The biggest football blunder ever?

Question

Right now, espn.com is running a poll about what people think is the biggest blunder in playoff football history. I have trouble believing it can be anything but Kasay's kickoff. Norwood's kick was tough, he had to kick it between 2 poles spaced 18 and a half feet apart through the air. Kasay had to keep it on the freaking field, which is 160 feet wide! And he couldn't even do that. He says "Here, Tom Brady. Please start your drive 25 yards away from field goal territory. I want you to win." And who ever said holding the snap is any easier than actually snapping the ball? Romo made a terrible play, but it wasn't the worst ever.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=blunders/070107&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

Answer 1

A christmas eve game a few years back, I cant remember what year exactly, the saints did the usual backyard play with all the lateralls etc. on a last second kick off return, and actually scored, there were therefore down one point and needed just the extra point to tie it and thus force overtime. The kicker was at that time and i beleive still is, John Carney, the man comes on and misses the extra point..

That being said, It's mostly excusable because hes had a great career and that was the first XP he had missed since his freshman year in college

But still it couldnt have come at a worse time for him.

I also think that the kick off coming out to the 45 is retarded, they should get it at the 20 instead.

losing that game wasnt all norwoods fault, i remember seeing a show that was the top 5 reasons you shouldnt blame scott norwood, and every one of them made perfect logical sense (coaching decisions, poor defensive play, etc.)

and to the guy below me, Theres a reason the category says football (AMERICAN) go play with the other little foot fairies who are to much of a wimp to handle contact.

I'll admit the professional soccer players are amazing athletes but I somehow get the feeling you do not fall into the aforementioned professional level, which just makes you a foot fairy

Answer 2

can't remember the guy's name, but the worst individual play was by that one defensive back in the 70s who recovered a fumble and ran something like 60 yards to the opposing team's end zone for a safety. It was a Bear's-Viking's game, but I can't remember which one did it. A close second is when a san diego player (was it James something?) fumbled 4 kickoffs versus the Seahawks when Seattle was still in the AFC West.

I can't think of the biggest blunder with so much at stake, but Kasay's kick ranks up there--as do many of Tiki Barber's fumbles in the Giants' previous playoff runs.

I though of another one: Eagles versus Giants, time running out, all the Eagles' qb had to do was kneel down and Philly wins. Broken snap and Giants recover the ball and run it for a touchdown and win the game with no time remaining. That's probably the biggest meltdown I can think of. What was that? 1985?

Answer 3

OK the field maybe 160 ft wide BUT the ball is place at the CENTER, so you have to say he had about 80 ft. Which still seems awful easy, just wanted to straighten that out. I mean that proably is the biggest blunder but I'll have to check the site.
Oh and if we can count Ref's Blunder then what about the "music City Miracle" AKA the theft of the game by the refs on a ILLEGAL FORWARD LATERAL. Yeah it was a kickoff. They "lateraled" the ball about 2 yards forward and the refs didn't notice? Sure it went across the field but it traveled about 2 yards forward.

Answer 4

If it's playoff history, then I'd go with Jackie Smith's dropped pass in the end zone in Super Bowl XIII. Wouldn't have been the game winner, but Dallas ended up kicking a field goal on that drive and ended up losing by 4.

Answer 5

Back in the 60s, DT Jim Marshall of the Minnesota Vikings picked up a San Fran. 49er fumble and ran the wrong way to score a safety for the 49ers

Answer 6

Jackie Smith dropping the winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XIII. Dallas vs. Pittsburgh.

Answer 7

yeah kasay had the whole field to land the kick in but couldn't make it inbounds and gosh that is stupid and snaps are hard to handle under pressure for a first playoff game to win it

Answer 8

Leon Lett of Dallas (Thanks giving a few yrs back)....touching a blocked fieldgoal in a game they were winning with time running out.

The Miami dolphins recovered the ball inside the 5yd line and kicked the game-winning Fieldgoal.
=========================
Leon Lett :: Superbowl ???

Running a what-would've-been defensive touchdown for Dallas, when Don BeeBee came out of nowhere to knock the ball out of his hands.
========================

Notice how both of Lett's plays were on such a grand stage?

Answer 9

Could have been any one of the following :

The decision to release the Anfield Rap
Chris Waddle's haircut
Allowing more than one supporter into the ground for any one game
Graham Taylor's dismissal
The fact that Boris Johnstone didn't get a medal for this http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7440079213973549955&q=rugby+tackle

But above all else, I think the biggest football blunder ever has to be the fact that the entire nation of the United States of America mistakenly refers to a game in which people wear body armour to avoid getting hurt as football. Football is a european game that is played, ironically, with the feet, yet Americans incessently refer to their sport which doesn't exist outside their country, as football. This is a fairly major blunder and quite embarrassing if you ask me.

Answer 10

The Buffalo Bills made 32 point comeback in wildcard 1993 to win in OT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Comeback_(American_football)