NFL World Crowns Nullified Touchdown As Most 'Thursday Night Football' Play Ever

Rattler had a fumble called back in the second quarter due to an offsides penalty. | Amazon Prime Video

Denver linebacker Cody Barton nearly had two defensive touchdowns Thursday night in the Broncos' 33–10 win over the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

While Barton did find the end zone in the final minutes of the game, his fumble recovery touchdown in the second quarter that didn't end up counting might be more memorable due to the chaotic nature of the play.

Early in the second quarter with Denver leading 6–0, Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler had trouble handling a high snap. He tried to pull it down to fake a handoff to Alvin Kamara but lost it, caught it again on the bounce, avoided a sack, crashed into offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga and fumbled the football once more into the arms of Barton, who raced into the end zone.

The play was called back for an offsides penalty, but it's a hard one to forget.

Bad night for Spencer Rattler. Fumble was called back due to offsides by the Broncos. #DENvsNO pic.twitter.com/c4ou25FtTM
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) October 18, 2024

Thursday Night Football, the league's weekly prime-time clash now broadcast on Amazon Prime Video, has gained a reputation over the years among NFL fans for its not-so-aesthetically pleasing brand of football. Some in the NFL world are crowning Rattler's unofficial fumble as a perfect representation of playing football on a short week.

I don’t care that this didn’t count

THIS IS THE MOST THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PLAY YOU WILL SEE pic.twitter.com/P07Z6f90MI
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 18, 2024

Offsides can erase the play from history but we all witnessed one of the worst plays of the season

pic.twitter.com/IqCxcFTP99
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 18, 2024

It was a rough night for Rattler, as the rookie threw for 172 yards on 25-of-35 passing while leading the offense to just three points. He was replaced by Jake Haener with two minutes to play.

The Broncos (4–3) return to the field next week to host the Carolina Panthers, while the reeling Saints (2–5), coming off five straight losses, visit the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8.