Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels has been on the right side and wrong side of a game-ending lateral sequence for the New England Patriots.
When speaking on the comparison between the Miami Miracle in 2018 to the Patriots’ recent lateral blunder, McDaniels admitted he was happy to be on the right side of a miracle play this time around.
“Better feeling on this side, for sure,” McDaniels said at the post-game conference, via MassLive’s Nick O’Malley. “…I mean, again, the weird thing is, I know that wasn’t probably the design of that play. I’m assuming it wasn’t. But once Rhamondre pitched, it became that way.”
There was only three seconds left in the game, and the Patriots made the decision to run one final play instead of kneeling and taking the tied game into overtime.
After running into a group of defenders, Stevenson pitched the ball backwards to wideout Jakobi Meyers, who then committed the ill-fated turnover in another pitch attempt that closed out the game.
What just happened?? The @Raiders win on the final play!! #NEvsLV pic.twitter.com/cmKNUuab1k
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2022
The Miami Miracle came when the Miami Dolphins beat the Patriots after a pass from then-quarterback Ryan Tannehill was lateralled twice, before eventually ending up in the hands of Kenyan Drake, who ran the ball into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
Three years ago today… The Miami Miracle 🙌@MiamiDolphins @KDx32 #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/h6QRQ1cZS4
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2021
An argument could be made that the play against the Raiders was the worst of the two blunders. There was no need for the Patriots to even call a play in that situation with the game tied and going into overtime.
But then again, a mistake of that magnitude is par for the course for what has already been a nightmare season.
