99-yard_pass_play

99-yard pass play

99-yard pass play

Longest possible forward-passing play in American football

A 99-yard pass play is the longest play involving a forward pass that is possible in an American football game. It gains 99 yards and scores a touchdown for the offensive team. The play has occurred thirteen times in NFL history, most recently by Eli Manning and Victor Cruz. The Washington Redskins are the only team to have had multiple 99 yard passes, having done so three times. They were also the first franchise to complete one, accomplishing the feat in 1939. The Chicago Bears are the only team to have given up multiple 99-yard passes, doing so three times. Teams that have had a 99-yard pass play are 10–3 in the game it occurred in.

In addition to 99-yard pass plays, there have been two NFL 99-yard running plays, by Tony Dorsett and Derrick Henry.

Details

A 99-yard pass play starts with the line of scrimmage at the offensive team's one-yard line. The quarterback receives the ball, passes it and completes a forward pass, which is then carried for a touchdown at the other end of the field.

This play is a high-risk play, since the pass is coming from in or near the offensive team's end zone. If the ball is intercepted, the opposing team will likely either score a touchdown or have very good field position, and a sack can result in a safety or even a touchdown for the defense. A safety can also occur if a holding or intentional grounding penalty occurs in the end zone.

Occurrences in the NFL

Thirteen 99-yard pass plays have occurred in the history of the National Football League:

More information Passer, Receiver ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Skins Strike Through Air to Defeat Pirates", Frederick (Maryland) Post, October 16, 1939, p3
  2. [2]
    Macrevace, Phillip (2007). The Redskins Encyclopedia. Temple University Press. p. 332. ISBN 978-1-59213-542-4.
  3. [3]
    AP report, in the Lima (O.) News, September 16, 1963, p15
  4. [4]
    AP report, "Unitas Sparkles as Colts Crush Detroit Lions 45–14", Ironwood (Mich.) Daily Globe, October 17, 1966, p8
  5. [5]
    (UPI report) "Redskins Defeat Bears Behind Jurgensen 38–28, Cumberland (Maryland) News, September 16, 1968, p5
  6. [6]
    AP report, "'Skins win over Raiders like another Super Bowl", Frederick (Maryland) News-Post, October 3, 1983, pD-1
  7. [7]
    Sheridan, Phil (November 11, 1985). "Eagles survive against Falcons in overtime-Quick and Jaworski team up on 99-yard touchdown pass". Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). The Daily Intelligencer, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. p. 3.
  8. [8]
    Rick Telander, "A Means Machine", Sports Illustrated, September 26, 1994, p50
  9. [9]
    "Chiefs Chargers Matchup Through the Years". National Football League. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  10. [10]
    "NFL Football Highlights, Clips & Analysis". NFL.com.
  11. [11]
    Dulik, Brian (October 18, 2004). "Two backs, one big result". Newspaperarchive.com (subscription). Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio. p. 25.
  12. [12]
    Davis, Nate (September 13, 2011). "Brady, Welker get kick out of 99-yard touchdown". USA Today. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  13. [13]
    Ehalt, Matt (December 24, 2011). "Cruz changes game with 99-yard touchdown". ESPN. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
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