defender.

if Tyree was a Cowboy, Eagle or Patriot, his catch would have been ranked #1...:)

In comment 14590305 Joey from GlenCove said:

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but his call sucked during that play

So did bob papas

“.....tyree wide open heeee makes the catch”

Wide open lmao if I heard that on the radio then went back and watched it i would think bob papa was watching a different game.

In comment 14590344 Tuckrule said:

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In comment 14590305 Joey from GlenCove said: Quote: but his call sucked during that play So did bob papas “.....tyree wide open heeee makes the catch” Wide open lmao if I heard that on the radio then went back and watched it i would think bob papa was watching a different game.

In fairness to Bob, Tyree was open before Harrison closed in. Papa has said as much. Not sure if we could catch that on TV

Without that catch - no superbowl victory against a 18 - 0 team.

Tyree should be #1 imo.

In comment 14590344 Tuckrule said:

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In comment 14590305 Joey from GlenCove said: Quote: but his call sucked during that play So did bob papas “.....tyree wide open heeee makes the catch” Wide open lmao if I heard that on the radio then went back and watched it i would think bob papa was watching a different game.

He was wide open when Eli threw the ball. Look at the play from other angles

Ball thrown to one guy, bounces off another guy and caught by another guy and that’s a “great play”? Not one person in that play did anything noteworthy. In contrast, in the helmet catch Eli’s escape was extraordinary, and Tyree’s catch even more so. At least the Montana/Clark play was a great effort by both players. However, Eli/Tyree was a better effort by both than Montana/Clark.

In comment 14590305 Joey from GlenCove said:

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but his call sucked during that play

That play was really hard to call live

I know we are probably not the group to give an unbiased opinion but the Tyree play should undoubtedly be #1.

The immaculate reception and Dwight Clark’s catches both won games that launched dynasties. While the individual play Tyree made was undoubtedly better - and against a better opponent - it did not win the game (directly) and did not launch a dynasty.

In the context of the history of the NFL, there is certainly an argument to be made that those plays are simply more iconic.

In comment 14590373 Mike from Ohio said:

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The immaculate reception and Dwight Clark’s catches both won games that launched dynasties. While the individual play Tyree made was undoubtedly better - and against a better opponent - it did not win the game (directly) and did not launch a dynasty. In the context of the history of the NFL, there is certainly an argument to be made that those plays are simply more iconic.

This is 100% correct. And the Imac Recp may have been "dumb luck", but that's part of what made it so great.

great. I could see Tyree and Franco being #1/#2 in some order.

It’s a normal play. It didn’t even directly win the game. Dallas got the ball back and was a shoe string tackle away from their own greatest play ever. Again, the play (throw and catch) was ordinary, one we see every single Sunday during the season.

When’s the last time you saw something similar to the helmet catch ? In a postseason game?

Exactly.

It was completely WTF?

The immaculate reception is neither immaculate nor a reception.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Was not a best in my opinion. Lots of plays have been as good as that. The Immaculate reception is too controversial . The ball probably hit the ground.

with him avoiding the sack? Because, if they are, I don't see how this play isn't #1. You also have to take into consideration the situation. Super Bowl, 2 mins left, game on the line, etc. With all of that taken into consideration, I don't see how this play isn't #1.

In comment 14590345 Big Blue '56 said:

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In comment 14590344 Tuckrule said: Quote: In comment 14590305 Joey from GlenCove said: Quote: but his call sucked during that play So did bob papas “.....tyree wide open heeee makes the catch” Wide open lmao if I heard that on the radio then went back and watched it i would think bob papa was watching a different game. In fairness to Bob, Tyree was open before Harrison closed in. Papa has said as much. Not sure if we could catch that on TV

He was wide open. You couldn't just heave a ball up like that down the field with a WR practically standing still if he wasn't.

"immaculate reception" actually a short hop as opposed to a legit catch?

In comment 14590453 djm said:

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It’s a normal play. It didn’t even directly win the game. Dallas got the ball back and was a shoe string tackle away from their own greatest play ever. Again, the play (throw and catch) was ordinary, one we see every single Sunday during the season. When’s the last time you saw something similar to the helmet catch ? In a postseason game? Exactly.

Agree about The Catch. The only reason to have it up there is it's symbolism of the game and the play. One dynasty on it's last legs and a new one beginning with Montana leading a late drive for the score. Great drama. And yes the Eric Wright tackle on Drew Pearson could be number one on list of top 100 forgotten plays. And the subsequent sack/fumble was another huge forgotten play that could be in top 100. As could Jay Alford's sack. Lots goes into winning these games. Not one play or one player.

This ain't a great video but here is the tackle.


Link - ( New Window )

Top 3 seems right. We can argue about which is #1, #2 or #3 — and we are. But y'know, the play is the play. It's no different whether it's ranked #1 or unranked entirely. I don't get any more enjoyment out of it if a bunch of people praise it, or any less if they don't.

however it was controversial because back then you could only catch a deflection if it came off of the defender. The defender and receiver hit the ball at the same time, so the question was whether Franco Harris could have legally caught it

Great play by both QB and receiver, critical time(they don't hake it, they don't' win), in a Super Bowl with an undefeated season on the line.

Clark was just a nice play wildly over-hyped.

The Imm. Recpt. was a fluke play, nothing else.

Great does imply incredible individual effort or brilliant design - in that sense then a play like the Music City Miracle > Immaculate Reception. But in terms of memorable? Immaculate Reception is deserving of number one.

the camera crews were already in the Raiders locker roo getting ready for the post game celebrations.

Jim Sabo was a pretty good authority on NFL History.

He calls the Eli to Tyree play the greatest play in all of NFL history given the stakes.

In comment 14590569 bluepepper said:

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Great does imply incredible individual effort or brilliant design - in that sense then a play like the Music City Miracle > Immaculate Reception. But in terms of memorable? Immaculate Reception is deserving of number one.

Supposed to be "greatest play in NFL history." Therefore Tyree wins easily.

With those rankings I mean the helmet catch didn't win the game like the other 2 if it did I have no doubt it would be number 1

In comment 14590586 Eric from BBI said:

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Jim Sabo was a pretty good authority on NFL History. He calls the Eli to Tyree play the greatest play in all of NFL history given the stakes.

I remember Goodell also called it the best NFL play ever.

what they were trying to do. Bradshaw wasn't throwing the ball to Harris.

In comment 14590736 mrvax said:

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In comment 14590586 Eric from BBI said: Quote: Jim Sabo was a pretty good authority on NFL History. He calls the Eli to Tyree play the greatest play in all of NFL history given the stakes. I remember Goodell also called it the best NFL play ever.

As did Steve Sabol

In comment 14590373 Mike from Ohio said:

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The immaculate reception and Dwight Clark’s catches both won games that launched dynasties. While the individual play Tyree made was undoubtedly better - and against a better opponent - it did not win the game (directly) and did not launch a dynasty. In the context of the history of the NFL, there is certainly an argument to be made that those plays are simply more iconic.

Not entirely true

The IR won Pittsburgh a divisional round game. But then they lost the next week against Miami. And Miami went on to have back to back SB wins. '72 and '73.

Pittsburgh didn't win their first SB until '74.

in peoples minds since it occurred during the heyday of the NFL. Even though the Giants sucked then, admittedly that era of the NFL may have been the games high water mark.

In comment 14590305 Joey from GlenCove said:

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but his call sucked during that play

I didn’t like Joe Buck before that play and I liked him less after that play. That was atrocious.

stemmed more from disbelief (as with most of the world) rather than having an agenda or just being lackadaisical?

I don’t know, but a reasonable question to ask, no?

In comment 14590910 Big Blue '56 said:

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stemmed more from disbelief (as with most of the world) rather than having an agenda or just being lackadaisical? I don’t know, but a reasonable question to ask, no?

I think that’s right. Summed up by the first thing Aikman said after the play: “Oh my God!”

In comment 14590417 PatersonPlank said:

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great. I could see Tyree and Franco being #1/#2 in some order.

Right there with you. Just does not resonate with me as something insane you don’t always see.

I would argue that Manning to Manningham is the greatest pass in Super Bowl history.