Is David Tyree's Catch the Greatest Play in Super Bowl History?

The unbelievable pass that Eli Manning completed to David Tyree last Sunday is already being discussed as one of the greatest in Super Bowl history. I'm going to look at what made the play possible, and then stack it up against some of my favorite plays from Super Bowls past.

The play was so great because it included two separate, but equally spectacular efforts. Neither of the efforts would be worth any conversation without the other.

Eli Manning too the snap with 1:15 remaining in the game, the Giants down by 4. The pocket immediately collapsed around him, and Eli tried to step up to avoid the Patriot rush. Two Patriot rushers were still able to get their hands on Manning, though. Manning pulled away from each of the defenders and was able to launch a strong pass down field. Manning showed the elusiveness and strength many have claimed he has lacked his entire career. His effort kept the play alive, but the ball was in the air and up for grabs effort was over. David Tyree made sure that effort wasn't wasted. Seeing his QB in trouble, Tyree broke off his route and tried to find an opening in the defense. He went up for the ball with Rodney Harrison jumping right with him. Tyree was able to get one hand on the ball, and pull it down where he trapped it against his helmet as he was falling towards to field. Tyree then brought his other hand up to secure the ball as he hit the ground, Harrison still on him like glue.

The pass went for 32 yards, kept the drive alive, and put the Giants in position to score the game winning touchdown with under a minute on the clock.

I'll let you decide where this great pass and catch rank next to these plays, a collection of my all time favorite Super Bowl moments.

Steve McNair Scramble - Super Bowl XXXIV
This play doesn't seem like it belongs on a list of great Super Bowl plays, but I had to include it. McNair's Titans were losing by 7 with 22 seconds left, when McNair took the snap, broke what should have been two sure tackles (a la Eli), scrambled around for nearly 15 seconds, and fired a completion to Kevin Dyson that left this team on 10 yards from the goal line with just six seconds left. The Titans lost the game, though(see below), and McNair's drive saving scramble and completion were wasted.

Adam Vinatieri Game Winner - Super Bowl XXXVI
This play lacks the athleticism that most of the plays on this list showed. But I have to show some special teams love. Vinatieri's 48 yard field goal marked the first (and only) time in Super Bowl history that the game was won on the last play of the game.

Marcus Allen Run - Super Bowl XVIII
Allen's run put a stamp on the Raider's 38-9 blowout of the Washington Redskins. Allen took the hand off and was met by Washington defenders as he carried to his left. Instead of running into a Redskin wall, Allen reversed field, found a lane up the middle, and burned the 'Skins for 74 yards. Allen carried for a total of 191 yards that game, with a 9.6 average. The 74 yard TD is second to Willie Parkers 75 yarder as the longest in Super Bowl history.

Terry Bradshaw to Lynn Swann - Super Bowl X
Lynn Swann made many great catches in his 4 Super Bowls. But the 64 yard TD he caught from Terry Bradshaw stands out as the most noteworthy to me due to the fact that Terry Bradshaw was unconscious when Swann caught the ball. Bradshaw took a hit on the helmet that knocked him out of the game, while Swann made a great play on the ball to score the points that would eventually allow the Steelers to win the game.

Mike Jones Textbook Tackle - Super Bowl XXXIV
The play that rendered McNair's above play insignificant. Tackling has seemed to become a lost art in the NFL. But on the play right after McNair's 16 yard completion to Kevin Dyson, he found Dyson again on what would be the games final play. Dyson was running a quick slant, and caught the ball as he was cutting towards to goal line. Enter Mike Jones. Jones made a great tackle inside of the one that stopped Kevin Dyson and crushed the Titans comeback attempt. The tackle itself was nothing amazing, but had it not been perfect, Dyson may have been able to push into the end zone and set up a tie.

Those are my favorites. Where does the Manning to Tyree play belong among these moments? That is for you to decide.

"Super Bowl History" NFL.com