Bad plays are something every fanbase has that’s etched into their history. The butt fumble, the Seahawks’ passing on the one-yard line, and Jakobi Meyers’ lateral are all sequences remembered to this day. Every season has its own share of terrible plays, and 2024 was no different. With that said, let’s dive into each club’s worst play from last year and see just how bad each team had it.
Some quick rules to go over. Decisions made outside of the play won’t be considered. So, Matt Eberflus forgetting to call a timeout on Thanksgiving will not be the selection for Chicago. Additionally, the effects of the play will be taken into account. For example, if a terrible sequence resulted in the team missing out on the playoffs, it will be picked over an equally or more embarrassing play that did not have a greater effect. And with those prefaces out of the way – let’s dive right in!
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray’s pick-six against the Seahawks
The score was just 7-3 in favor of Seattle prior to this back-breaking interception thrown by Kyler Murray. The Cardinals were marching down the field, eager to take the lead in the third quarter. On fourth down, however, when rolling out to his right, Murray overthrew a wide-open Michael Wilson. Cobe Bryant caught the ball and took it to the house.
Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins’ interception into triple coverage against the Chargers
Kirk Cousins threw the ball to the wrong team four times in his matchup against the Chargers. One of those picks was quite possibly among the worst passes in Cousins’ 13-year career. After being flushed out of the pocket, he lobbed a pass into a sea of defenders. Three Los Angeles players were surrounding his target when the ball arrived, instantly punishing Cousins for his puzzling mistake.
Baltimore Ravens: Mark Andrews’ dropped 2 2-point conversion
An obvious selection. The Ravens needed 8 points to keep their season alive. Lamar Jackson put the team on his back and orchestrated a near 2-minute 88-yard drive that ended with six points on the board. The only thing left was a 2-point conversion to tie the game. On the attempt, Jackson rolled out to his right and threw the ball to his sure-handed tight end. Andrews dropped it. Of course, we’ll never know if the Ravens’ defense would stop MVP Josh Allen from winning the game with 1:30 still left on the clock. Regardless, this one stings.
Buffalo Bills: Final fourth down against the Chiefs in the playoffs
Another season-ending play. The Bills were on the losing end of a 32-29 score. In order to secure the win, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo called an exotic blitz on fourth down. It worked, causing Josh Allen to heave the ball away. What really rubs salt in the wound is that the ball did hit Bills TE Dalton Kincaid in the hands. Had he caught it, Buffalo might have reached its first Super Bowl in the Josh Allen era.
Carolina Panthers: Xavier Legette’s drop against the Eagles
A drop that saved a Kentucky bettor’s 3.1 million-dollar wager. The Panthers were on the verge of completing the upset over the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles. However, Xavier Legette made an ill-timed rookie mistake. He was unable to keep a grasp of a dime from a resurging Bryce Young. Had the ball not hit the turf, Carolina would have kicked off to Philadelphia with the score being 23-22 in their favor, with just 46 seconds left on the clock.
Chicago Bears: The Washington Hail Mary
Chicago’s disaster of a season produced many options. An example is Week 2’s goal-line play in Indianapolis, where every lineman ended up on the ground immediately after the snap. Or, a blocked field goal in Week 9, which would have secured the win against their rivals in Green Bay. However, Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary to Noah Brown takes the cake. From Tyrique Stevenson’s argument with Washington fans to a complete botch of how to cover a Hail Mary, this play crushed supporters in the windy city.
Cincinnati Bengals: Pass interference on fourth and long against the Chiefs
Of the many lowlights produced by Cincinnati’s 2024 defense, a pass interference call from week 2 is the pick here. The Chiefs were trailing 25-23 late in the fourth quarter with 48 seconds on the clock. Following an illegal use of hands penalty by Chiefs left tackle Wanya Morris, 4th and 16 was upon them. Patrick Mahomes threw to a wide-open Rashee Rice, who was unable to hold on. However, just before the ball arrived, Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony collided with the receiver, drawing a penalty. The resulting automatic first down allowed Kansas City to give their home crowd the win.
Cleveland Browns: Jameis Winston’s second pick-six against the Broncos
Week 13 featured a classic Jameis Winston stat line. The ten-year vet logged 497 yards, 4 touchdowns, and three interceptions against Denver’s defense. Of those interceptions, two were taken back for a score, and one lost Cleveland the game. Winston and his offense needed to put three on the board to take the lead. However, Ja’Quan McMillian denied the victory, picking off the Browns QB and returning it for a touchdown.
Dallas Cowboys: Special teams blunder against the Bengals
Off the back of a blocked punt with both teams tied up at 20, the Cowboys’ special teams bailed the Bengals out. Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye touched the ball after the block, giving it back to Joe Burrow. Afterwards, this gaffe allowed the Bengals to score the go-ahead touchdown, snapping their three-game losing streak.
Denver Broncos: Blocked field goal against the Chiefs
Another special teams debacle. Sean Payton’s squad was a field goal away from giving Kansas City their first loss of the season. In the fourth quarter, rookie QB Bo Nix led a 13-play 43-yard drive all the way down to the KC 17, completely milking the clock. However, the 16-14 score would remain the same after the ball was snapped. Leo Chenal blocked Will Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt, securing the win at home.
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff’s pick-six against the Commanders in the playoffs
Detroit’s injury-riddled defense was already struggling against Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense. Jared Goff needed to respond after Terry McLaurin’s sprint for 58 yards and a touchdown made the score 17-14. Instead, he overthrew Tim Patrick over the middle, leading to Washington safety Quan Martin taking it to the house.
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s sack preventing pick-six against the Rams
Sometimes it’s better to take the sack. One of Jordan Love’s many chaotic interceptions from the 2024 season was against the Lions in week 9. Alex Anzalone slid through the Packers’ o-line and nearly brought Green Bay’s signal caller to the ground. Love, in an attempt to get the ball to Josh Jacobs, threw it straight into the outstretched arms of Lions safety Kerby Joseph. Joseph then proceeded to run 27 yards, putting six more points on the board for Detroit and ultimately leading them to the win.
Houston Texans: CJ Stroud’s underthrown ball against the Lions
Both quarterbacks combined for 7 interceptions in the Sunday night affair between Houston and Detroit. While 5 of those interceptions were thrown by Jared Goff, you could argue that CJ Stroud’s two picks were worse. Of the two turnovers Stroud committed, an underthrown deep shot to Tank Dell proved costly. Had the Texans scored there, the lead would be a near-insurmountable 17 points. Instead, the offense sputtered and didn’t score a single point in the second half, allowing Detroit to complete the comeback.
Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor’s drop before crossing the goal-line against the Broncos
This one mistake turned around the fates of both teams’ seasons. Indianapolis would be keeping a tight grip on the lead if Jonathan Taylor scored. However, Taylor’s fumble through the endzone flipped the game on its head. Denver proceeded to score 24 unanswered points, decimating whatever game plan Indy had. What makes things worse for the Colts is that this isn’t a mistake some rookie made. Instead, an All-Pro franchise cornerstone, whose error cost his team the win.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence’s safety against the Browns
When it comes to sequences that made fools of the Jaguars, everyone’s first thought is Saquon Barkley’s backwards hurdle. However, among the many terrible plays that Jacksonville saw throughout its 4-13 season, the worst one was the safety in the fourth quarter against Cleveland. The Jags were trailing 15-13 with less than 2 minutes left on the clock. After a great punt by Corey Bojorquez, they were pinned at their own two-yard line. Had Alex Wright not gotten through Jacksonville’s protection, they probably would not have given Deshaun Watson his only win of the season.
Kansas City Chiefs: Interception against the Chargers/Rashee Rice’s injury
While there were options from the Super Bowl for Kansas City, the ripple effect of this play may have contributed to their lackluster performance in the biggest game of the year. Following an overthrown pass by Patrick Mahomes, which resulted in a pick, Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice went in for the tackle. Unluckily for him, his QB did the same. Mahomes dived towards Kristian Fulton, but ended up colliding with his receiver instead. The hit kept Rice sidelined for the rest of the year, ending what was shaping up to be a very promising season.
Las Vegas Raiders: Botched snap against the Chiefs
Heartbreaking game, losing plays against Kansas City seem to be a theme here. Nevertheless, the match was all but won for the Raiders and Aidan O’Connell, who went ballistic and recorded 340 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. In the final minutes of the final quarter, the former fourth-rounder coordinated a drive that should have concluded with a game-winning field goal. The following sequence denied the Raider Nation of their victory. Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson botched the snap, and the Chiefs quickly pounced on the rock.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert’s overthrown interception against the Texans in the playoffs
Justin Herbert notably threw more interceptions in this game than he did during the entirety of the regular season. Each of those picks contributed to the Bolts’ disappointing playoff loss. The most consequential one, however, is probably the one that got taken back for six. This isn’t a case where the defender made a great play on the ball. Rather, Herbert overthrows a wide-open Ladd McConkey, resulting in the turnover.
Los Angeles Rams: Kyren Williams’ fumble against the Eagles in the playoffs
This game contains multiple options for the Rams’ selection. Jalen Carter’s sack on the last drive is a contender, or perhaps the resulting pass out of bounds by Matthew Stafford on fourth down. The truth is, a game-winning drive would likely not have even been necessary had Kyren Williams held onto the rock. The momentum was in LA’s favor following a safety, and they could have taken the lead with any score. Philly’s defensive line put a quick end to their hopes of a win and forced the fumble on Williams.
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion against the Bills
The game was already lost for Miami late in the third quarter. Their division rivals dominated in a lopsided affair. With the score at 31-10 in favor of Buffalo, the Fins hoped to at least put some points on the board in garbage time. As such, when faced with a fourth down, Tua Tagovailoa scrambled for the first down. However, instead of sliding down after moving the sticks, he dove headfirst into a Bills defender. Of course, following four weeks of rehab, he was able to return to the field and make good plays for his squad. Although for a man with a history of concussions, this play could have ended much worse.
Minnesota Vikings: Jared Verse’s scoop and score in the playoffs
The final nail in the coffin for Sam Darnold’s Minnesota tenure was Jared Verse’s fumble return for a touchdown in the postseason. The Vikings were down by a touchdown in the first round of the playoffs. Of course, with their offensive line struggling against LA’s pass rush, moving the ball was difficult. Nevertheless, they still had a chance to take the lead. That was until Akhello Witherspoon took Darnold down on a blitz, causing a fumble which was then taken to the house by Jared Verse.
New England Patriots: Kayshon Boutte’s drop turned interception against the Cardinals
Drake Maye’s rookie season was filled with ups and downs, both due to his mistakes and a below-average roster. This play highlights the shortcomings of his supporting cast. Trailing by thirteen, Maye had to put six on the board to keep the game close. Unfortunately, when he found Kayshon Boutte over the middle for a first down, his receiver gifted Arizona the ball. With the rock in his hands, Boutte proceeded to let go of it, leading it to fall straight into the arms of Sean Murphy Bunting.
New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr’s hospital ball to Chris Olave
New Orleans’ entire season collapsed due to injuries. Losing their number one receiver due to an ill-advised pass contributed heavily to that collapse. Carr’s overthrown ball over the middle led to Olave’s second concussion of the year. The fourth-year receiver was forced to miss the rest of his season following the hit.
New York Giants: 2-point conversion attempt against the Steelers
This two-point conversion attempt had shades of the Colts’ failed trick play on fourth down in 2015. Most of the protection lined up far on the left hash, with Malik Nabers behind them. Daniel Jones took the snap and quickly threw it to his rookie receiver, who dropped the ball after he immediately collided with Alex Highsmith the second the ball was snapped. The Giants didn’t seem to be on the same page, which can be seen from the men presumably tasked with protecting Nabers, allowing Highsmith to slide right through them.
New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams failed trick play against the Dolphins
Neither team had anything to lose in this affair. As such, the Jets tried to execute a trick play on first down. After giving Adams the ball on the end around, Rodgers caught a lateral from his wideout and looked to throw. The pressure came to him quickly, and he tossed it back to Adams, who proceeded to get decked by the Dolphins’ defense.
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley’s drop against the Falcons
No low is truly low when your team wins the Super Bowl, but the Eagles were under plenty of scrutiny following their loss to the Falcons. With one minute and forty-six seconds left in the game on third down, Kellen Moore elected to pass. Needless to say, the play would have worked if Barkley caught the ball. Instead, Kirk Cousins rallied his team to victory, scoring the game-winning touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Russel Wilson’s pick-six against the Ravens
Hope was reignited for Pittsburgh after Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Lamar Jackson’s pass. There was a lot on the line for the Steelers in this contest, namely, the title of division winner. With the pick, Pittsburgh’s offense simply needed to get into the end zone to tie the game. The ball did reach the endzone, just not in the way that the Steelers wanted it to. Marlon Humphrey matched Fitzpatrick’s play and did him one better, taking it all the way back for a score. The lead proved too much for Pittsburgh, and this play eventually lost them the division.
San Francisco 49ers: Ronnie Bell’s drop against the Rams
Brock Purdy’s contract extension raised some eyebrows this offseason, making people wonder whether he was worth the $53 million price tag. His 2024 productivity, despite the depleted supporting cast around him, should put those thoughts to rest. An example of his team letting him down is this crucial drop by Ronnie Bell late in a tied game. Mr. Irrelevant placed the ball perfectly, and a catch would have put the Niners within field goal range. Instead, they punted to Matthew Stafford, who proceeded to win the game.
Seattle Seahawks: Geno Smith’s pick-six against the Rams
This list has no shortage of pick-sixes, but it’s not every day that one goes the full length of the field. Rams safety Kamren Kinchens did just that, going 103 yards to give his team the lead. A big piece of this sequence that’s overlooked is Byron Young beating his man to pressure Geno Smith. That pressure forced Smith to make a throw that he regretted the second it left his hand.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Botched handoff in the playoffs against the Commanders
Tampa Bay hoped to chew the clock as much as they could and at least score a field goal to extend their lead in the fourth quarter. However, a mishap during the snap gave the ball right back to Washington. The Bucs hadn’t even gotten past their own 15 before Bobby Wagner pounced on the rock to give possession back to Jayden Daniels.
Tennessee Titans: Will Levis’ pick-six against the Bears
Take your pick for which bizarre Will Levis play should be highlighted here. Levis was sure to produce a memorable moment once every week, with very few of them putting his team in a positive light. The title of worst goes to the very first one of the season, against Chicago. After being unable to get a pass off when a blitz arrived, Levis carelessly threw the ball into the air while being brought down. Tyrique Stevenson caught the errant pass, taking it all the way.
Washington Commanders: Missed an extra point against the Cowboys
A prime example of how special teams can lose a game. Following a miracle play by Terry McLaurin, who went 86 yards, Washington was an extra point away from tying the game. Then, a low snap caused Austin Seibert to miss the kick wide left, losing the match for the Commanders.
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