It doesn’t happen all the time and it’s rarely successful but one of the most exciting moments in the NFL is when a losing team is trying to complete a series of laterals to keep the play going and win. It’s a play that rewards luck, opportunity, and very much looks like the kind of backyard football you or I am used to playing.
For Week 6, the Buccaneers attempted a play like this against the Falcons. Being down 34-29 and without any timeouts, the Buccaneers had to come up with something for the final seconds. While on the 21, Jameis Winston ran up the middle. Knowing that if he was tackled, the game would be over, Winston sidearmed the ball beside him. The ball looked like it went behind but bounced forward (perfectly legal).
This wild final play ALMOST worked. 😱#TBvsATL https://t.co/LCdGtVfR0K
— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2018
Adam Humphries got the ball, who lateraled it to Mike Evans, who lateraled it to Desean Jackson. Jackson had an open lane into the end zone but the ball hit the ground right in front of Jackson and bounced out of bounds, giving the Falcons the win.
In this Holy Rolleresque play, it seemed like a play the Bucs actually planned. Unlike the usual lateral-fest, this seemed set because it would be something the Falcons wouldn’t expect. At the 21, the Falcons are all about protecting the end zone and out of bounds to keep Tampa Bay from doing a quick pass out of bounds to set up even closer to the end zone. Knowing that, the Buccaneers played to the middle of the field and overloaded receivers on the left side and like having the hands team on an onside kick, put the players with the best hands close together and be ready for a lateral.
It wasn’t conventional because Tampa Bay could’ve devised a regular pass play to the end zone but they went creative and it almost paid off.
