One Play That Will Forever Haunt Divisional Round Weekend's Losers

Each NFL Divisional Round game from this weekend had one decisive play that the losing team won't soon be forgetting.

Let's run down each of the game-changing plays:

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: THE CATCH III

The rest of the plays on this list are pretty inconsequential when you consider the magnitude of Alex Smith's last-second touchdown pass to Vernon Davis. Despite where San Francisco was on the field, most anyone who wasn't a 49ers fan thought the game was headed for a David Akers field goal and overtime.

Smith and Davis had other plans.

The 49ers' much-maligned former No. 1 overall pick delivered a strike to Davis, who ran, caught the pass and delivered a knockout blow to both Roman Harper and the Saints' 2011-12 season.  

DENVER BRONCOS: GRONKED

There's several plays you could pick in this game, and maybe even Tom Brady's fourth quarter punt will be remembered more than any one of his six touchdown passes. But you got the feeling right away when Rob Gronkowski made a highlight reel touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone that the Broncos were in trouble.

Gronkowski got full extension on his attempt but initially bobbled the football. He caught it on the second bounce, however, just before it hit the Gillette Stadium turf, and his three-touchdown night was well on its way.  

HOUSTON TEXANS: ONE TOO MANY

Each of T.J. Yates' three interceptions were costly, but none were more so than his final to Ed Reed near the goal line. On first down from inside the Ravens' 40-yard line, Yates attempted to hit Andre Johnson with double coverage draped on him down the sideline.

Ed Reed, one of the game's best ever at making game-turning interceptions, went up high to snare the poorly thrown pass. The Texans would get another shot late, but this was the play that all but ended the Texans' chance at tying the game. 

GREEN BAY PACKERS: WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE

Wisconsin is apparently the state to be if you're in the business of completing a Hail Mary. The Wisconsin Badgers were burned twice on Hail Mary passes—one from Michigan State and another from Ohio State—that ended what could have been a berth in the BCS Championship Game.

On Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Giants took their shot, and Hakeem Nicks went above the Packers' defense to snag the touchdown with no time left in the first half. Nicks' touchdown catch sucked the air right out of Green Bay's historic stadium, and the Giants rolled to a 37-20 win.