It was the worst, and one of the most consequential, play calls in NFL history. And we all remember it.
With 26 seconds left in Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, Seattle had the ball at the New England one-yard line, down 28-24. They had a decent offensive line, and in Marshawn Lynch, the greatest power runner of the time. Lynch had gained four yards on the previous play, so of course, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called a… skinny slant to receiver Ricardo Lockette.
We all know how THAT turned out.
If you look to the left side of the Seahawks’ offensive line, you’ll one of the 15 or so things that were really dumb about this play. Lynch would have had a major gap to run through even if he hadn’t flared out post-snap, and most likely, that would have wrapped things up for the Seahawks — a franchise that has ever been the same since.
If you’ve ever wondered what the correct play in that situation would have looked like, we turn your attention to Thursday night’s preseason game between the Houston Texans and the San Francisco 49ers. Rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who reminds some of Lynch with his powerful playing demeanor, took the ball at the one-yard line, bulled in behind his line to the left, and there was your touchdown.
Dameon Pierce is in for a @HoustonTexans TD! @IRep229
📺: #SFvsHOU on Prime Video
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LTxiJ66vfR pic.twitter.com/7bwjssxpGG— NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2022
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) August 26, 2022
Pierce was an absolute menace on that first Texans drive, gaining 37 yards and scoring that touchdown on just six carries. The fourth-round rookie from Florida, who’s been on our radar since before the draft, has the look of the best back in this draft class.
As for the Seahawks? Well, they took Michigan State back Kenneth Walker III in the second round, and though Walker does show some nice potential, passing on Pierce might be another decision they — and every other NFL team not named the Houston Texans — regret over time.
