Heart-racing finishes, wild comebacks, the start of miraculous Super Bowl runs — wild-card weekend traditionally has it all. Some of the most memorable playoff moments come on these two days, and if recent history is any indication — the last three champions, the Ravens, Giants, and Packers, have played in the wild-card round — the last team standing at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 2 may very well be playing Saturday or Sunday.
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1. Music City Miracle
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills, Jan. 8, 2000
Seven years after the Bills staged a wild comeback, they were undone by a remarkable finish — albeit far more swiftly. Trailing 16-15 with 16 seconds left, the Titans executed arguably the most improbable finish to a game in NFL history. After the kickoff landed in fullback Lorenzo Neal’s arms, he handed it off to tight end Frank Wycheck, who threw the ball across the field to Kevin Dyson, who ran down the left sideline 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
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2. The Comeback
Andre Reed scores his second touchdown of the fourth quarter to put the Bills ahead of the Oilers. AP Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Oilers, Jan. 3, 1993
The Bills were done, their string of two Super Bowl berths seemingly over. Backup Frank Reich was under center, in place of injured starter Jim Kelly, and Buffalo was behind 35-3 at halftime to the electric run-and-shoot Warren Moon-led Oilers. But Reich, the former Maryland star who once led a rally down 31-0 against the University of Miami, delivered a miraculous comeback, leading Buffalo a 41-38 overtime victory in which he threw four second-half touchdowns.
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3. The Botched Snap
Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks, Jan. 6, 2007
This spawned the “Tony Romo is un-clutch” narrative, and it had nothing to do with the Cowboys quarterback throwing an interception. With 1:19 remaining and Dallas trailing 21-20, the Cowboys were in position for a 19-yard field goal. But Romo, in his first season as a starter, was unable to handle the snap and was tackled two yards short of the end zone after trying to run it in. The disastrous loss was the final game of Bill Parcells’ coaching career.
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4. The Catch II
San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan. 3, 1999
The most memorable moment of Terrell Owens’ star-crossed career. After a forgettable afternoon, the star receiver made the catch of his career, hauling in a 25-yard touchdown pass over the middle from Steve Young with three seconds remaining to prevent the Packers from ending the 49ers’ season four years in a row. Owens held on despite taking a bit hit from two Packers and famously shed tears of joy in the ensuing moments of the come-from-behind 30-27 victory.
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5. The Choke
Rich Seubert (69), Luke Petitgout (77), Tam Hopkins (65) and Marcellus Rivers (83) look for a pass interference call on the Giants' botched field goal. AP New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers, Jan. 5, 2003
A 24-point lead was blown, a simple snap screwed up, and an easy pass interference call missed (above, Giants players looking for the call). It all added up to a 39-38 loss for Big Blue, possibly their worst postseason defeat of all time. Everyone choked — the Giants defense, snapper Trey Junkin, holder Matt Allen for failing to spike the ball on third down and not giving place-kicker Matt Bryant a chance at a game-winning 40-yard field goal, and the referees for not calling pass interference when eligible receiver Rich Seubert was taken down.