Memorable dropped passes/interceptions

[oldecapecod11]

The thread does not specify "professional" so the following memorable dropped pass qualifies.

Irving Fryar - 1984 Orange Bowl: Miami 31-30 W vs Nebraska.

It would have been even more memorable had the 'Huskers not scored to cut the lead to the final score.
Osborne went for the W with a 2-point conversion attempt.

For the Hurricanes, it was Howard Schnellenberger's last game.

Then began the era of the "convicts" in Miami. Ironically, Fryar is experiencing the reality of convict life.
In his favor, it is a white-collar crime and not the result of drugs or violence.

The game also featured the infamous "fumblerooski."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h98_beH9V_8

[JWL]

I do not know if it technically was considered a drop but Kenbrell Thompkins was not able to haul in a pass which would have given the Jets an amazing win in Week 17 of the 2015 season. The Jets were in desperation mode late in Buffalo. Ryan Fitzpatrick uncorked a deep pass to Thompkins. Some receivers would have caught the pass. If Thompkins had made the catch, he would have been able to walk into the end zone and not much time would have been left on the clock for Buffalo to try to retake the lead.

Based upon the game situation and the fact a playoff berth was on the line, if Thompkins had made the catch it probably would have gone down as the greatest regular season play in Jets history.

[Todd Pence]

Two of these occurred in the final seconds of the 1996 AFC title game. First, Chris Oldham of the Steelers dropped a sure interception. Then Jim Harbaugh's pass on the final play bounced off the chest of receiver Aaron Bailey in the end zone. The latter might not technically qualify as a drop, however.

[7DnBrnc53]

You may label these as hits that dislodged the football, but they can also be labeled drops:

1. 2001 AFC Title Game: With about eight minutes left, and the Steelers down 24-17, Kordell threw it to Plaxico Burress down around the Patriot 30. The ball was dislodged, but not before Burress bobbled it for a little bit.

2. 2003 AFC Divisional Playoff: With about a minute left, Steve McNair of the Titans threw a desperation toss to Drew Bennett around the Patriot 10 with the Pats up by three. Two Pats sandwiched him and knocked it away, but not before he bobbled it.

[oldecapecod11]

Two of these occurred in the final seconds of the 1996 AFC title game. First, Chris Oldham of the Steelers dropped a sure interception. Then Jim Harbaugh's pass on the final play bounced off the chest of receiver Aaron Bailey in the end zone. The latter might not technically qualify as a drop, however.

This won't happen when the winged goddess of victory people begin to provide jerseys made of the same material
as the gloves - long-sleeved, of course.

[JohnTurney]

Ronnie Harmon in the 1989 divisional game at Cleveland that would have given Buffalo the lead with nine seconds left.

Similar to the Darren Nelson one a couple years earlier . . ..

[Saban1]

Ray Renfro dropped one at the goal line in the 1953 championship game for Cleveland against Detroit. Otto Graham had the worst day of his career, but there were some drops. Detroit won, 17 to 16.

[CSKreager]

I'm sure the other Packer fans in this forum will remember Yancey Thigpen's drop of a pass that would have given the Steelers a victory over Green Bay in the final game of the 1995 season. Thigpen was wide open in the corner of the end zone and it should have been an easy catch, but somehow it slipped through his fingers. That was a 4th down play and the Packers took over with 11 seconds left.

Incidentally, a couple of players earlier Thigpen had been open in the end zone and Neil O'Donnell missed him badly.

The victory gave the Packers their first division title since 1972 and sent them into the playoffs, where they ended up losing to the Cowboys in the NFC title game.

That affected the bottom of the NFC playoffs.

If he catches that, Detroit wins the NFC Central, gets the 3 seed, plays Atlanta (or Chicago if the 49ers don't blow it at the Georgia Dome) and Green Bay plays Philly on the road.

Really, those PIT/GB and SF/ATL games had they gone differently could have spit out different roads to the NFC title (SF a 1 seed, red-hot Detroit a 3 seed)

[7DnBrnc53]

I'm sure the other Packer fans in this forum will remember Yancey Thigpen's drop of a pass that would have given the Steelers a victory over Green Bay in the final game of the 1995 season. Thigpen was wide open in the corner of the end zone and it should have been an easy catch, but somehow it slipped through his fingers. That was a 4th down play and the Packers took over with 11 seconds left.

Incidentally, a couple of players earlier Thigpen had been open in the end zone and Neil O'Donnell missed him badly.

The victory gave the Packers their first division title since 1972 and sent them into the playoffs, where they ended up losing to the Cowboys in the NFC title game.

That affected the bottom of the NFC playoffs.

If he catches that, Detroit wins the NFC Central, gets the 3 seed, plays Atlanta (or Chicago if the 49ers don't blow it at the Georgia Dome) and Green Bay plays Philly on the road.

Really, those PIT/GB and SF/ATL games had they gone differently could have spit out different roads to the NFC title (SF a 1 seed, red-hot Detroit a 3 seed)

Chris, if those games go differently, I think the 49ers go to the SB. GB probably loses in Philly (and the Niners don't face a team that played the proper defense against their cozy dink offensive scheme), and Dallas wouldn't have won in SF. Also, without a run to the NFC Title Game, do the Packers feel like they are close to the Super Bowl (one caveat: If the Packers don't win the Central that year, they are drafting higher, and they end up with Ray Lewis)?