The 2024 NFL season is winding down, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs set for a Tremendous Bowl rematch in New Orleans on Sunday. However earlier than we flip the web page to the championship recreation, let’s take a second to understand simply how wild this season has been.

Lots has occurred since kickoff in September.

Keep in mind when Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco went from veteran backups to beginning quarterbacks once more? Or when the New Orleans Saints did not fairly end the season the way in which the pope mistakenly prayed for?

The New York Giants dedicated to Daniel Jones — till they did not. The primary full 12 months of the Aaron Rodgers period with the New York Jets wasn’t as promising as followers hoped. And for a short, shining second, it regarded just like the Pittsburgh Steelers had discovered their quarterback of the longer term in Russell Wilson.

Whereas a lot of these storylines took a flip for the more severe, some issues went proper, too.

Saquon Barkley pulled off a transfer so slick it obtained added to a online game. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings took followers on a “generational celebrational” run. Jameis Winston lastly obtained to play in some snow. And Jayden Daniels made his mark in methods we cannot quickly overlook.

All of those moments — whether or not thrilling, chaotic or simply plain weird — formed the 2024-25 season in ways in which (instantly or not directly) led us to this Tremendous Bowl. Listed here are a few of the most memorable.

Since its unintentional inception in 2018, the fourth weekend of October has advanced into an annual celebration of the tight finish place. This 12 months, tight ends placed on a present, racking up 17 touchdowns in Week 8.

From George Kittle to Tyler Conklin, tight ends not solely discovered the tip zone but in addition made historical past, hauling in 177 catches — probably the most in a single day within the Tremendous Bowl period, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.

The ‘Hail Maryland’

With no time left, rookie Jayden Daniels scrambled for almost 13 seconds earlier than launching a 52-yard Hail Mary from the Washington 35-yard line. The go deflected off Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s palms in need of the purpose line and landed within the ready arms of Noah Brown, sealing the Commanders’ unbelievable 18-15 victory.

It marked simply the fifth go-ahead Hail Mary landing within the closing 10 seconds since ESPN started monitoring in 2006 and the second-longest of the bunch — trailing solely the Aaron Rodgers-to-Richard Rodgers “Miracle in Motown” in 2015.

Throughout the NFL’s first London recreation of the 12 months, the Minnesota Vikings’ protection channeled Disney’s “Guardian Lure” after a first-quarter interception. Enjoying at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, defensive backs Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus re-created Lindsay Lohan’s iconic handshake from the 1998 movie, full with hip bumps.

The second paid homage to Lohan’s character, Annie James, whose signature handshake together with her butler, Martin, turned a fan favourite scene.

OBJ? MJ? No, it is GW

Garrett Wilson delivered an OBJ 2.0 second on Halloween — a shocking one-handed landing seize that sealed a 21-13 win over the Houston Texans. His 26-yard rating drew comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr.’s iconic catch in the identical stadium a decade in the past.

After the sport, some gamers even referred to as it paying homage to Michael Jordan, as Wilson soared midair along with his legs cut up just like the Jumpman emblem.

Barkley’s reverse hurdle lands over DB — and in Madden 25

The Eagles working again pulled off a jaw-dropping reverse hurdle in Philly’s 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 3. Within the second quarter, he spun off a catch, leaped over DB Jarrian Jones and immediately created a highlight-of-the-year contender. EA Sports activities wasted no time, including the transfer to Madden 25 in a Nov. 20 replace.

Winston’s massive snow recreation

When Jameis Winston has a microphone, magic tends to occur. Recent off the Browns’ 24-19 upset over the Steelers in a snowy showdown, the veteran quarterback delivered extra signature sound bites whereas breaking down the climate’s affect on the sport.

On the day Bucky Irving turned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first rookie to prime 1,000 dashing yards since 2012, followers at Raymond James Stadium discovered a brand new star: a duck. The sudden customer close to the 20-yard line had the jumbotron buzzing and chants shifting from “Bucky! Bucky!” to “Ducky! Ducky!”

The mallard’s timing was impeccable, arriving simply as Joe Tryon-Shoyinka blocked a punt that led to a landing. The duck turned such a sensation that the Bucs teamed up with Geese Limitless to deliver one other mallard to their subsequent recreation.

Daniels delivers late-game magic once more

Not fairly a Hail Mary, however shut. With six seconds left, Daniels hit Jamison Crowder for a 9-yard landing, sealing Washington’s 36-33 win over Philadelphia in December. Daniels had three fourth-quarter touchdowns and 5 complete, in yet one more clutch efficiency.

Allen does all of it within the snow

In a snow-covered spectacle, Josh Allen pulled off a memorable feat — throwing a go and catching a rating on the identical play.

With the Payments up 21-3 within the third quarter, Allen tossed a fast go to Amari Cooper, who bobbled it earlier than dealing with two San Francisco 49ers defenders. Seeing Allen nonetheless in movement, Cooper flipped the ball again, and the quarterback took off, diving previous three defenders and stretching the ball to the pylon for the rating.

Bryce Younger is not precisely recognized for flashy performs, however he delivered a Steph Curry-esque second within the Panthers’ season finale. On fourth-and-1, he fired a 12-yard landing go to Tommy Tremble, turning away and signaling the rating earlier than the ball even arrived. The no-look celebration drew on the spot Curry comparisons, with the Warriors star himself posting “Confirmed.” on Instagram.

Highlights from Saquon playoff run(s)

Barkley has scored loads of touchdowns, however none like his snow-covered 78-yard dash within the NFC’s divisional spherical towards the Los Angeles Rams. With the Eagles trailing late, he burst by way of the road and took off to place Philly up 28-22.

Including to the second, Barkley later admitted he had lined up on the flawed facet earlier than the snap.

“Most likely my favourite landing of my profession,” he mentioned after the sport.

After Washington drained eight minutes on a 17-play discipline purpose drive, Barkley wanted only one play to strike again.

On Philly’s first snap of the NFC Championship Recreation, he took a pitch from Jalen Hurts, broke a number of tackles and sprinted 60 yards to the tip zone.

Mahomes magic strikes once more

With the Chiefs clinging to a 13-12 lead towards the Houston Texans within the AFC divisional spherical, Patrick Mahomes delivered one other jaw-dropping playoff second.

Going through third-and-goal from the 11-yard line, he appeared destined for a sack — till he wasn’t. As he fell, Mahomes by some means obtained the ball off, lofting an ideal landing go to Travis Kelce, turning a near-disaster right into a rating.

Tush push like no different

In a weird sequence, the Commanders tried to cease the Eagles’ tush push by committing encroachment on three straight performs. Referee Shawn Hochuli warned them that one other penalty may set off a uncommon NFL rule permitting him to award Philadelphia a landing. The very subsequent snap, Hurts punched in a 1-yard rating anyway, capping off a rulebook-testing drive.

ESPN Analysis contributed to this story.



RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here