Monday marks the one-year anniversary of one of the greatest catches in NFL history.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed, three-fingered catch against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football took the football universe, and social media, by storm.
Spectacular catches have become something of a regularity around the league, so to honour Beckham’s unforgettable grab, here are the top five jaw-dropping catches from the first 11 weeks of the 2015 NFL season.
5. DELANIE WALKER – WEEK 9
Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints
The Set Up
In the first quarter with just over a minute to go, the Titans set up a third-and-four on their own 39-yard line. Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota dropped back and launched a deep ball off his back foot. The pass had so much air under it, it looked like it was going to be an easy interception for the Saints’ secondary. But Saints’ corner Keenan Lewis and safety Jairus Byrd collided while going for the ball, and Titans tight end Delanie Walker came away with an incredibly lucky, but awesome, 61-yard touchdown.
The Titans went on to shock the Saints and win 34-28 in overtime.
4. LUKE WILLSON – WEEK 2
Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers
The Set Up
In the third quarter of a much-anticipated Sunday Night Football rematch of the 2014 NFC championship game, the Seahawks were stuck 13-3 to the Packers. On their first play of the second half, Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson threw a quick seam route on the right side. Luke Willson, a LaSalle, Ont., native and frequent guest on Tim and Sid, was able to spin around and reel in the back-shoulder throw with one-hand for an amazing 24-yard gain, setting the Seahawks up for an eventual Fred Jackson touchdown to end the drive.
Watch the play in full speed here.
The Packers would go on to take it 27-17, but props go out to the Canadian tight end for cracking the top five, somewhat making up for his FIFA loss to Sid Seixeiro.
3. JULIO JONES – WEEK 2
Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants
The Set Up
In the fourth quarter with less than eight minutes left to play, the New York Giants held a 20-17 lead. With the Falcons backed up inside their own five-yard line, quarterback Matt Ryan ran a play-action play from inside his end zone, and fired a pass to Julio Jones in tight coverage. With the ball slightly underthrown, Jones leapt up over Giants safety Brandon Meriweather to make an incredible catch.
Jones finished the game with an outstanding 13 catches and 135 yards, and a late Devonta Freeman two-yard touchdown would give the Falcons a 24-20 win.
2. DEZ BRYANT – WEEK 9
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Set Up
The Dallas Cowboys were trailing the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football 21-14 with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. With Tony Romo still out with a broken clavicle, Matt Cassel was attempting to earn the Cowboys their first win since Romo went down in Week 2.
On the Eagles’ 18-yard line, Cassel took the shotgun snap and was immediately forced out of the pocket. Channelling his inner Romo, Cassel scrambled around from left to right and chucked the ball into the back left corner of the end zone. Dez Bryant, in his first game back from having surgery on a broken foot he suffered in Week 1, leapt over two Eagles defenders and fellow Cowboys’ receiver Lucky Whitehead to make a unbelievable 18-yard touchdown and tie the game up for the Cowboys.
The Eagles would eventually go on to win 33-27 in overtime, however, handing the Cowboys their sixth straight loss.
1. DEANDRE HOPKINS – WEEK 10
Houston Texans vs.Cincinnati Bengals
The Set Up
DeAndre Hopkins has established himself as one of the best receivers in the NFL, and his highlight-reel catch on Monday Night Football in Week 10 against the then-undefeated Bengals certainly makes a case for him being the top pass-catcher in all of football.
The Bengals led the Texans 6-3 in the fourth quarter of a defensive, low-scoring affair. With just over 14 minutes to play, the Texans were just outside the red zone and threatening.
Brian Hoyer, who started the game for Houston, was forced to leave with a concussion, making way for T.J. Yates to bring the Texans home. Yates flung a 22-yard pass towards the left pylon of the end zone, and with the Bengals top corner Adam Jones draped all over Hopkins, the Texans elite wide receiver hauled in one of the better catches in recent memory.
The Texans would eventually hold on for a 10-6 win to keep pace in the AFC South and hand the Bengals their first loss of the season.
