Top 5 Clutch Plays of Week 1 in the NFL

Clutch plays are what make great teams.

When the pressure is on, in the fourth quarter, when it looks like all hope is lost, one player makes an amazing play against all odds to turn the tide in your team's favor. 

Clutch plays create momentum to put the proverbial nail in the coffin for the victor.

Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season was no different.

Check out the most exciting, top five clutch plays for Week 1!

5. Ted Ginn Jr's Back-to-Back Returns for Touchdowns

For as much complaining everyone was doing during the preseason, the kickoffs this season in the NFL have been very exciting.

We've already seen multiple 100-plus-yard kick returns for touchdowns, and Week 1 isn't even over yet.

In a close game between bitter rivals in the NFC West, the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers was within two points, 17-19, with less than four minutes remaining in the game.

However, that changed dramatically on the kickoff return by the Seahawks. Ted Ginn Jr. ran the ball out of the end zone, two yards deep, totaling 102 yards on his kickoff return for a touchdown.

As if that wasn't enough, after a three-and-out on the next Seahawks possession, Ginn returned  the ensuing punt 55 yards for another touchdown, putting the game hopelessly out of reach for Seattle.

Ginn's returns were clutch!

4. Patrick Peterson Returns 89-Yard Punt in NFL Debut

Despite, the record-smashing debut of the No. 1 overall pick of the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton, who has been oft-criticized because of his college experience as a spread quarterback, it was another rookie who came up clutch in his NFL debut to steal the show.

Patrick Peterson showed his jets when he took a punt from his own 11-yard line and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown.

Why does his single punt return beat Ted Ginn Jr.'s multiple touchdowns? It is his very first NFL game.

Peterson's clutch play should be something the Arizona Cardinals count on for years to come!

3. Mike Tolbert Seals the Game for SD over Minnesota

The San Diego Chargers were down for most of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. However, the Chargers kept chipping away at the lead and the bruising fullback Mike Tolbert led the team with three scores.

The clutch play he made to seal the game for the Chargers was the 19-yard reception he made when Philip Rivers scrambled looking for an open receiver.

The play was clutch because, even though the play had broken down and it looked like the Chargers would be lucky to settle for a field goal, Tolbert found an open area on the field, made the catch and plowed into the end zone with a huge leap for pay dirt.

Without Tolbert's three touchdowns, the Chargers would have been blown out by the Vikes. 

2. Joe McKnight Blocks Punt, Isaiah Trufant Picks It Up

This clutch play was a combined effort.

The showcase game of the week between the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football was a back and forth nail-biter down to the wire.

This clutch play by a special teamer, Joe McKnight was what turned the tide for the New York Jets.

McKnight broke through straight up the middle and almost took the ball right off punter Mat McBriar's foot.

Then Isaiah Trufant, a recent acquisition by the New York Jets, who was activated for this game, picked up the blocked punt and walked it into the end zone.

This amazing play tied up the game with only five minutes remaining in regulation.

1. Darrelle Revis Intercepts Tony Romo's Pass Late in Fourth Quarter

Darrelle Revis is the definition of clutch; he routinely shuts down the entire side of his field in any given game.

The Sunday Night Football matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets was no different. 

Revis battled with Dez Bryant all game long, and finally got the best of the Cowboys very late in the game. Tony Romo and Bryant mixed up their communication and Revis jumped the route, finding a gift-wrapped pick just for him.

He returned his beautiful interception 20 yards to put the Jets in field goal position to win the game.

It was an amazing game for the Jets, who were down by 14 points early in the fourth quarter, to come from behind and pull out the victory.

New York, we will never forget.