Ranking the 7 most absurd plays from the Jaguars-Steelers thriller
A week ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills combined for 13 points in a playoff game that made casual fans curious why the NFL playoffs are such a big deal.
On Sunday, those same Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers reminded everyone that NFL postseason contests can be very entertaining - and extremely odd.
After the two teams combined for 12 touchdowns and 87 total points, we count down the seven most absurd plays from the Jaguars' 45-42 win in Pittsburgh.
7. Telvin Smith mocks Steelers on way to TD
SACKSONVILLE ➡️ TD!@Jaguars defense coming up BIG! #JAXvsPIT #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2018
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/vtJpv95oMx
Smith had "Sacksonville" rocking late in the first half as he scooped up a Ben Roethlisberger fumble and made sure the Steelers knew who was going into the end zone.
Myles Jack had a message for Pittsburgh after the play as well.
CAN'T SPELL STEELERS WITHOUT pic.twitter.com/dAlJ38PTRg
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) January 14, 2018
6. Antonio Brown makes ridiculous grab to keep Steelers alive
THOSE HANDS.
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2018
You're ridiculous, @AB84! #HereWeGo #JAXvsPIT #NFLPlayoffs
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/hF6GqlriTq
So much for an injured calf.
Brown never gave up on the Steelers' chances in his first game back from injury. He racked up seven catches for 132 yards with two touchdowns, including this marvelous score on fourth down in the fourth quarter to bring Pittsburgh within seven points.
5. Leonard Fournette flies one in
On 4th-and-goal...@_fournette DIVES for the @Jaguars TD! #JAXvsPIT #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2018
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/a4EmjVmg2I
Before we knew an 87-point result was coming, Fournette started the scoring with the most exciting way to score from short yardage - going over the top.
It was the second time Fournette scored an up-and-over touchdown against Pittsburgh this season.
4. Blake Bortles goes deep in double coverage
Keelan Cole for 45 yards!
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2018
What a grab! #JAXvsPIT #NFLPlayoffs
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/ksjObDCRz3
Before this play in the fourth quarter, Bortles had yet to break 100 yards passing and only had completed 9 of his 21 passes, but the Jaguars quarterback managed to find his rookie receiver and set up Fournette's third touchdown of the game.
3. AB separates perfectly to haul in one-handed TD
.@AB84 with ONE HAND! 😱
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2018
The @Steelers are on the board! #JAXvsPIT #NFLPlayoffs
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/cgj5QKYQxG
There wasn't much else A.J. Bouye could have done to cover the Steelers' star receiver on this play, but Brown still found just enough room to score his team's first points of the game.
2. Steelers submit candidate for worst play call of season
JALEN RAMSEY.
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2018
Stuffed. 🚫 #JAXvsPIT #NFLPlayoffs
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/cPWSpY63Nd
If you thought Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was the only one making boneheaded play calls this postseason, not so fast.
Steelers OC Todd Haley dialed up a toss play on a fourth-and-1 in the first quarter that was easily stuffed by the Jaguars - and ridiculed relentlessly online.
1. Roethlisberger breaks out a late lateral
Big Ben with the backwards pass to @L_Bell26!
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2018
'
He scores and it's a 7-point game! #JAXvsPIT #NFLPlayoffs
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/YrqTn1D85J
Through two games against the Jaguars this season, Roethlisberger threw 113 pass attempts; this was actually not one of them.
Late in the fourth quarter, trying to close another 14-point gap, Roethlisberger reached into his bag of tricks to find a downfield lateral to Le'Veon Bell for the Steelers' only rushing touchdown of the game.