Greatest player performance in a NFL game...?

Question

What do you think is the greatest single game performance by a player in a NFL game? I'll throw out two because i can't decide between the two. The 1/2/93 game when Emmitt Smith ran all over the Giants and he did it with a dislocated shoulder. That was by far my fav till 12/22/03. The day after Brett Favre's father died. The game Favre had was unbelievable. 311yds and 4td's before the half. He couldn't miss. Two great performances. What are your favorates?

Also, look at my other question at this link.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AodJf4iLFi0lpXAO9w7gr_bsy6IX?qid=20070720081558AAzUnbE

Answer 1

I thought the Brett Favre Monday night game at Oakland was incredible and overwhelming.

I've never seen anything like that in sports, people weren't sure if we was going to even play. Then to watch that game unfold, you couldn't even script anything like that. It was too amazing.

We judge athletes on toughness and the ability to overcome injuries, but how do you measure an injury to your heart and soul? Losing your father (coach/mentor) the night before a big primetime game, how do you quantify overcoming that kind of obstacle?

To not only see him play, but to be able to put on a performance never before seen like that, on national television, in an away stadium was unreal. It's one thing to see the home crowd rally around a player, but to see the city of Oakland, OAKLAND for crying out loud, rally around Brett Favre, I could never imagine.

The tragedy, the amazing performance, so magical the hostile town embraced the opponent's star player, I can't imagine seeing something like ever again. That's a once in a lifetime experience.

Answer 2

I didnt see wut i think is the greatest performance ever bcuz i wasnt alive for another, eh, 25-30 years, haha, but ive seen most of it over a few years on highlight reels. But i believe the greatest single-game performance by any player was a game in the 60's where the Chicago Bears back Gale Sayers scored 6 TD's, the record still, while it was in a huge rain storm. He was still sunning like the ground was normal while people were slippin and sliding all over. He had that good of balance and was just that athletic that he couldnt be stopped. Thats offensively, defensively id have to say Brian Urlacher last year in the Arizona game, bcuz i cant think of another performance that good. He was just a playmaker on defense, he had 25 tackles, a career high, with 5 tackles behind the line and 2 forced fumbles that returned for TD's to help win the game with no offense. Then as we all kno Hester returned a punt to win the game completely at the end. Best special teams performance would have to be none other than Devin Hester, who else could it be, 2 kick return TD's against St. Louis, a 108 yard return against the 49ers. A couple more returns here and there in key situations that boosted the Bears to a victory except for the super bowl. saddly hah

Answer 3

Teams: Colts, Cowboys, Vikings Coaches: McDaniels (Broncos) - After this off-season, they will probably have to have a winning record for McDaniels to keep his job. Childress (Vikings) - Considered a Super Bowl favorite if they get Favre, anything short of the Super Bowl and he is going to be replaced. If they don't get Favre, another early playoff exit will cost him as well. Lewis (Bengals) - The team always seems to have some kind of problem, whether its injuries or off the field issues. I think they have to have a winning season for Lewis to keep his job. Players: Romo (Cowboys) - T.O. is no longer there to blame, so he needs to show improvement in the later part of the season or I think Dallas will start thinking about a replacement. Manning (Giants) - Talk of making him the highest paid player in the league, right now he can't live up to a contract such as that. If he gets that contract and continues to play like he has throughout his career, then I think the New York media will start calling for his head. To be honest, I'm surprised the Giants are even thinking of paying him $15 million a season to only complete 56% of his passes and turn the ball over at a rate of better than once per game. Young (Titans) - Could be out of the league come next off-season if he can't dethrone Collins. Young is due $12-14 million dollars for the 2010 season if he is still on the Titans. I doubt they will keep someone that expensive just to be the back-up.

Answer 4

I would have to say Barry Sanders vs. the Tampa Bay Bucs....and you say "which game"? Well all of them. I've never seen a player with so much success against one team in the NFL. I mean no matter where the two teams played. No matter if the Bucs had their ugly orange uniforms or the modern red uniforms, #20 of the Lions destroyed them. Just ask John Lynch, how many times he's tackled Barry Sanders. You know what, ask Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks the same thing.
I know this question calls only for one NFL game, but anytime you have a terrible offensive line and still make 3 LB's miss, out run your opponents secondary, and lose your shoes in the process....that should count for something.

Answer 5

That Bills comeback game was something else. I would have to say the Packers game with Brett Favre against Oakland after his dad died was the most amazing one I have ever seen. There was an electricity in the stadium that even superbowls haven't lived up to. Everything he did gave me the chills as I watched him toss 4 td's by the half. Everything he did was golden. Almost as though a force was guiding the ball through the air to its destination. I still think about the game and wonder. I swear he could have played blindfolded in that one and still would have played the same. For me it was the greatest performance I have seen.

Answer 6

Peyton Manning versus the Bucaneers in 03...

By the numbers was an average game 34 completions 381 yards and 2 TD passes.

But the story was 28 points in the fourt quarter to force OT.

Manning directed the offense to 21 of those points in the last 3:37 seconds.

The Colts won in OT on a Vanderjagt field goal.

Answer 7

My favorite was during a Chiefs-Raiders game in 1999 (might have been 98). Derrick Thomas had 6 sacks (1 for a safety) before the 3rd quarter ended. He could have easily broken his own record of 7 sacks in a game, but Schottenheimer pulled all the defensive starters with about 5 min left in the 3rd qtr.

Answer 8

Being a Redskins fan, it pains me to say this, but... Definitely Emmitt Smith against the Giants. Just an unbelievable performance with that shoulder getting hit all the time.

Answer 9

Kellen Winslow in the Chargers 41-38 playoff win against the Dolphins -- sometimes called the "Greatest game ever played"

Answer 10

The Buffalo Bills 30 point comeback over the Houston Oilers in a playoff game.