NFL's biggest individual choke job

[sammymvpknight]

Who had the biggest choke job in NFL history? Realize that I'm only keeping it to players (not coaches), and I'm only keeping it to particular plays (not careers, or entire games). I'm only really looking for moments in time. I understand that people may have differing opinions of the term "choke". As guidance, I'm going to define "choke" as the player was overcome with emotion based on the magnitude of the situation which resulted in a mistake that they otherwise wouldn't make.

There are links below to the videos of each choke.
 

Az-Zahir Hakim’s muff, Saints vs Rams, 2000 NFC wild card game

Tony Romo’s botched snap, Cowboys vs Seahawks, 2007 NFC Wild Card

Gary Anderson’s missed FG, Vikings vs Falcons, 1998 NFC Championship Game

Stevie Johnson’s drop, Bills vs Steelers, 2010 Regular season

John Kasay’s kickoff out of bounds, Panthers vs Patriots, Super Bowl XXXVIII

Leon Lett’s fumble, Cowboys vs Dolphins, 1993 Regular season

Brett Favre’s INT, Saints vs Vikings, 2009 NFC Championship Game

John Carney’s missed PAT, Saints vs Jaguars, 2013 Regular season

Marcus Williams’ missed tackle, Saints vs Vikings, NFC division

Scott Norwood missed FG, Bills versus Giants, Super Bowl XXV

Jackie Smith dropped pass, Cowboys versus Steelers, Super Bowl XIII

Lin Elliott missed field goal, Chiefs versus Colts, 1996 AFC division

Earnest Byner’s fumble, Browns vs Broncos, 1987 AFC Championship game

Jim Marshall’s fumble recovery, Vikings versus 49ers, 1964 Regular season

Joe Pisarcik’s fumble, Giants versus Eagles, 1978 Regular season

Edited May 11, 2020 by sammymvpknight

[Apparition]

Where's Asante Samuel's dropped interception in SBXLII?

[sammymvpknight]

2 minutes ago, Starless said:

Where's Asante Samuel's dropped interception in SBXLII?

There are always going to be debatable ones. He was jumping in the air trying to high point the ball...if there is enough support I'll include it next round.

[MikeT14]

I ALWAYS can remember the Gary Andersen missed FG.

[DontTazeMeBro]

Gary Anderson off this list. Perfect all year.

But Billy Cundiff and Lee Evans 🤬🥺

[LeotheLion]

I don't know if I would have voted for it but Rahim Moore is up there for me. I voted for Marcus Williams because I was so stunned by it live. Romo came in 2nd for me.

Edited May 8, 2020 by LeotheLion

[Fidgit]

Whoever the punt returner was in the 2011 NFC championship game for the 49ers. Didn't he fumble like 2 or 3 times in the 4th quarter and overtime?

[vikingsrule]

Gary Anderson, perfect all year. Needed the FG to go up two scores, and missed it. 

[Blackstar12]

Surprised you didn’t put Mike Vanderjagt game tying missed FG in the 2005 Divisional against the Steelers. I think he lead all AFC kickers in FG%.

Also Nick Harper from the same game deserves a mention as well. If he cuts to the sideline it would've been game over and Colts probably win the Superbowl.

 

Edited May 9, 2020 by Blackstar12

[Chiefs_5627]

Norwood is the one that always comes to mind, even though the pressure had to be astronomical.

In Chiefs land we don't even say that other kicker's name on the list so he's up there from a personal standpoint. 3 #$&+@:* misses?! Geez!

HM: Burfict going for the killshot on AB instead of letting Cincy win their 1st playoff game in a couple decades.

[Johnny Nix]

1 minute ago, Chiefs_5627 said:

HM: Burfict going for the killshot on AB instead of letting Cincy win their 1st playoff game in a couple decades.

I thought for sure that was gonna be one. We had 3 alone in one game. 
1. Jeremy Hill fumbles the ball on the last series where all we had to do was kill the clock. 

2. Burfict takes off ABs head

3. Pac-Man draws a penalty getting in a refs face putting the Steelers in FG range

[Chiefs_5627]

1 minute ago, johndeere1707 said:

I thought for sure that was gonna be one. We had 3 alone in one game. 
1. Jeremy Hill fumbles the ball on the last series where all we had to do was kill the clock. 

2. Burfict takes off ABs head

3. Pac-Man draws a penalty getting in a refs face putting the Steelers in FG range

Dang, forgot about the other 2. Felt sick to my stomach when the flag came out.

Definitely can relate to those types of situations, we shot ourselves in the foot so many stinkin' times similarly. 

[FinSting]

What a list, brings back memories. 

I still can't believe Byner fumbled at the GD goal line like that. He almost took the Browns to the Super Bowl without spicy food. 

[JaguarCrazy2832]

So Brett Favre choked during Bounty Gate? 

[RandyMossIsBoss]

I always go back and forth on whether the Norwood FG miss was a "choke." Heart crushing because it had enough leg, but a 47 yard FG? That was a long FG for 1990. Between 1994 and 1996 (as far back as PFR's play finder goes) the conversion rate on 47 yard FGs was 57%, and there were only 37 attempts. It was likely even lower in 1990. Where as nowadays, kickers convert on 73% on such field goals and they are attempted regularly (148 such tries since 2017). Most of these chokes are routine/easy plays that were inexplicably screwed up. Norwood hitting that FG would have been one of the greater kicks of all time up to that point had he made it.