Most Dramatic Moments of the Week

The week of Jan. 16 was one of the most memorable weeks in sports in a long time, with a number of different big games and happenings occurring across multiple sports.

The NFC and AFC Championship Games kicked off a wild week, with both games providing some unique drama of their own. The NBA and NHL provided the supplementary action throughout the week, with some MLB news edging in there as well.

Here are the most dramatic moments from the past week in sports.

Thunder Beat Wizards in OT

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In a game with a very interesting subplot (Kevin Durant's homecoming and impending free agency), the Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder lived up to the hype on the court as well on Wednesday night.

The Wizards started strong, taking a 50-38 lead into the second half. But Durant kept the Thunder on track and they battled back with a monster third quarter.

With 34 seconds left in regulation, Paul Pierce hit a long three to put the Wizards on top by two, but Russell Westbrook came right back with a game-tying layup to force overtime.

Durant and Westbrook then took over, combining to score all of OKC's 13 overtime points, including the game-winning layup by Westbrook with a mere 0.8 seconds left on the clock to finish an incredible contest, with OKC winning 105-103.

Oilers Come Back in Dramatic Fashion

The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the worst teams in the NHL for the past decade, and they are once again one of the worst teams in the league this year. However, they certainly showed off their offensive potential on Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals.

After falling behind 3-1 after the first period, the Oilers couldn't catch up and were down 4-2 with five minutes remaining in the third period.

But then Teddy Purcell and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored beautiful goals; Nugent-Hopkins' tying mark came with a mere 1:03 left in regulation.

The two teams then pushed through overtime into a shootout, and Edmonton completed the comeback with Purcell providing the finishing blow to give Edmonton a 5-4 victory.

Brandon Bostick Blows Onsides Kick

Sunday's NFC Championship Game was crazy enough that I had to split it into two slides. After Seattle pulled back to within striking distance of catching Green Bay, they went for an onside kick that would decide whether or not they were still alive in the game.

Brandon Bostick, a reserve tight end for Green Bay, jumped up and had a seemingly easy catch which should have sealed the game for the Packers.

But the ball went right through his hands and hit off his helmet. Seattle would then go on to recover the kick and take the lead before Mason Crosby kicked a game-tying field goal for the Packers.

To make matters even worse, Bostick wasn't even supposed to be the one catching the ball. He was just supposed to block a Seattle player and clear the way for Jordy Nelson to make the grab. 

Jermaine Kearse Wins It for Seattle

The Seahawks won the coin toss to start overtime, and Russell Wilson immediately got to work. He moved his team methodically up the field, and things seemed to be going well for Seattle.

They were in striking distance at the 35-yard line but needed a touchdown to end the game, as a field goal would have allowed Green Bay to get the ball back with a chance to tie or win the game.

That's when Wilson decided to unleash a bomb toward the end zone which wide receiver Jermaine Kearse made a spectacular play on, as the angles in the video show.

This unbelievable play sent Seattle into a frenzy, as the Seahawks won the game 28-22 and their team heads to a second Super Bowl in as many years.

Wyoming-Fresno State Needs 3 OTs

Gary Kazanjian/Associated Press

While it wasn't the marquee matchup of the past week, there was definitely no more exciting game in college basketball than this one.

Wyoming—who is actually having a great season and has been ranked for a time—traveled to California to face off against Mountain West foe Fresno State on Saturday and got more than they bargained for.

The Bulldogs continually came from behind to stay in the game, and senior Alex Davis hit two free throws with 28 seconds left in regulation to help send it to overtime.

In the first two extra frames, the teams traded baskets and couldn't get any real separation. Finally, in the third overtime, Wyoming's Charles Hankerson knocked down a late three that finally put Fresno State away for good, giving the Cowboys a 70-65 win.

Flyers-Penguins Fight Night and OT

I can't lie and say that I watched every NHL game this week, but it's hard to imagine a more exciting game than the national game on Tuesday night.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers engaged in a physical and intense game that featured one of the most exciting periods you'll ever see in hockey, with four fights culminating in 66 penalty minutes.

Zac Rinaldo boarded Kris Letang with a cheap shot in the first period, and all hell broke loose after that, with the apex coming in the fight-filled second frame. Check out some highlights of those fights here.

The offenses were exciting as well for each squad, and the Flyers finally ended the contest with just over one minute left in overtime when Claude Giroux put home a rebound for the winner, defeating Pittspurgh 3-2.

Messi Wins It Late

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid squared off in the first leg of their quarterfinal Copa del Rey matchup on Wednesday, and the two sides played to a dramatic conclusion with a predictable outcome.

There was no scoring and relatively little offensive action in the first half, with one particularly bad miss from Luis Suarez the lone highlight.

In the 85th minute, Lionel Messi stepped up to take a penalty kick, and after an initial save by Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak, easily put home the rebound to give Barca the lead. They would hold onto that advantage and go on to win 1-0.

Deflategate in New England

The New England Patriots absolutely demolished the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game by a score of 45-7.

But what seemed like a moot point turned into another New England-centered controversy involving some potentially illegal tactics that helped the Patriots win.

Bleacher Report's Tim Keeney has been providing updates here, which gives a great rundown of the allegations that New England deflated footballs, and ESPN's First Take covered the controversy in the video above.

Deflating the balls would make them easier to catch and throw, and it might explain why they so effortlessly threw all over Indianapolis last Sunday. However, it all remains speculation at this stage.

Monster Scherzer Deal Caps Wild Week

USA TODAY Sports

The MLB offseason has really picked up over the past week, with trades, signings and rumors abounding.

The Chicago Cubs landed dynamic outfielder Dexter Fowler in a three-way trade, the Texas Rangers acquired pitcher Yovani Gallardo from Milwaukee and rumors have swirled ceaselessly about pitcher Cole Hamels' future.

But the biggest news of the week stems from the nation's capital, which is where prized right-hander Max Scherzer signed on Sunday.

The Nationals ponied up $210 million for Scherzer's services. He was linked to a number of different teams before landing in Washington, and his arrival gives the Nationals one of, if not the best rotation in the league.