One year ago today, Aaron Rodgers rolled to his left, then his right, then launched this ridiculous pass 61 yards down the field into Richard Rodgers' hands to give the Green Bay Packers a miraculous win over the Detroit Lions:
He shares a birthday with #Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Here's 1 of his most famous plays, Hail Mary! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YshnLERWY4
— Net World Sports (@NetWorldSports) December 2, 2016
Where does the Rodgers-to-Rodgers play rank among the NFL's best ever Hail Marys?
5. Rodgers to Rodgers, 2015
The so-called "Miracle in Motown" is a play that some believe extinguished what little remained of Calvin Johnson's desire to play. The future Hall of Famer fell to his knees as the game ended and the Lions' playoff hopes died.
4. Wilson to Tate, 2012
Yes, the "Fail Mary" makes it on this list. It was an iconic moment. You can't discuss the 2012 season's infamous referee lockout without mentioning this play. In some ways, it was this game and this play that signaled the arrival of the Russell Wilson-era Seattle Seahawks as a member of the NFL's elite.
And no, Golden Tate probably didn't catch it.
3. Staubach to Pearson, 1975
#ThrowbackThursday #WeDemBoyz #HailMary
— DemBoyzNation (@DemBoyzNation) November 5, 2015
Staubach to Pearson for the win against Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/MOI9HJL7IU
Though not a Hail Mary in the purest sense, this 50-yard touchdown pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson came with 24 seconds left on the clock and won a playoff game.
After the game, Staubach described the play using the words "Hail Mary." Though he isn't the originator, he's credited by many as popularizing the term. Some football historians consider this pass the NFL's first Hail Mary.
2. Favre to Lewis, 2009
Brett Favre's LEGENDARY pass to Greg Lewis! 💯 pic.twitter.com/YVJFKuU7Gb
— Best NFL Plays ™ 🏈 (@BestNFL_Plays) November 28, 2016
The play that cranked Brett Favre fever in Minnesota from 10 to 11 was thrilling, but Paul Allen's sublime commentary is what took it to the next level.
As with so many of the throws over his long career, Favre took a pounding to make the play. And let's not overlook Greg Lewis' involvement. On a list of the greatest toe-tapping catches in NFL history, his might rank at the top.
1. Rodgers to Janis, 2015
Aaron Rodgers hits Jeff Janis with the 41 yard Hail Mary to tie the game & send it to overtime!#GoPackGo #GBvsAZ pic.twitter.com/CBVrTLhntK
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) January 17, 2016
Incredibly, Aaron Rodgers is on this list twice for a pair of Hail Marys that occurred in the same season.
The second, a last-gasp bomb to Jeff Janis (who was only playing because nearly all the Packers' other receivers were hurt), forced overtime in the NFC divisional round.
Rodgers' throw to Janis tops this list not only because of the stage on which it occurred, but also the degree of difficulty. The two-time NFL MVP made the throw against his body's momentum as he fell backward an instant before taking a big hit. It's a play no other quarterback on the planet has the arm (or guts) to make.
