NFL Power Rankings: The Greatest Plays Of All-Time

#7:  The Catch II

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By 1998, the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers had gotten quite familiar with each other in the playoffs.  Three-straight times they had met in January, and for the 49ers it was becoming a recurring nightmare with the Packers beating them each time by 10 points or more.  So when the two teams met in San Francisco for the wild card round, more of the same was expected.

After all, the Packers were coached by Mike Holmgren who was offensive coordinator with the 49ers in the late ’80s.  He knew them inside and out.  Add in quarterback Brett Favre, who was in his prime and there was plenty of reason to explain their confidence.

Even so, the 49ers felt they finally had a team capable of competing with Green Bay thanks to the #1 rushing attack led by Garrison Hearst and the presence of future Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young.  The unknown factor would be wide receiver Terrell Owens, a supreme talent who’d had a great year but proceeded to have one of the wackiest games ever that included four dropped passes.

By the 4th quarter, the 49ers seemed to finally have the game in hand but as had become their calling card, the Packers responded.  Favre drove them down for a go-ahead score and a 27-23 lead.  San Francisco didn’t seem to have enough time to answer, especially with Owens dropping everything in sight and star receiver Jerry Rice a non-factor.

Still they somehow cobbled together a drive that got them to the Packers 25-yard line.  On 3rd down and out of options, they had to go for the end zone.  Young, who stumbled on his drop back managed to keep his feet and fired a pass down the middle to a streaking Owens, who found a void in the Packers coverage.  He caught the ball and endured two vicious hits from the defense to maintain possession for an improbable game-winning touchdown.

To those fans familiar with heart-stopping finishes in San Francisco, it became known as “the Catch II.”

Next: #6