Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas and the Greatest Plays in NFL Playoff History

There have clearly been numerous great plays in the history of the NFL's postseason, but, to narrow them down let's look at some of the best postseason plays when the game is in its most crucial moments.

Plays late in the fourth quarter or overtime are remembered most and what cap off the greatness that defines the NFL playoffs.

8. Roger Staubach's Hail Mary

The player that dubbed the term Hail Mary and the first man to be nicknamed "Captain Comeback", Roger Staubach threw up a deep bomb to his receiver Drew Pearson.

Down 14-10 with less than one minute and needing to convert on 4th-and-17 to get into Hail Mary range, Staubach completed a pass to Pearson at midfield to setup the bomb.

Then NFL history happened and the Cowboys went on to win the NFC title the following week.

7. Immaculate Reception

The perplexity that ensued after Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw released the ball is simply pure pandemonium.

While in mid-flight, Pittsburgh running back Franco Harris was jogging down field and all of a sudden the football came awkwardly sailing back toward him. Thanks to Oakland Raiders safety Jack Tatum who was flying up to breakup the pass, it deflected back to Harris who scampered down the sidelines for a TD.

Pittsburgh lost the AFC title to Miami the following week, but went on to win four Super Bowls in the 1970s. 

6. Eli Manning to David Tyree

Dancing with perfection in 2007, the New England Patriots had just gained the lead in Super Bowl XLII over the New York Giants 14-10.

Then this play happened thanks to the evasive Eli Manning and arguably the greatest catch in Super Bowl history occurred. Holding the ball against his helmet, Tyree managed to make the catch and the Giants would go on to win the game.

5. Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas

The first NFL playoff game under the new and somewhat odd rules, none of those needed to take affect.

Tim Tebow had been making big plays all day for the Denver Broncos against Pittsburgh, and playing in their fourth OT game of the 2011-12 season, Tebowmania hit a new level.

Thanks to the Steelers not respecting the Denver pass game, Tebow dropped back and fired a laser strike to receiver Demaryius Thomas who caught the pass, stiff-armed and then outran everyone the rest of the way.

4. Santonio Holmes' Game Winning TD

With less than a minute to go in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers were down 23-20 to the Arizona Cardinals.

Sure Pittsburgh could have played for the tie and forced OT, but the Cardinals proved they could score at will based on their previous drive. Scoring too early, one may argue, Pittsburgh drove down inside Arizona's red-zone.

Then, receiver Santonio Holmes made a Marvin Harrison-esque grab with virtually no room to spare, thanks to a pass from Ben Roethlisberger that would make any marksman proud. 

3. Marshawn Lynch Goes Beast Mode

There's a difference between scoring a rushing TD by outrunning every defender and not being touched. Yes those are exciting, but not nearly as fun to watch as Marshawn Lynch's beast mode.

Tossing defenders, breaking tackles, running over players, Lynch's run ended the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints' season short, and a whole new respect was given to the NFC West.

After all, the Seahawks needed a win over the St. Louis Rams in Week 17 of 2010 to claim the division title with a 7-9 record.

2. The Catch (Joe Montana to Dwight Clark)

Regardless of what many cynics may think, San Francisco 49ers QB Joe Montana knew where he was throwing that football.

If he was throwing it away, like some may argue, why wouldn't he just throw the ball out of bounds? The reason is because Dwight Clark was looming in the end-zone and Montana knew he was there.

When you have excellent team chemistry such as Montana and Clark, even if Ed "Too Tall" Jones is in your face, it won't matter.

"The Catch" propelled San Francisco into their first Super Bowl in the 1981-82 NFL season.

1. The Music City Miracle

There may not be any one more exciting play in NFL playoff history and being that the Tennessee Titans were the former Houston Oilers, revenge is sweet.

Against the Buffalo Bills, down 16-15, Titans tight-end Frank Wycheck tossed a lateral across the field to receiver Kevin Dyson.

Dyson then did the rest and the ghosts of the 1992-93 AFC Wild Card were history.

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