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The NFL is finally back in full swing and creating new, exciting moments each and every week. We all have our own top moments from our favorite teams. From Super Bowls to rivalry wins and everything in between, every football fan has signature moments that stick out to them. Recently I was able to sit down with Matthew Berry of NBC Sports NFL Coverage team and get his Top 10 favorite NFL moments.
As a long time fan of the Washington Commanders, many of Berry’s top moments involve Washington. That’s the great part about being a football fan, no two fan’s favorite moments are the same. Everyone’s favorites center around their team and the moments that made them fall in love with the game of football. With all of that being said, let’s get to Matthew Berry’s Top 10 Favorite NFL Moments. The moments are listed in no particular order.
Matthew Berry’s Top 10 Favorite NFL Moments
Sean Taylor’s Pro Bowl Hit on Brian Moorman
Let’s be honest, not many of us would have a favorite NFL moment involving the Pro Bowl. As of late, the Pro Bowl has become a glorified 7-on-7 scrimmage. But in the past, players used to take the Pro Bowl a lot more seriously. And no one exemplified that intensity better than Sean Taylor with his hit on Brian Moorman’s fake punt attempt.
In the 2006 Pro Bowl, the AFC called a fake punt on 4th & 7 that saw punter Brian Moorman try and run his way to a first down. Moorman’s attempt came close, but about a yard short of the line to gain Washington safety Sean Taylor came flying up and leveled Moorman shutting down his 1st Down bid. Sean Taylor was known as one of the hardest hitting safeties in the NFL, and this Pro Bowl moment sticks out as one of the biggest hits of his career.
Washington Wins Super Bowl XVII
While all the championships were obvious choices for Berry, the moment that stuck out first was John Riggins’ magical 43-yard TD run on 4th and 1 in Super Bowl XVII against the Dolphins. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the 4th Quarter and Washington trailing 17-13, John Riggins took a handoff on 4th and 1 to the left side, blew through the defensive front and scampered for a 43-yard touchdown. The TD gave Washington a 20-17 win and was the turning point in their 27-17 Super Bowl victory over the Miami Dolphins. That Super Bowl was the first of 3 for Washington.
Washington Wins Super Bowl XXII
The second of Washington’s three Super Bowls wasn’t quite as drama filled as the John Riggins run in 1982, but for fans of the team it was just as fun. The Broncos and John Elway were making their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance coming off a loss the previous year to the Giants. After the 1st Quarter, Washington fans were a little nervous trailing 10-0 to the Broncos but after the 2nd Quarter all those nerves were gone. Washington stormed back for a 35-point quarter and took a 35-10 lead into halftime en route to a 42-10 Super Bowl XXII victory.
Doug Williams took home Super Bowl MVP thanks to his record setting day going 18-29 with 340 Pass Yards and 4 Touchdowns. He was the first player in Super Bowl history to pass for 4 Touchdowns in a single quarter.
Washington Wins Super Bowl XXVI
The final of Washington’s three Super Bowls came in the 1992 Super Bowl against the Buffalo Bills. It was the second consecutive year the Bills made the Super Bowl, and both teams finished the regular season with the best records in their conferences with Buffalo going 13-3 and Washington going 14-2. The 1st Quarter was a scoreless, feeling out process but after that it was all Washington. Washington put up a 17-point 2nd Quarter and took a 17-0 lead into halftime.
From there the result was never really in doubt. Mark Rypien took home Super Bowl for Washington going 18-33 for 292 Yards and 2 TD, but the real heroes this time around was the Washington defense intercepting Bills QB Jim Kelly 4 times and sacking him 4 more. The last of Washington’s 3 Super Bowl wins ended with a 37-24 final score.
Robert Griffin III’s Rookie Season
While Robert Griffin III’s career was more of a flash in the pan thanks to unfortunate injury, his rookie season went down as not only one of the best in Washington history, but in NFL history as well. In 2012, Washington selected Griffin with the 2nd Overall pick behind Andrew Luck who went #1 to Indianapolis. Both QBs had phenomenal years and broke rookie records, but it was Griffin who took home rookie of the year.
RG3 took over a 5-11 Washington team and led them to a 10-6 record and an NFC East crown. RG3 threw for 3,200 Yards and 20 TD to just 5 INTs in addition to the NFL rookie rushing record for Quarterbacks at 815 yards. Unfortunately in Week 14, RG3 was slowed down due to a knee injury, then hurt it even worse in a playoff matchup at home against the Seahawks.
Griffin’s signature performance of his rookie campaign came in his first career game. He burst onto the scene Week 1 in the Superdome with a 40-32 upset win over the Saints. In that game, RG3 was 19-26 for 320 Pass Yards and 2 TD through the air while chipping in 42 Rush Yards in 9 Attempts on the ground. The game was the starting point for an unforgettable season for Washington, and one that fans won’t soon forget.
Super Bowl LI: Patriots 34, Falcons 28
Having been a top Fantasy Football and Gambling Analyst in the industry for several years, Berry has been fortunate enough to be in attendance at multiple Super Bowls. While he’s been to a whole lot of great ones, there’s one that stands out above the rest. Atlanta Falcons fans might want to shield their eyes.
In Super Bowl LI in Houston, the Atlanta Falcons and NFL MVP Matt Ryan held a 28-3 lead over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots with just under 9 minutes to play in the 3rd Quarter. Brady & the Pats were in search of their 5th Super Bowl, but appeared to have hit a brick wall in the Falcons.
Thanks to some 2nd Half heroics from Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, James White, a stout effort from the Patriots defense, and some poor clock management by Atlanta’s coaching staff New England was able to score 25-unanswered points and force overtime. Then on the opening drive of overtime, James White cliched the Patriots 5th Super Bowl with a two-yard TD run and a 34-28 win.
Dec. 15, 2013: Jamaal Charles Records 59.5 Fantasy Points
As you can expect with a fantasy football expert like Matthew Berry, big time fantasy performances are always memorable. In this particular effort, running back Jamaal Charles went OFF against the Chiefs’ rival Raiders to the tune of 215 total yards, 8 receptions, and 5 touchdowns. The Chiefs went on to thump the Raiders Oakland by a final score of 56-31. Charles’ 59.5 points is the highest fantasy point total (full-PPR) recorded since the year 2000. An unreal fantasy performance and unforgettable for anyone who had Charles on their team, or unfortunately enough was playing against him.
Sept. 5, 2013: Peyton Manning throws 7 TD Passes against Ravens
The 2012 season ended in heartbreak for Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. The Baltimore Ravens came into Denver and won a double overtime instant classic over the Broncos on their way to a Super Bowl win. So this Thursday night season opener was a chance for a little revenge for Denver and Peyton Manning took advantage. Manning went off against the defending Super Bowl champions throwing for not one, not two, but SEVEN touchdown passes in a 49-27 win at Mile High Stadium in their playoff rematch. Manning became the 6th player in NFL history to throw for 7 TDs in a game and the first since 1969.
Nov. 29, 2020: Tyreek Hill Records 57.9 Fantasy Points
The second Chiefs performance to appear on this list occured justs two seasons ago. The matchup against the Buccaneers ended up being a Super Bowl preview that didn’t go as well for Hill and Kansas City, but on this night Tyreek Hill was the best football player on the field by a longshot. Hill finished the night against Tampa Bay with 269 total yards, 13 receptions, and 3 touchdowns as the Chiefs picked up the road win 27-24. Hill recorded 7 catches, 203 receiving yards, and 2 TDs in the 1st Quarter alone! The Chiefs came away with the win, and so did most fantasy players that had Tyreek Hill on their squad.
Dec. 25, 2020: Alvin Kamara Records 56.2 Fantasy Points
On Christmas Day in 2020, Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed for an NFL record 6 touchdowns in a 52-33 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Kamara carried the Saints and in addition to those 6 rushing touchdowns padded his fantasy total with 155 rush yards and 3 receptions for 17 yards. Kamara spread his touchdowns out equally with 3 in the 1st Half and 3 in the 2nd Half, and put an exclamation point on the New Orleans win with 2 TDs in the 4th Quarter. Kamara’s 6 rushing TDs are still tied for the NFL record today, and his 56.2 fantasy points is the 3rd highest total since the year 2000.