The age-old phrase, history is written by the victors, does not only apply to world history, but also the history of sports. If you ask a sports fan about a certain playoff game or series, they will most likely tell you about a memorable moment from the winning team or an infamous mistake made by the losers. What is forgotten by most fans are moments by the losing team that would have been immortalized had they been victorious.
Joe Mixon to Tee Higgins in Super Bowl LVI
When you think about non-quarterbacks throwing passing touchdowns in the big game, you usually think of two passes: The Philly Special and Antwaan Randle El’s touchdown pass to Hines Ward in Super Bowl 40. The first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass and lose the Super Bowl is not discussed as much. With the Bengals down 10 points midway through the second quarter of Super Bowl 56, they needed to get deep into their bag of tricks. On second and goal, Joe Burrow pitched the ball to Joe Mixon and the defenders converged on the running back. Mixon faked it like he was going to run it and then moved the ball to his throwing hand where he found Higgins in the back of the endzone. The play completely fooled the defense and gave the Bengals some life going into the second half. The Bengals could not get any good offense going in the second half outside of a monster Tee Higgins 75-yard touchdown. The Rams scored late in the fourth quarter and Cincinnati would turn the ball over on downs to end the game, sending this brilliant trick play to irrelevancy.
Julio Jones’ incredible sideline catch in Super Bowl LI
If the Falcons hung on to Super Bowl 51, this catch would be right next to David Tyree and Mario Manningham as one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history. With less than five minutes left in regulation and the Falcons clinging to an eight-point lead, Matt Ryan let a pass fly toward the sidelines in the direction of Jones. The future hall of famer got his hands on it, slightly bobbled it, then hauled it in while somehow toe-tapping his feet in bounds. This catch put the Falcons at the 22 yard-line and a field goal would have iced the game. Unfortunately for Atlanta, a sack followed by a holding penalty forced them out of field goal range and the rest is history. One iconic Julian Edelman catch and the greatest comeback in NFL history later, this play was almost erased from existence. A Falcons win in Super Bowl 51 would have cemented both Jones and Ryan as legends of the sport, and this catch would be replayed to this day. Instead, it sits at under 500,000 views on YouTube and all that is remembered is the 28-3 lead that Atlanta blew on that fateful night.
Russell Wilson leads a beautiful two-minute drill in Super Bowl XLIX
Everyone remembers how defeated Russell Wilson looked after throwing the game-ending interception to Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl 49. What is not remembered is the five play, 80-yard drive that the quarterback led the Seahawks on before the end of the first half. After Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski connected for their first and only Super Bowl touchdown together in a Patriots uniform, it seemed like Seattle was content with running the clock out and going into halftime down 14-7. Once Robert Turbin broke out a 19-yard run on the first play of the drive, the wheels began to turn for Seattle’s offense. Wilson scrambled for a quick 17 yards and, two plays later, found Ricardo Lockette for a 23-yard gain with additional yardage, thanks to a facemask penalty. On the next play, Wilson fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Matthews to tie the game up right before halftime. Wilson’s completions in Super Bowl 49 went for an average of 20 yards per reception. It was an unbelievable game from the former Seahawk, only remembered by one of the worst play calls in football history.
Larry Fitzgerald’s 64-yard touchdown scamper late in Super Bowl XLIII
If this catch and run had been the last points scored of Super Bowl 43, Larry Fitzgerald would have run away with Super Bowl MVP for the Cardinals that night. With under three minutes left in the game and the Steelers holding a four-point lead, Kurt Warner found Fitzgerald on a slant pass. Fitzgerald sprinted 50-yards in less than 10 seconds to put Arizona in front. This would all be shortly forgotten as Santonio Holmes made the greatest touchdown reception in Super Bowl history minutes later. Pittsburgh quickly drove down the field, and Ben Roethlisberger hooked up with Holmes for this magnificent game winning catch that will live forever. This was the one and only Super Bowl appearance for Fitzgerald, and a Super Bowl MVP on his resume would draw more attention to making his case as one of the greatest receivers ever.