NFL Power Rankings: The Greatest Plays Of All-Time
By Erik Lambert
#14: Beast Quake
Big plays in big moments often signal the arrival of great teams to the grand stage. The Seattle Seahawks were no different. A team that had slinked into the playoffs in 2010 with a 7-9 record, nobody expected them to be competition for the New Orleans Saints, who were the defending champions. However, the Seahawks had home field advantage due to their winning the NFC West title, and so entered the game with lots of confidence.
It showed. The game quickly developed into a shootout with both teams exchanging leads and big plays. With under four minutes to play, Seattle clinged to a 34-30 advantage. Inside their own territory, they needed some first downs in order to milk the clock and keep All-Pro Saints quarterback Drew Brees off the field.
Running back Marshawn Lynch did them one better. On a seemingly innocent hand off up the middle, Lynch proceeded to trample through the entire Saints defense, breaking an incredible number of tackles. Whenever he made such runs in the past, Lynch had earned the nickname “Beast Mode.” About 67 yards later he soared across the goal line for the touchdown, effectively putting the game out of reach.
The crowd reaction grew so deafening and frantic during the run and geological instruments in the area actually registered an earthquake around the Seahawks stadium. Thus the play went into history as the “Beast Quake.”
Next: #13