The National Football League did not disappoint in 2022, delivering a regular season that was filled with thrilling moments and will be forever etched in the minds of football fans everywhere. From game-winning touchdowns to incredible defensive plays, this past NFL season was loaded with countless highlights and plenty of memorable moments.
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With the NFL Playoffs now in full swing, we’ve taken a look back at the top plays from the 2022 NFL regular season to relive some of the most exciting football moments of the year. From the gridiron to the end zone, you’ll be on the edge of your seat as we recount the most impressive performances of the campaign. We’ve selected the best plays from a variety of positions, including offense, defense and special teams, to provide a well-rounded look at the best moments of the 2022 NFL season.
#1 – Josh Allen’s 98-Yard TD Pass to Gabe Davis
When backed up in their own team’s end zone, most NFL quarterbacks are just looking to gain a few easy yards and stay out of trouble. Josh Allen is not most quarterbacks. On this memorable play from Week 5 of the 2022 NFL season, Allen was trapped deep in the Bills end zone versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. On 3rd and 10 from the 2-yard line, he tossed a perfect pass to a streaking Gabe Davis and the speedy wide receiver was gone. Davis ran the rest of the way untouched for a 98-yard touchdown, which ended up being the longest completed pass of the 2022 NFL season.
#2 – Justin Jefferson’s One-Handed Catch in Comeback Win
The Vikings were struggling to keep up with the Bills in this Week 10 matchup and found themselves trailing 27-10 late in the third quarter. A pair of touchdowns narrowed the gap, but Minnesota still trailed by 4 with only two minutes left to play and were facing 4th and 18. Enter the NFL’s best wide receiver in 2022: Justin Jefferson. The former LSU wide-out ran a deep route and, despite being completely covered by the Bills CB Cam Lewis, somehow managed to climb the ladder and pull down a game-saving one-handed catch that left fans in awe. The Vikings went on to win the game in overtime and that Jefferson grab remains the top candidate for catch of the year.
#3 – Josh Jacobs 86-Yard Walk-Off Touchdown
It’s not often you get to see a walk-off touchdown in football, so you can imagine the reaction from fans when Josh Jacobs accomplished the feat by scampering 86 yards for the score. This Week 12 game between the Raiders and Seahawks was a back-and-forth affair with lead changes several, but the action came to a halt in overtime thanks to a huge play by the Las Vegas running back. Handed the ball on his own 14-yard line, Jacobs burst through a hole up the middle and that was all she wrote as the Seattle defenders couldn’t keep up with Jacobs’ breakaway speed and he took it the distance for the score. In addition to winning the game, that impressive play stands as the longest run of the entire NFL season.
#4 – Vikings Pull off Biggest Comeback in NFL History
The Vikings went an incredible 11-0 in one-possession games this season, but perhaps none were more exciting than their comeback win over the Colts in Week 15. Indianapolis came out ready to play in this one, dominating the Vikings in the first half and taking a 33-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. It was a whole other story in the second half, as Minnesota fought and clawed their way back into this game. The Vikings scored a total of five offensive touchdowns in the second half, while giving up just three points to their opponent. All of that was enough to force overtime, where Vikings kicker Greg Joseph sealed the game with a 40-yard field goal with only 3 seconds remaining on the clock. By overcoming a 33-point deficit and winning in extra time, Minnesota set the record for the largest comeback in NFL history.
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#5 – Bills Kick Return TD on First Play Following Hamlin Injury
In the NFL, sometimes you’ll see a football play that’s so perfectly scripted you would think it was part of a Hollywood movie script. Bills kick returner Nyheim Hines gave us one of these magical moments during his team’s regular season finale in Week 18. Tensions were high at leading up to kickoff, as Buffalo was still recovering from the previous week, when teammate Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac on the field. With fans unsure what to expect in the team’s first action following such a horrific injury, Hines gave them something to cheer about by taking the opening kickoff 96 yards for the score. The home crowd went into mass hysteria and gave NFL fans one of the most remarkable moments ever witnessed on a football field.
