The Biggest Turning Point in Every 2012 NFL Wild Card Game

As much as we'd all like to think that one play doesn't sway the entire outcome of a game, it often does in the NFL. Especially come playoff time, when the matchups are most even.

Players thrive on momentum in the stop-and-go pacing of an NFL game. So when a team gets it, it can carry them a long way.

The four Wild Card games last week were no different as they each featured their own "turning point" that altered the flow of the game more than the rest.

Without further ado, here are the biggest turning points of last weekend's NFL action.

Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

In a game that had been played evenly on the scoreboard and that the Bengals had looked like the better team, Texans linebacker J.J. Watt made the play that changed everything.

The Texans had just tied the game with a 39-yard field goal to go into the half with a bit of momentum.

The Bengals thought that with just less than two minutes remaining they could assuage some of that momentum with a score of their own.

What happened instead was simply a play to behold. Watch the video if you managed to miss it.

Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints

This game may be looked at as a blowout, but through three quarters this was a three-point game with all the makings of being a nail-biter.

On the Saints' first drive of the fourth quarter, they tacked on a touchdown to give themselves a 10-point lead, but it's what took place on the Lions' drive that ultimately decided this one.

The Saints' offense had obviously woken up from its slumber, but the Lions had the firepower to stay with them.

But when Stafford threw an interception on the first play of the Lions' ensuing drive, Drew Brees didn't show any sympathy and effectively put this game away. 

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons

The first half of this game was all about defense for both teams. Both defenses pitched shutouts through the first quarter and the Falcons managed to pickup a safety in the second to get the first points of the game.

However, on the ensuing drive, with great field position in their favor, the Falcons were unable to tack on some more points. It was 3rd-and-6 on the Giants' 47-yard line, but a pass to running back Jacquizz Rodgers put Atlanta a yard short of the first down.

The Giants then went on to score a touchdown and never looked back.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

The play that everyone will remember from this game is Tim Tebow's game-ending touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, but if not for this play, it may have never had to happen.

The Broncos had scored 20 unanswered points at the end of the first half and their defense was looking unbreakable.

On the Steelers' first drive of the second half, referee Ron Winter’s crew incorrectly determined a lateral pass that was not caught (and thus fumbled) to be a forward pass.

A Broncos defender clearly recovered the loose ball, but because the play had been whistled dead before the Broncos recovered the ball, any challenge was pointless.

The Steelers went on to score a touchdown on that drive and carried that momentum through the half. Hey, at least it made for an exciting finish.