Was This Amazing Front-Flip Catch the NFL Touchdown of the Year?
- Posted on December 25, 2011 at 2:36am by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals had just enough left to stay in the thick of playoff contention.
Andy Dalton threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Cincinnati withstood yet another fourth-quarter comeback by Arizona, holding on for a 23-16 victory Saturday that kept the Bengals in the running for a wild card.
Another small crowd at Paul Brown Stadium saw the Bengals (9-6) secure only their third winning record in the last 21 years and keep up their postseason hopes.
They pulled it off with another solid performance by their rookie quarterback and a close call in the closing minutes.
AP
Dalton threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Gresham and a 19-yarder to Jerome Simpson, who did a somersault over a defender and landed on both feet in the end zone. Dalton joined Peyton Manning (26), Charlie Conerly (22) and Dan Marino (20) as the only NFL rookies to throw 20 touchdowns.
Down 23-0 heading into the fourth quarter, the NFL’s best comeback team nearly pulled off its most improbable one yet. Arizona (7-8) took advantage of Cedric Benson’s two fumbles, getting a pair of touchdown passes by John Skelton and Jay Feely’s field goal with 3:16 left.
The Cardinals had their chance to pull even. Early Doucet got behind the defense on a fourth-down play from the Cincinnati 17-yard line, but tripped at the goal line and fell, letting the pass fall incomplete.
Arizona got the ball one last time, but the clock ran out on them after a completion, ending the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak and their playoff chances.
Cincinnati’s defense dominated the first three quarters. Arizona didn’t cross midfield until Skelton completed a pass with 13:25 to go.
Skelton started for the second consecutive week in place of Kevin Kolb, who hasn’t fully recovered from a concussion. Skelton was 23 of 44 for 297 yards with three interceptions and five sacks that helped the Bengals get the 23-0 lead.
It could have been worse. Mike Nugent, the NFL’s most accurate kicker, missed field goals of 35 and 48 yards in the first half.
Arizona has rallied from fourth-quarter deficits six times this season, one shy of the NFL record. The Cardinals have won three games in overtime, tying the league record.
With another comeback nearly in their grasp Saturday, they stumbled at the goal line.
Dalton was 18 of 31 for 154 yards and two touchdowns on a sunny, 39-degree afternoon in front of only 41,273 fans, leaving the stadium one-third empty.
Dalton’s second touchdown pass had a highlight finish.
Simpson got open for a catch-and-run to the goal line. With Daryl Washington between him and the end zone, Simpson jumped and twirled past the linebacker, landing on both feet in the end zone and raising both arms like a gymnast who just stuck the landing.
For most of the game, the Cardinals couldn’t do anything right. Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson picked off a Dalton pass in the third quarter, but the interception was nullified by Arizona’s second roughing-the-passer penalty of the game.
Worse, Peterson hurt his left hamstring on the play, pulling up on the return. The first-round pick left the game.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 591 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 416 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 376 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 416 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 416 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (87)
Country
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 12:25pmTen
Report Post »Falindraun
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:00pmI would agree however, they could have called it back for the facemask grab on the part of the reciever.
Report Post »jespasinthru
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 12:17pmYou guys are right about one thing. A college education is vastly overrated. My brother dropped out of school at 14. Today he owns his own landscaping company with 12 full-time employees. He makes big bucks by creating and maintaining beautiful tropical gardens for condos, nursing homes and mansions. And he did it without a college degree.
Report Post »Republic
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:20pmFor most people, college degrees are a money making scam for the colleges with overpaid professors and academics. Unfortunately, the education in industrial arts (welding, machining, mechanics, etc.) have taken an educational backseat with the end result of many of today’s youth cannot build or fix anything.
Report Post »I hope our education system wakes up to this fact.
nuttyvet
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:47pmAgree and disagree. I completely blew off my undergrad years with drinking and chasing girls. Then the military straightened me up and now I am getting a masters to be a Physician Assistant. Part I was a waste of time (although it got me into the AF as an officer). Part II has given me a precious skill of serving patients and helping others while providing for my family.
PS – GREAT TOUCHDOWN!!!! The pass was just okay but the run into the endzone was just great!!!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on December 26, 2011 at 10:50am” A college education is vastly overrated.”
Completely depends on where you go and what you study. If you spend $100,000+ on getting a degree in art, literature, or a language (without a desire to be a teacher), then yes, it’s a total waste. If you spend $60,000 at an in-state university to get a degree in a relevant health, science, or business field, it’s well worth it. Like anything in life, just “getting a degree” is not nearly as important as choosing the right degree at the right school at the right price.
If we’re talking about super generalities though, I’d say “getting a college degree” is almost always a better idea than “dropping out of school at age 14.”
Report Post »chingachgook
Posted on December 26, 2011 at 4:04pmThe reason so many people get degrees, is because so many occupations require a four year degree when in reality there is no good reason for the requirement. Football is a perfect example. Most of these guy go four years to college to excel in football to gain access to the NFL. They do not need the degree to do their jobs/
Report Post »Thetruthhurtsalot
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:46amMore proof they are not human. Wild animals at play.
jespasinthru
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 12:04pmYou’re not fooling anybody. People like you pretend to be members of a “superior race” because it’s the only way you can cope with the painful reality of your own personal inferiority. You‘re probably so unappealing that you couldn’t get laid in a women’s prison with a handful of pardons. Put down the meth pipe and get out of your mom’s trailer.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:00am@JESPASINTHRU
The unfortunate thing is that you used such big words, that I‘m sure you’ve only succeeded in utterly confusing THETRUTHHURTSALOT.
@THETRUTHHURTSALOT
Just go lay down and leave the commenting to the adults here, we wouldn’t want you to burn up the last remaining brain cell in your thick backwoods head.
Report Post »patricius
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:08amI can’t stand football – never watch it. That was really fun to watch, though! Merry Christmas, all!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:58amnot a sports fan, but hat was fun to watch!
Report Post »Delta D-5-3
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:11amI agree!! We need MORE of this type of stuff on the Blaze!!
Report Post »Pro-Palin
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:54amNo more sports on the blaze !!
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:12amI prefer to see Adrian Peterson flatten a linebacker and then toss a cornerback out of bounds like a rag doll on his way to a TD.
Report Post »FreedomPurveyor
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:16amOf course it was for show, people. How does that make it any less impressive?
Report Post »GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:04amTechnically this is a safety violation, feet above the hips, as they wear cleats. Still quite athletic.
Report Post »Valeri Liukin did TRIPLES in his hay day, GYMNAST RULE!!
Git-R-Done
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 12:39pmI second that comment that gymnasts rule.
Report Post »ImMadAsHell
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:43ambig deal, Football SUX
Report Post »Impenitent
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:41amgot nothing on ballet…
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:26amThe NFL will levy a fine on him this week for hard foot to ground contact. The defender wasn’t about to stop him, it would have cost him a lot of money if he had broken the guys neck. Football isn’t football anymore. The players have to pull up. PC run amok. Put a dress on the QBs and recievers and let’s play!
Report Post »Jayms
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 5:20amThat was great! I was suspicious it was a Geico commercial or something.
That, and some weird ad overlay kept dropping down in front of the video and it was really annoying.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:09amWhite man can’t jump…
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:27amWas he white DeMint? NO. So what pointless point are you trying to make?
Besides that is a myth.
Report Post »apollo18
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 5:03amYou were going to mention something about that kid in his HS champ game that drew a flaw for raising his L hand on the way into the end zone, and went from a win to a loss, weren‘t ya’? Me too.
(this was Cincinnati, correct???)
Report Post »buzdburd
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:45amYeah it was the Bengals.
Report Post »You know, the Bengals that they predicted to maybe win 4 games this year and are now currently 9-6.
Workforit
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 4:50amWow!
That was one… and will be one…. for all time!
Comparable only to the great Pittsburgh Stealer… Lynn Swann
Dare I say it on Christmas day…
” The immaculate reception?”
Those of you old enough, Know of what I speak!
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:15am@singleparent… Lmao.. Now you don’t use an apostrophe in ANY of your written words.. Lmao, Figure it’s safer , huh ?..
buzdburd
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:43amI”m a full-blown Bengals fan, but even I know it was Franco Harris that caught the immaculate reception.
Report Post »That said, that was a fantastic play and those who can’t appreciate superior athleticism need to ignore the sport and go save the world.
Rojubob
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:49amThat would have been Franco Harris on Dec 23rd in a PLAYOFF game vs Oakland.
Report Post »An amazing athletic feat to be sure but it wasn’t the “catch” that made the play a highlight, it was the “flip” at the very end. The receiver is also fortunate he didn‘t fumble because of how far away from his body he’s carrying the ball. Could very easily have been a blooper highlight if the ball comes loose before he scores.
singleparent
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:25am@Demint its people like you that are the problem you think only smart people should be heard.. you are an elietist just like the ones running this country take your brainwashed college degree and shove it…you sir are an ass. i have a 4th grade education and dont spell very well so what… im 49 years old and ima guy who raised 3 girls on my own they are honor roll students and i did this without you or the governments help… i have my own business and i make over 50k a year… you are an ASS!
little big man
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:48amsingleparent
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 7:19am
Okay let’s see you do one smarty pants. yes he didn’t save a life or invent some new power generating disc, but all that said it was still very Athletic.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 9:56am@SIngleParent…
Report Post »Good point you made to DeMented….
I had 3 uncles who never went to HS. They all ended up fairly wealthy. The one who went to 6th grade had an estate worth over 3.5m.
I don’t feel anything for the idiots who spent 100+K on a college edu. then can’t find a job. Go learn to work in the real world. Produce something tangible, not just more regulations to hinder the rest of us.
COFemale
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:19amWow Single, perhaps your post explains your sign on name thoroughly. Maybe if you’d be a little less obnoxious and quit your swearing, you might not be a single parent. Merry Christmas anyway.
I am not a pro football watcher, but that was pretty amazing. I always enjoy an awesome touchdown.
Report Post »jespasinthru
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:56amSounding a little jealous, aren’t we?
Report Post »singleparent
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 12:21pm@Jespas. not at all just dont think this should be news……
Report Post »Workforit
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:09pmSorry Stealer fans… I just couldn’t remember, I took a shot and I blew it. My apologies Franco.
I still think the flip was amazing and a testament to athletic ability. It was just a cool move and it will be in every football high light piece from now on…as it should be!
Report Post »neozenov
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:58pmIt was Franco Harris that caught the immaculate reception versus the Raiders.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:29pm@@singleparent.. Just to brush you up on a few things.. I‘m far from an elitist I’m worst off than you when it comes to monetary things, trust me.. Also, you don’t need to be an elites to use check spell on a browser, ANY browser has it. Do you want a metal for raising children on your own ? You did what you are suppose to do yet you want some special treatment ? You did what is expected from EVERYONE that is put in that situation. You get nothing for that.. I raised one more than you on my own but you would never know unless you knew me personally, that‘s because there is nothing to talk about and I don’t go around looking for sympathy …I merely raised some issues with you, apparently I was right because you changed, over night and your spelling is MUCH, MUCH better than before, so to me you were not even trying.. Did you know it takes just as much work to spell prolly as it does probably and makes you look ten times brighter ? Never mind, In this world you’re jumped on if you speak your mind .. where is shemale I mean cofemale that is your saviour , right ? Anyway , take no offense, I was just pointing a few things out..Merry Christmas.
Report Post »jabbott514
Posted on December 26, 2011 at 9:08amWasn’t that Franco Harris? Anyway, great play!!
Report Post »rukdnme13
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:11amDon’t you mean Franco Harris?
Report Post »1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 4:42amPretty awesome move.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 4:00amMe like it :)
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:55amIt looks better than it was. The defender wasn‘t going to keep him from scoring a TD even if he didn’t do a flip. That Dallas tight-end that was a hurdler (Jay Novacek?) had a much more impressive play on Thanksgiving day a decade ago. This guy was just doing it for show. He didn’t need to do it. That makes it a little less impressive. It was a cool play, but certainly not the play of the year. Calvin Johnson makes two or three more impressive plays than this every week.
To the casual fan, this play look unbelievable. To people who know football, this was mostly show.
Report Post »bigdaddyt46
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:56amyes you’re right it was novacek, one of the best tight ends.witten is very much like him both are animals. i wish both played at the same time, talk about giving a defence fits LOL
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:32amCool…and you know the NFL will outlaw it. That is a big reason I do not watch anymore. Back in the 80′s when I used to watch the rules were much better. So what if the game took longer to play. They have just made it a boring waste of time now.
Report Post »buzdburd
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 8:53amWhat’s to outlaw?
Report Post »There might be 5-10 players in the NFL that could do that!
hacker2000
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:20amThe flip was jaw dropping but sticking the landing was the icing on the cake.
Report Post »Observer500
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:15amWhat an incredible athlete.
Report Post »Observer500
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:14amAbsolutely amazing.
Talk about a talented athlete.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:00amNo, this was the worst attemp at Tebowing I ever seen.
Report Post »Are you flying? There is no flying in football.
I did see this before, it was the old movie, Flubber.
FLDeb
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 2:57amThat was so amazing!!! They showed it while I was watching Tampa get beat.
Report Post »symphonic
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 2:51amHad to watch 4 times!
Report Post »