In just a matter of minutes, thanks to a replay reversal, one of the NFL’s greatest catches turned into one of its most disputed calls. The Dez Bryant catch in Green Bay that replay overturned is among the 10 most controversial official’s decisions ever, but it still can’t dislodge the all-time top two.
Immaculate Reception, 1972
The grand-daddy of ‘em all. Was the Steelers’ Frenchy Fuqua the last player to touch that last-minute deflected pass that Franco Harris caught and ran in for a game-winning touchdown against the Raiders in the playoffs? That was against the rules then, but the rule was changed six years later.
Tuck rule, 2001
The Raiders’ Charles Woodson knocked the ball away from Tom Brady late in their playoff game, the Raiders recovered it and were about to win — until, after replay, the official invoked the “tuck rule” to call it an incomplete pass. The Patriots tied the game and won in overtime.
Fail Mary, 2012
The era of scab officials (because of a referee lockout) came to an ugly end on a Monday night, when a Seahawks Hail Mary landed in the hands of the Packers’ M.D. Jennings, but was ruled a touchdown for Seattle’s Golden Tate. The nationwide uproar helped end the lockout two days later.
Music City Miracle, 1999
Or, as Bills fans will forever call it, the Forward Lateral. The Bills had just taken the lead over the Titans late in a playoff game in Nashville, and on the ensuing kickoff, Frank Wycheck threw across the field to Kevin Dyson, who ran it 75 yards for the winning touchdown.
Dez Bryant catch, 2015
Bryant’s leaping fourth-down catch at the Packers’ 1 yard line, setting up the Cowboys to potentially take the lead in Green Bay late in their playoff game, was an instant legend. But the NFL’s arcane rules governing what is a completed catch led officials to overturn it on replay. The Packers advanced to the NFC title game.
Picking up the flag, 2015
Just one week before the Dez Bryant play, in a Cowboys-Lions playoff game, the referee announced that the Cowboys’ Anthony Hitchens had interfered with the Lions’ Brandon Pettigrew on a fourth-quarter pass deep in Dallas territory. Yet he then picked up the flag with no explanation until after the game. The Lions had to punt, and the Cowboys drove for the winning touchdown.
Hail Mary, 1975
The play that gave the last-second game-winning heave its name, is cursed to this day in Minnesota. In the 1975 playoffs in Bloomington, the Cowboys’ Roger Staubach threw what he later dubbed a “Hail Mary” to Drew Pearson to beat the Vikings. Pearson may or may not have pushed off cornerback Nate Wright, who fell just as the ball arrived.
Giants’ botched field goal, 2002
The Giants had a chance to redeem themselves from blowing a 24-point lead to the 49ers in their playoff game. On a game-winning field goal try, holder Matt Allen scooped up a bad snap and threw to the end zone, where Rich Seubert was yanked down by a 49ers’ defender. Officials later admitted that pass interference should have been called.
Oilers’ TD catch wiped out, 1979
Houston’s best-ever chance to go to the Super Bowl died in the AFC championship game against the Steelers, where a third-quarter touchdown catch by Mike Renfro was ruled out of bounds in the end zone. Replay was not put in place until six years later, too late for the Oilers, who lost 27-13.
Holy roller, 1978
The NFL eventually changed its rule about advancing fumbles in the last two minutes, known as the Ken Stabler Rule. On the final play of a game against the Chargers, Stabler fumbled forward as he was about to be sacked, starting a chain of pushes and pitches that ended with Dave Casper recovering for the winning touchdown.