Top 25 Most Ridiculous NFL Postseason Grabs of the Last 25 Years

The playoffs are right around the corner, and as good as the NFL regular season has been this year, you know that the postseason will be far more compelling.

The games are tighter, and both the mistakes and highlights are magnified to such a tremendous level that true heroes and goats are cemented during January and early February.

That can happen in a variety of ways: Look at the legacy Marshawn Lynch carved out last year with his epic run against New Orleans. Or how about Matt Hasselbeck's bonehead prediction prior to overtime against the Packers in 2003.

But incredible, memorable, ridiculous catches have a unique way of sticking with us for years to come. We all remember Lynn Swann's famous Super Bowl X catch and Dwight Clark's TD in the 1981 NFC Championship Game.

And these 25 postseason grabs made during the previous quarter century will also forever be a part of the collective football memory.  

NOTE: SKIP TO POINT MENTIONED IN CAPTION BENEATH VIDEO

No. 25: Jerry Rice Beats Triple Coverage

When: Super Bowl XXIII

Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals

Most of the catches on this list qualify as "ridiculous" because of amazing acrobatics that the receiver carried out in order to make the grab.

But I'll open the list with this special entry. 

For Jerry Rice to catch anything, let alone a 27-yarder, with a Super Bowl on the line is amazing. Then again, he is Jerry Rice. 

Still, it's the fact that Rice was TRIPLE COVERED—something Bengals coach Sam Wyche ordered prior to the play—that makes this catch truly ridiculous.

Look at the coverage: Rice had three men on him, and he still pulled off this critical play that put the 49ers in position to score the game-winning touchdown. 

No. 24: Amani Toomer's Toe-Tapper

When: 2007 NFC Championship Game

Opponent: Green Bay Packers

This type of catch in ideal conditions would be spectacular. But to make this grab in frigid weather in a championship game is remarkable.

It didn't come in the final seconds of the game or rack up huge yardage, but it was a great acrobatic feat. 

Pulling the ball in was awesome, but Toomer's ability to stay in bounds by dragging the tips of his toes earns a spot on this list. 

No. 23: Pierre Garcon's Diving Grab

When: 2010 AFC Wild Card

Opponent: New York Jets

Similar to Toomer's catch, Garcon's was a tremendous acrobatic play. He was off balance, dove for the ball and pulled the football in before rolling out of bounds.

And since it came in the fourth quarter, with a solid corner in Antonio Cromartie all over him during the day, he gets a slight nudge ahead of Toomer. 

No. 22: Braylon Edwards Huge Grab

When: 2010 AFC Wild Card

Opponent: Indianapolis Colts

Not to be outdone by his counterpart, Pierre Garcon, Braylon Edwards made this vital sideline catch against Indianapolis.

Edwards' grab, with three seconds remaining, set up the game-winning field goal by Nick Folk. 

Maybe he pushed off a bit, but he got such height and managed to keep his feet in bounds. A truly epic play. 

No. 21: Derrick Mason's One-Knee TD

When: 2008 AFC Divisional Playoff

Opponent: Tennessee Titans

Coming against his former team, this grab by Mason was a big deal. But that's not simply enough to land a spot on this list.

What makes the catch ridiculous is the fact that Mason pulled the ball in on one knee then continued on into the end zone for the 48-yard touchdown that helped the Ravens advance to the AFC Championship Game.

No. 20: Tony Martin Stuns the Steelers

When: 1994 AFC Championship

Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers

Everything about this play was ridiculous.

It's ridiculous that the Steelers would allow a second 43-yard touchdown (Alfred Pupunu's) in the second half, it's ridiculous that Martin blew so far past Tim McKyer and it's ridiculous that Steelers lost this game.

But the grab was also a tremendous display of athleticism by Martin; just look at the long stride he made while pulling in the ball.  

No. 19: Michael Irvin Leaps over Doug Evans

When: 1995 NFC Championship Game

Opponent: Green Bay Packers

Irvin made his career by stepping his game up in the postseason, and no team felt the sting of his heroics more than the Green Bay Packers, who Dallas routinely toppled to advance.

And that was no wonder with catches like this.

Troy Aikman overthrew Irvin, who leapt over defensive back Doug Evans to make the ridiculous catch in the Cowboys 38-27 victory. 

No. 18: Hassan Jones' Hail Mary

When: 1987 NFC Wild Card

Opponent: New Orleans Saints

Given a free, un-timed play at the end of the first half thanks to a defensive penalty (12 men on the field), the Vikings Wade Wilson and Hassan Jones pulled off this Hail Mary miracle in the Superdome.

The 44-yard completion really broke the Saints back. They were already behind Minnesota, 24-10, when Jones pulled his bobbled ball off a defender's hands. The Vikings crushed the Saints—who were making their first-ever playoff appearance—44-10. 

No. 17: John Taylor Pulls in the Rebound

When: 1992 NFC Divisional Game

Opponent: Washington Redskins

Although he stole some of the spotlight away from his teammate, Jerry Rice, with the game-winning grab in Super Bowl XXIII, John Taylor was often overlooked. But he was a truly fantastic receiver and would have been a star on any other team.

And this grab of a deflected Steve Young pass in the first quarter of a playoff game against the defending Super Bowl champions was a prime example of why. 

No. 16: Santonio Holmes Ruins Patriots Season

When: 2010 AFC Divisional

Opponent: New England Patriots

This looks familiar, doesn't it? In the fourth quarter of a playoff game, Santonio Holmes catching a touchdown in the corner of the end zone, just barely keeping his feet in bounds.

Granted his one wasn't as spectacular as the one he made in Super Bowl XLIII, but because it came in such a huge upset, it was momentous. 

How does he do that?!

No. 15: Larry Fitzgerald's One-Handed TD

When: 2009 NFC Wild Card

Opponent: Green Bay Packers

Fitzgerald doesn't have nearly as many playoff games under his belt as a Michael Irvin or Jerry Rice or a Shannon Sharpe, but he's still put together an incredible resume of playoff miracles. 

This, the first of two on this list, was a brilliant display of grace and hands and carried on the legacy he began carving the season before. 

No. 14: James Lofton Brings the Circus to Town

When: Super Bowl XXV

Opponent: New York Giants

Although he had never played in one, James Lofton had seen circus catches in the Super Bowl before. As a child, he saw, in person, Max McGee's one-handed touchdown wonder in Super Bowl I.

A quarter-century later, he enacted his own wacky grab on the game's biggest stage. Jim Kelly slightly under threw this deep pass, allowing the Giants Perry Williams to tip the ball in the air. 

That didn't stop Lofton from pulling in the end-over-end pass, which helped the Bills take an early 3-0 lead. 

No. 13: Greg Jennings' Quick Turnaround

When: 2009 NFC Wild Card

Opponent: Arizona Cardinals

Ridiculous catches come in all forms: the long bomb, the over-the-middle throw and even on the goal line.

So it doesn't matter that this haul by Jennings only covered six yards. One-handed grabs when you have to stop on a dime and do a 180 always are awesome.  

Best part about the catch? Jennings Tebow-ed two years before the Tebow was invented! 

No. 12: Michael Haynes Gets Crushed

When: 1991 NFC Wild Card

Opponent: New Orleans Saints

Because they didn't win a Super Bowl (and only won one playoff game), people tend to forget those Run-N-Shoot teams in Atlanta during the early 1990s. But with Andre Rison, Terance Mathis, Bert Emanuel and Eric Metcalf, they were great and fun to watch.

Michael Haynes, however, was the most explosive of the bunch. And this play showed why.

He did an amazing job just pulling in the ball and tight-roping the sidelines, but for him to hang onto the ball after Vencie Glenn clobbered him was truly ridiculous.

No. 11: DeSean Jackson's Bobble-Fest

When: 2008 NFC Championship Game

Opponent: Arizona Cardinals

For the most part, Jackson's impressive moments are ridiculous feats of speed: not hands.

Take those touchdowns against Dallas or the punt return against the Giants last year. But this one was a remarkable display concentration and awareness.

The ball was batted up in the air because of a great play by (future teammate) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but Jackson still pulled the ball in....after a few bobbles. 

No. 10: Bernard Berrian Returns the Bears to the Super Bowl

When: 2006 NFC Championship Game

Opponent: New Orleans Saints

Forgive the briefness of the clip, but it's well worth it.

Early in the fourth quarter, Berrian hauled in this pass despite heavy coverage and a not-so-great throw from Rex Grossman for a 33-yard touchdown that sealed the Bears most important victory since Super Bowl XX.

Rarely can a player adjust like that with an opposing defensive back shielding his view of the ball. 

No. 9: Antonio Gates' One-Handed Haul

When: 2009 AFC Divisional Game

Opponent: New York Jets

It's probably fitting that the only tight end on this list would be Antonio Gates, easily his generation's finest at the position.

Not only did Gates one-hand this ball, but he never broke stride and was able to keep going for another 20 yards and set up the Chargers first score of the game.  

Too bad it wasn't enough for the Chargers to avoid another playoff choke. 

No. 8: Larry Fitzgerald's Repeat Performance

When: 2008 NFC Divisional Game

Opponent: Carolina Panthers

A week earlier, Fitzgerald made virtually the same touchdown grab against the Atlanta Falcons in a Wild Card win at home. But this one was a bit more impressive. 

Not only was gravity yanking him down to the ground while he was high in the air, but so was a Panthers defender. Nevertheless, Fitz hung on for the touchdown and continued his path to arguably the greatest single-season wide receiver performance in playoff history: 7 TDs, 30 catches, 546 yards in four games.  

No. 7: Marvin Harrison Takes Adantage of Bonehead Broncos

When: 2003 AFC Wild Card

Opponent: Denver Broncos

This is another entry that most embodies the meaning of the word "ridiculous."

On its own merit, Harrison's catch was a great nab out of the air over the always-dangerous middle of the field.

But because he had the presence of mind to continue the play and notice the carelessness of the Broncos secondary, the catch became as ridiculous as they come. 

No. 6: Simms-to-Bavaro-to-McConkey

When: Super Bowl XXI

Opponent: Denver Broncos

Giants tight end Mark Bavaro should have hauled in this grab, if for no other reasons than it was the Super Bowl and he could have ruined Phil Simms'a historic day of passing accuracy.

Neverthless, teammate Phil McConkey bailed Bavaro out by catching this one on the rebound and sealing the franchise's first championship in 30 years.

No. 5: Ricky Proehl Sends the Rams to the Super Bowl

When: 1999 NFC Championship Game

Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game at home, and arguably the finest offense in NFL history had been held to just five points. 

To overcome that the Rams needed something miraculous. And they got it from one of the least likely receivers on the roster.

In Isaac Bruce, Az-Zahir Hakim and rookie sensation Torry Holt, Kurt Warner had three more dynamic pass catchers than the 10-year veteran. But Proehl delivered the greatest game of his career that day (six catches, 100 yards), and this game-winning touchdown that will forever be remembered in St. Louis sports history. 

No. 4: Alvin Harper Leaps High Above Eric Davis

When: 1992 NFC Championship Game

Opponent: San Francisco 49ers

People who remember that classic game between the 49ers and Cowboys point to the play Alvin Harper made in the fourth quarter—a 70-yard catch-and-run that set up Dallas' game-clinching scoreas the greatest highlight.

But in terms of ridiculousness, Harper's jump-ball grab in the third quarter over Eric Davis was far more appropriate for this list.

High above the air, he pulled the ball over Davis head for the critical score. Be sure to watch the many replays shown so you can appreciate the brilliance. 

No. 3: Terrell Owens and the Catch

When: 1998 NFC Wild Card

Opponent: Green Bay Packers

Maybe it didn't have the long-lasting, dynasty-creating impact on NFL history of the first edition of "The Catch," aka Joe Montana-to-Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Title Game. After all, the 49ers lost the next week in Atlanta and are still in search of a sixth Super Bowl title.

But in terms of pure ridiculousness, the sequel was every bit as impressive and ridiculous for three reasons:

1. Owens dropped several passes that day, and Young still targeted him with the game on the line.

2. The play almost never happened because Young slipped and nearly fell down before even throwing the pass.

3. Owens was tattooed by two Packers defenders and still hung on. 

No. 2: Santonio Holmes Super Bowl-Winning Grab

When: Super Bowl XLIII

Opponent: Arizona Cardinals

Even though Ben Roethlisberger's throw was absolutely right on the money, Holmes still had to make a ridiculous grab with his hands then barely touch both feet down in bounds. 

It really doesn't get much more ridiculous than that, unless there's some sort of crazy play in which the quarterback nearly gets sacked, heaves a prayer up in the air for a no-name receiver being covered by a future Hall of Famer and pulls it down because he had gum stuck to the side of his helmet.

But that never, happened, right...?

No. 1: David Tyree and a Giants Helmet Beat Rodney Harrison

When: Super Bowl XLII

Opponent: New England Patriots

Historians will probably debate which play, this one or the previous entry on this list, was more amazing or more momentous or more memorable.

But—and this is definitely splitting hairs—in terms of the most basic definition of "ridiculous," Tyree's helmet-aided grab is tops, especially if you throw in the wackiness that happened in the Giants backfield with Eli Manning nearly being sacked and unleashing the throw.

Plus, side-by-side the careers of Holmes to Tyree, there is very little comparison, so Tyree's catch is technically more absurd.