In a crazy kickoff to the 2011 NFL Playoffs, these are the top five most memorable plays from Wild Card Weekend:

5. Andre Johnson Burns The Bengals

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is one of the league’s best receivers. Late in the third quarter of their home wildcard win against the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson broke the game wide open for the Texans with his 40-yard touchdown reception from rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. On the play, Johnson’s footwork was perfect on the stutter-step and go against Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, burning by him for a wide-open touchdown. The safety over the top couldn’t get there in time and it was an easy score for the Texans. This play is memorable because it came three plays after Bengals safety Chris Crocker dropped what would’ve been a pick-six that would’ve tied the game at 17. Instead, Johnson scored his first postseason touchdown in the Texans first franchise postseason game, demoralizing the Bengals on the play to go up 24-10. The Texans went on to win 31-10.
 
Watch the play here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yVGNfURJPE
 

4. Robert Meachem: Lions Can’t Reach Him

The New Orleans Saints were up 31-21 against the Detroit Lions midway through the fourth quarter. Facing a 2nd-and-17 on their own 44-yard line, Drew Brees threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Robert Meachem to put the game away 38-21. On the play, Meachem ran past Lions cornerback Alphonso Smith and Brees stepped up in the pocket and delivered a perfect pump fake to get safety Louis Delmas to bite on Adrian Arrington’s post route over the middle, which left Meachem all alone for the easy touchdown. This play is memorable because not only did it put the game away for the Saints, but it demonstrates the unbelievable execution by the Saints offense in the second half, where they scored a total of five touchdowns against the Lions defense after being down 14-10 at halftime. The Saints went on to win 45-28.
 
Watch the play here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6QVj1M3SY8
 

3. Hakeem Nicks' Giant Sprint

The New York Giants were nursing a 10-2 lead against the Atlanta Falcons late in the third quarter when Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks made the play of the game. Nicks was lined up wide to the left and ran a short drag route over the middle. Eli Manning hit him in stride and Nicks ran right up the middle through the Falcons defense, avoiding five Falcons defenders and sprinted past everyone for a 72-yard score that put the Giants up 17-2. This play is memorable because it shows just how one simple play can change the whole game. A simple drag route that should’ve gotten just past the first down marker turned into a long touchdown that put the Giants up by at least two scores, and propelled the Giants to their eventual 24-2 victory.

Watch the play here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJp6_loRFBo
 

2. J.J. Watt Does What?

With a little over a minute left before halftime in the Bengals-Texans playoff game, the score was tied at 10 and the Bengals offense was at their own 34-yard line trying to drive down the field and score before the end of the half. On first and ten, Texans rookie defensive end J.J. Watt made one of the most athletic plays you will ever see from a lineman. Watt was lined up over Bengals right guard Mike McGlynn, and used a swim move to try to rush outside of McGlynn, who was able to block him back. Watt then backpedaled, reading Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton’s eyes, and, once the ball was thrown, jumped up in the air with his hands up and picked the ball out of the air, returning it 29 yards for a touchdown. With Watt’s incredible play, he put the Texans up 17-10 and helped his team carry a lot of momentum into halftime. This play is memorable not only because it came at a crucial time, but because it was an amazing play by a defensive lineman, and it was by a rookie nonetheless. This play really helped turn the game around for the Texans, as the Bengals began to fall apart in the second half.
 
Watch the play here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4TlPEmXeSs
 

1. TebowTime In Overtime

All he does is win! Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, who had six comeback wins in the regular season, including three in overtime, once again delivered when it mattered most, but none were bigger than his game-winning, 80-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in the Wild Card Round at Mile High. On the play, Tebow was in the shotgun and Thomas was split wide to the left. Once Tebow got the snap, he gave a quick play-action fake to running back Willis McGahee, and the entire Steelers defense bit on the fake. Thomas ran a post route over the middle, getting a step ahead of cornerback Ike Taylor and safety Ryan Mundy, and Tebow hit him perfectly in stride. Thomas then secured the ball, stiff-armed Taylor and out ran him and Mundy for the game-winning touchdown as Mile High erupted in celebration. This play is memorable simply because of the fact it was a playoff game won on the first play of overtime. But what added more meaning to it is the fact that nobody gave Tebow and the Broncos a chance after losing their last three games and Tebow looking like the below average quarterback that everyone thought he was. And regardless of it being Tebow, or anyone else for that matter, it was a beautifully executed play. It was also the first playoff game to be played under the new overtime rules, but it didn’t even matter. This game was an instant classic with an ending that will be talked about for years to come.
 
Watch the play here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeVh0XnCwM8

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