NFL Power Rankings: The Greatest Plays Of All-Time
By Erik Lambert
#13: Marcus Allen Running With The Night
Super Bowl XVIII was supposed to be a rematch of the two best teams in the NFL. The Los Angeles Raiders and Washington Redskins had put on a show earlier in the season, playing a 37-35 thriller. Fans had hoped for more of the same. Sadly for them, the Raiders had other ideas.
Their defense took control from the beginning, putting loads of pressure on the Redskins passing attack, making it impossible to move the ball with any consistency. That domination was capped off at the end of the second half when linebacker Jack Squirek intercepted a screen pass for a touchdown to make the lead 21-3.
Washington was never able to get close after that. As the 3rd quarter came to an end, Raiders running back Marcus Allen buried them with a 74-yard touchdown run. What made the play so incredible was by all rights Allen should’ve been tackled in the backfield for a loss. Instead he reversed direction, broke a tackle, found a crease in the defense and burst through it to reach the open field.
Los Angeles was up 35-9 and would win the game 38-9, put a cherry on top of one of the greatest beat downs in Super Bowl history.
Next: #12