NFL Power Rankings: The Greatest Plays Of All-Time
By Erik Lambert
#8: The Hail Mary
The two best teams in the NFC throughout the 1970s were the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. That was evident from their frequent meetings in the playoffs. None proved more dramatic than their tilt during the 1975 season.
Minnesota had all the advantages. They were 12-2, had one of the best defenses in football and the league MVP in Fran Tarkenton at quarterback. On top of that they were at home. The game played out in their classic fashion with plenty of defense and conservative scoring.
By the 4th quarter Minnesota had jumped in front 14-10. With 32 seconds left, Dallas had bogged down at the 50-yard line. They had no choice but to take a shot downfield and hope. Quarterback Roger Staubach dropped back and with everything he had fired it down the right sideline where receiver Drew Pearson caught it as the Vikings corner covering him fell down. Pearson shuffled the remaining four yards into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
Staubach later said he whispered a “Hail Mary” before the play, thus giving it the perfect tag. Minnesota argued that Pearson got away with blatant pass interference on the play, appearing to shove the Vikings corner to the ground before making the catch. Yet it wasn’t called, and with no instant replay the catch stood. Dallas won 17-14 and carried that momentum to the Super Bowl.
Next: #7