NFL Roundtable: Best Plays Of The 2015 Season

There are few things fans enjoy watching more than the highlights of games, and highlights are always centered around one play in the game that seems to defy description.  Last years, everybody was entranced by the physics-defying one-handed catch made by Odell Beckham Jr. against the Dallas Cowboys.  So that begs the question.  What was the best play of 2015?  We asked the Mocks crew in another NFL roundtable to find out.

Matthew Holowiak:

For me (might be a bit of a biased pick) but it’s Todd Gurley’s 71 yard touchdown against the 49ers. It was the 4th game in a row he had over 125 yards and showed the league he as officially arrived. He was known in college for his explosiveness and ability to get in the end zone, and on that rush he looked like he was shot out of a cannon as he went untouched right to the middle. He showed the injury was a thing of the past and moved faster than nearly any other 225 pound man would ever run. It was like watching him at Georgia all over again! Brought back great memories, and at that moment I decided Todd’s jersey would be my first NON giants jersey I would own.

Shawn Spencer:

The somersault touchdown catch by Martavis Bryant in the playoffs against the Bengals was the best play I saw all year. Ben Roethlisberger called out Bryant during the week leading up to the game saying he needed to step up, and he did with that grab. The concentration and awareness to come down with the ball was incredible. The score put the Steelers up 15-0 and gave them just a big enough lead to pull out the victory. The fact that it was a playoff game in rainy conditions amplifies how great the play was, but even if it occurred under perfect conditions in the regular season, that play would get my vote for play of the year.

Kyle McKinnon:

Wow, great question. With so many to choose from, I’m going to cheat a little bit here and go with the two Aaron Rodgers’ heaves to send the game into overtime in the Packers divisional round loss vs. the Cardinals. On the first toss, Rodgers threw an absolute beauty to convert a 4th and 20, throwing from his own end zone, while rolling to his left (!). The second heave was equally as insane, as Rodgers got the ball off just in time as pressure got to him, completing a crazy Hail Mary to Jeff Janis to keep the Packers season alive. You can’t write that stuff.

Brady Lunt:

I’m a big fan of players who are able to make something out of nothing. While this happened a few times during the season, it was never more evident than Chris Ivory against the Miami Dolphins. Taking the handoff at the Miami 31, Ivory was immediately met in the backfield. He managed to break that tackle before being wrapped up by three more Dolphins’ defenders. Miraculously enough Ivory breaks free and, after breaking another tackle, takes it all the way to the end zone. Truly a beast mode 2.0 type of play that should’ve ended with a 3-yard loss, but ultimately became a 31-yard TD.

Eric Robinson:

I’m a homer so my play of the year was Julio Jones 70 yard TD catch in the matchup with Carolina in Week 16. Matt Ryan escaped pressure and pointed Julio to go deeper like a backyard football game. Ryan launched a deep bomb to Julio as he out-jumped Luke Kuechly and snatch the ball out of Kuechly’s grasp. The game itself, the circumstances and the play containing two of the best players in the league. A moment I will never forget.

Erik Lambert:

Being a Bears fan, I’m always a sucker for outstanding defensive plays.  Especially ones that involve both sides of the coin:  mental awareness and a touch of physicality.  Each of those were on display in a tight slugfest between the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.  A game where any score was crucial and few knew that better than All-Pro safety Kam Chancellor.  With less than two minutes to play, the Lions had 3rd and 1 in the red zone.  Quarterback Matthew Stafford found Calvin Johnson on a comeback pass.  It looked to all like Megatron would score the go-ahead touchdown.

Instead Chancellor streaked in out of nowhere and somehow had the vision and presence of mind to punch  the football out of Johnson’s grasp right before he crossed the goal line.  It resulted in a touchback after review and the Seahawks held on to win 13-10.  Incredible play.