Sterling Moore and the Most Unlikely Heroes in NFL Playoff History

In a game full of surprises, Sterling Moore was the most shocking part of the New England Patriots' victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Moore, an undrafted free agent out of SMU, was completely unknown to most NFL fans. Yet, he played a huge part in the Patriots defeating Baltimore.

What other unexpected stars have emerged throughout NFL postseason history? We've seen a few in recent years, but how well do they compare historically?

Some of these guys weren't expected to do anything, and others simply weren't expected to dominate as much as they did. 

But all were unexpected.

Frank Reich, 1992 Playoffs

Buffalo fans had hardly seen Frank Reich when he stepped in for an injured Jim Kelly, and no one else had even heard of him. The Bills were down 35-3 at halftime, and then Reich decided to take over.

Reich overcame what seemed like an insurmountable lead, as he completed 21 of his 34 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns on his way to a comeback. The Bills won the game in overtime, 41-38. 

Of course, the Bills would go on to lose the Super Bowl, but that doesn't make Reich's heroics any less impressive or unforeseen. 

Sam Shields, 2011 Playoffs

In 2011 against the Chicago Bears, Sam Shields intercepted two passes, recorded one sack and forced a fumble. 

Not bad for an undrafted rookie free agent.

No one expected a Packers defender to put together a performance like this, but if anyone was going to, it had to be Charles Woodson, right?

Wrong.

Shields' performance may have won Green Bay the game, as the team won by just seven points. There's no doubt that he was one of the team's most important players in this one game onward to the Super Bowl.

David Tyree, 2007 Playoffs

Yeah, this happened in the Super Bowl, not the playoffs, but I don't care. 

Throughout the entire 2007 regular season, David Tyree recorded just four catches for 35 yards. Yet his unbelievable play won the New York Giants the Super Bowl.

We all remember it. Him jumping up in the air with Rodney Harrison, snagging the ball against his helmet and somehow managing to hold on.

That was kind of a big play.

New York knocked off the previously undefeated New England patriots, and it would have never happened without Tyree.

Ty Law, 2003 Playoffs

Ty Law was a star for the Patriots, but no one expected him to go off quite like he did against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2003 AFC Championship game.

Peyton Manning threw just 10 interceptions during the 2003 season. Then, in this huge contest against the Patriots, Manning tossed four. Three of them went to Ty Law.

It's rare for any defensive back to dominate quite like this. Yeah, Law was an incredible player, but to pick off Peyton Manning three times in one game, in the playoffs, is unbelievable.

Sterling Moore, 2012 Playoffs

Before Billy Cundiff missed his field goal, costing the Ravens their chance at overtime, there was Sterling Moore.

On what looked like a Lee Evans touchdown, Moore reached out and jarred the ball from Evans' hands in the end zone. It was an incredible, game-saving play.

But Moore wasn't done.

The next play, Moore jumped in front of tight end Dennis Pitta to knock away a pass that would have been a Baltimore first down. With a first down, the Ravens still had a chance at a touchdown. They could win the game.

But no, Moore knocked that ball away, and Billy Cundiff got his shot. 

We all know what happened next.