2016 ESPY Play of the Year: Winner, Acceptance Speech and Twitter Reaction

LeBron James' block in Game 7 of the NBA Finals helped bring Cleveland a championship after a five-decade wait. It wasn't enough, however, to outdo Aaron Rodgers for the best play of the last calendar year at the 2016 ESPY Awards.  

Rodgers' 61-yard Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers that gave the Packers a Week 13 win over the Detroit Lions gave the Green Bay signal-caller the win for Best Play on Wednesday:

The team's official Twitter account posted a replay of the dramatic score shortly after the announcement: 

As the No. 1 seed in the ESPYs bracket tournament, the Hail Mary beat out James' block, Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beater that won Villanova a national championship and a Michigan State punt block that spurred a 27-23 win over rival Michigan.

Awarding a regular-season pass over Jenkins' and James' moments, in particular, drew the ire of social media:

"

HOT TAKE: LeBron’s block shoulda won best play cuz it was the only one of the 4 that didn’t depend on the other team screwing up.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) July 14, 2016"

"

Ok like that Villanova play didn't win them the chip 

— Strizzy (@JaelenStrong) July 14, 2016"

"First off, I just want to thank God. Obviously, Hail Marys aren't possible without him," Richard Rodgers said in the acceptance speech.

The play ultimately came down to a pair of individual efforts from the two Packers players and a mental collapse from the Lions defense. Aaron Rodgers scrambled all the way back to his own 23-yard line to avoid oncoming pass-rushers and then set his feet for a pass that traveled about 70 yards in the air to hit his tight end, who leaped with outstretched arms in traffic.

The play capped Green Bay's comeback from a 20-0 deficit and brought its record to 8-4 on the season. That win wound up helping the Packers, who struggled in the season's second half, clinch a playoff spot.

Even though Cleveland and Philly might be a little sore, it didn't exactly result in a banner.