The 2024 NFL season is winding down, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs set for a Tremendous Bowl rematch in New Orleans on Sunday. However earlier than we flip the web page to the championship sport, let’s take a second to understand simply how wild this season has been.
So much has occurred since kickoff in September.
Bear in mind when Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco went from veteran backups to beginning quarterbacks once more? Or when the New Orleans Saints did not fairly end the season the best way the pope mistakenly prayed for?
The New York Giants dedicated to Daniel Jones — till they did not. The primary full yr of the Aaron Rodgers period with the New York Jets wasn’t as promising as followers hoped. And for a quick, shining second, it regarded just like the Pittsburgh Steelers had discovered their quarterback of the long run in Russell Wilson.
Whereas lots of these storylines took a flip for the more severe, some issues went proper, too.
Saquon Barkley pulled off a transfer so slick it bought added to a online game. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings took followers on a “generational celebrational” run. Jameis Winston lastly bought to play in some snow. And Jayden Daniels made his mark in methods we can’t quickly neglect.
All of those moments — whether or not thrilling, chaotic or simply plain weird — formed the 2024-25 season in ways in which (immediately or not directly) led us to this Tremendous Bowl. Listed below are a few of the most memorable.
Since its unintended inception in 2018, the fourth weekend of October has developed into an annual celebration of the tight finish place. This yr, tight ends placed on a present, racking up 17 touchdowns in Week 8.
From George Kittle to Tyler Conklin, tight ends not solely discovered the tip zone but in addition made historical past, hauling in 177 catches — probably the most in a single day within the Tremendous Bowl period, in line with ESPN Analysis.
The tight ends had themselves a day on their favourite vacation. 🥳 #NationalTightEndsDay pic.twitter.com/jSEjk21Cpy
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2024
The ‘Hail Maryland’
With no time left, rookie Jayden Daniels scrambled for practically 13 seconds earlier than launching a 52-yard Hail Mary from the Washington 35-yard line. The move deflected off Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s palms wanting the aim line and landed within the ready arms of Noah Brown, sealing the Commanders’ unbelievable 18-15 victory.
It marked simply the fifth go-ahead Hail Mary landing within the remaining 10 seconds since ESPN started monitoring in 2006 and the second-longest of the bunch — trailing solely the Aaron Rodgers-to-Richard Rodgers “Miracle in Motown” in 2015.
A;FK;JD;KJF;LAKEJFLKJVAL;KEJL;JF;EFJ;LFAKJ
JAYDEN DANIELS HAIL MARY! @COMMANDERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/BsQ0Z84Rko
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Through the NFL’s first London sport of the yr, the Minnesota Vikings’ protection channeled Disney’s “Mum or dad Entice” after a first-quarter interception. Enjoying at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, defensive backs Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus re-created Lindsay Lohan’s iconic handshake from the 1998 movie, full with hip bumps.
The second paid homage to Lohan’s character, Annie James, whose signature handshake along with her butler, Martin, grew to become a fan favourite scene.
They hit the Mum or dad Entice celly after the choose 😂🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/S3WclT4lyf
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
OBJ? MJ? No, it is GW
Garrett Wilson delivered an OBJ 2.0 second on Halloween — a surprising one-handed landing seize that sealed a 21-13 win over the Houston Texans. His 26-yard rating drew comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr.’s iconic catch in the identical stadium a decade in the past.
After the sport, some gamers even referred to as it harking back to Michael Jordan, as Wilson soared midair together with his legs break up just like the Jumpman emblem.
INSANE @GarrettWilson_V 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9iyccffEHS
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2024
Barkley’s reverse hurdle lands over DB — and in Madden 25
The Eagles operating again pulled off a jaw-dropping reverse hurdle in Philly’s 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 3. Within the second quarter, he spun off a catch, leaped over DB Jarrian Jones and immediately created a highlight-of-the-year contender. EA Sports activities wasted no time, including the transfer to Madden 25 in a Nov. 20 replace.
THE 180 HURDLE??? DID SAQUON JUST INVENT THIS?!
📺: #JAXvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/tYThjnbdgG— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Winston’s huge snow sport
When Jameis Winston has a microphone, magic tends to occur. Recent off the Browns’ 24-19 upset over the Steelers in a snowy showdown, the veteran quarterback delivered extra signature sound bites whereas breaking down the climate’s impression on the sport.
A distinction of just some hours. pic.twitter.com/5mrKuNImKa
— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2024
On the day Bucky Irving grew to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first rookie to high 1,000 speeding yards since 2012, followers at Raymond James Stadium discovered a brand new star: a duck. The sudden customer close to the 20-yard line had the jumbotron buzzing and chants shifting from “Bucky! Bucky!” to “Ducky! Ducky!”
The mallard’s timing was impeccable, arriving simply as Joe Tryon-Shoyinka blocked a punt that led to a landing. The duck grew to become such a sensation that the Bucs teamed up with Geese Limitless to convey one other mallard to their subsequent sport.
he simply needed in on the motion 🦆 pic.twitter.com/6uqSxyI2lS
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
Daniels delivers late-game magic once more
Not fairly a Hail Mary, however shut. With six seconds left, Daniels hit Jamison Crowder for a 9-yard landing, sealing Washington’s 36-33 win over Philadelphia in December. Daniels had three fourth-quarter touchdowns and 5 complete, in yet one more clutch efficiency.
JAYDEN DANIELS. COMMANDERS TAKE THE LEAD WITH 6 SECONDS.#PHIvsWAS pic.twitter.com/BcKGpEBIsl
— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Allen does all of it within the snow
In a snow-covered spectacle, Josh Allen pulled off a memorable feat — throwing a move and catching a rating on the identical play.
With the Payments up 21-3 within the third quarter, Allen tossed a fast move to Amari Cooper, who bobbled it earlier than dealing with two San Francisco 49ers defenders. Seeing Allen nonetheless in movement, Cooper flipped the ball again, and the quarterback took off, diving previous three defenders and stretching the ball to the pylon for the rating.
WHAT THE?!?!?!?!
📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tO1I6KTQRM— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
Bryce Younger is not precisely recognized for flashy performs, however he delivered a Steph Curry-esque second within the Panthers’ season finale. On fourth-and-1, he fired a 12-yard landing move to Tommy Tremble, turning away and signaling the rating earlier than the ball even arrived. The no-look celebration drew prompt Curry comparisons, with the Warriors star himself posting “Confirmed.” on Instagram.
ICONIC pic.twitter.com/zMHYCY2se8
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 5, 2025
Highlights from Saquon playoff run(s)
Barkley has scored loads of touchdowns, however none like his snow-covered 78-yard dash within the NFC’s divisional spherical towards the Los Angeles Rams. With the Eagles trailing late, he burst by way of the road and took off to place Philly up 28-22.
Including to the second, Barkley later admitted he had lined up on the improper facet earlier than the snap.
“In all probability my favourite landing of my profession,” he mentioned after the sport.
SAQUON BARKLEY 78 YARDS GOOOOODBYE!
📺: #LARvsPHI on NBC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/88LvtJoEFa— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025
After Washington drained eight minutes on a 17-play discipline aim drive, Barkley wanted only one play to strike again.
On Philly’s first snap of the NFC Championship Recreation, he took a pitch from Jalen Hurts, broke a number of tackles and sprinted 60 yards to the tip zone.
SAQUON ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/26534Ls9Mx— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
Mahomes magic strikes once more
With the Chiefs clinging to a 13-12 lead towards the Houston Texans within the AFC divisional spherical, Patrick Mahomes delivered one other jaw-dropping playoff second.
Dealing with third-and-goal from the 11-yard line, he appeared destined for a sack — till he wasn’t. As he fell, Mahomes one way or the other bought the ball off, lofting an ideal landing move to Travis Kelce, turning a near-disaster right into a rating.
MAHOMES THROWS THE TD TO KELCE WHILE FALLING TO THE GROUND 😳
UNREAL 🍿#HOUvsKC | ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/aEBBmgiKhB
— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2025
Tush push like no different
In a weird sequence, the Commanders tried to cease the Eagles’ tush push by committing encroachment on three straight performs. Referee Shawn Hochuli warned them that one other penalty might set off a uncommon NFL rule permitting him to award Philadelphia a landing. The very subsequent snap, Hurts punched in a 1-yard rating anyway, capping off a rulebook-testing drive.
properly that is new https://t.co/6jvZmJOsI6 pic.twitter.com/JU06qeGTXB
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
ESPN Analysis contributed to this story.