Immaculate Reception is voted as No. 1 play of all time
Steelers running back Franco Harris’ scoop of a deflected pass and subsequent run for the winning touchdown in a 1972 playoff victory against the Oakland Raiders — forever known as the “Immaculate Reception” — was voted the greatest play in NFL history.
A nationwide panel of 68 media members chose the Immaculate Reception as the top play with 3,270 points and 39 firstplace votes. Second was Dwight Clark’s touchdown catch from Joe Montana that lifted San Francisco past Dallas to win the 1981 NFC championship.
With 22 seconds remaining in the firstround matchup, and the ball at the Steelers 40, quarterback Terry Bradshaw scrambled under heavy pressure on fourth down. He heaved the ball downfield toward running back Frenchy Fuqua, and Raiders safety Jack “The Assassin” Tatum arrived at the same time. The ball ricocheted wildly toward Harris near the left sideline. Before it hit the turf, he bent deeply and grabbed it before heading to the end zone.
Game officials weren’t sure who deflected the pass; had it gone off Fuqua, rules of the day would make it an incompletion. Referee Fred Swearingen, after consulting with NFL supervisor of officials Art McNally, ruled a touchdown. The Steelers kicked the extra point for a 13-7 lead with five seconds remaining and won a playoff game for the first time in franchise history.
Browns
Cleveland could be without six defensive starters, including their entire starting secondary, Sunday night when the Browns play host to the Los Angeles Rams. Safety Damarious Randall (concussion) and linebacker Christian Kirksey (chest) were formally declared out Friday by coach Freddie Kitchens. Former Steelers safety Morgan Burnett (quadriceps), linebacker Adarius Taylor (ankle) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (hamstring) and Greedy Williams (hamstring) are listed as questionable for now but Kitchens indicated that could change before kickoff time.
Lions
Retired star receiver Calvin Johnson said Detroit team personnel wanted him to change his story regarding one of the many concussions he had in his nine-year NFL career. Johnson told Sports Illustrated in a story published Friday he blacked out against Minnesota in 2012 and later told reporters he had a concussion from the game.
“I wasn’t seeing straight,” Johnson said in the interview. “And they wanted me to change my story.” The Lions issued the following statement later in the day: “We respect the privacy of individual players’ medical situations and take great pride in the extensive work done by our medical staff and executive team to ensure we follow the appropriate protocols with respect to player health and safety,” the Lions said. “The well-being of our players will continue to be an organizational priority.” Johnson also told SI he smoked marijuana after every game.