2011 NFL Playoffs: What Will Be The Next Great Moment?

The NFL Playoffs have historically been ripe with classic and indelible moments. These plays are so unforgettable and so league-shattering that they are given cute nicknames like "The Immaculate Reception," "The Holly Roller," "The Music City Miracle," and "Eli Manning's Pass to David Tyree." Okay, that last one needs some work.

Who knows what great moments the 2011 NFL Playoffs will produce. That's why we thought it would be fun to throw out, and name, some possible treasured moments that MIGHT happen during the upcoming playoffs. On second thought, "might" is probably too strong of a word but if any of the stuff listed below does actually occur it would be very cool.

The Atlanta Astonishment
In a remarkable turn of events, Matt Ryan leads the Atlanta Falcons to a playoff victory. I know. I know. This article was supposed to be about things that can actually happen. Well, how about this: the Falcons lose but the Tony Gonzales catches three touchdown passes. That could definitely happen.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Ike Taylor makes a key interception thanks to William Gay's massive hit on a wide out. The Steelers' opponents demand a pass interference call but the officials rule that the ball touched a defender before Taylor's contacted the wide receiver thus making the play legal. In actuality, the ball only brushed Troy Polamalu's hair. The stadium nearly riots when replay doesn't overturn the call. In the offseason, the NFL thinks about changing the rule but decides against it after heavy lobbying from the makers of Head and Shoulders.

The Coughlin Countenance
Fans with New York Giants playoff tickets are stunned when they see head coach Tom Coughlin drop the perpetual "where in the hell is that keno girl" expression and replace it with a genuine, real-life smile. Brandon Jacobs was so shocked by Coughlin's grin that he fumbled the ball. Wait! That might have just been a fumble.

The Motown Miracle/Massacre
The Detroit Lions haven't won a playoff game in 20 years. So when they win their first one it's a bona fide miracle. The city reaches sheer elation when they win another and nirvana when they make it to the Super Bowl. Sadly, the Lions are the Lions and they find a way to blow it. After the loss, fans take their frustrations out by destroying what's left of Detroit Rock City. President Obama offers to give Detroit to Canada as a way of apologizing for American franchises always winning the Stanley Cup but the Canucks politely say "no thank you."

The Brees-Way
Drew Brees does it again. His late game heroics make Saints playoff ticketholders very happy. Now, Brees has rallied the Saints to victory numerous times so makes this occasion so special? Well, Brees did it on defense and special teams. The all-pro quarterback turns into a two-way player, like Chuck Bednarik, and is on the field for the entire game. He even leads his team in tackles with three. His stellar defensive play—correction—his defensive play keeps the opponents' point total to just 43. Then after the game, Brees helps builds a split-level for Habitat for Humanity, scoops chowder at a homeless shelter, and donates part of his liver to a dying Rhesus monkey.

The Brady Scores-A-Bunch
In an effort to cut out the middle man, coach Bill Belichick orders his defense off the field and into the showers. The maneuver allows the Patriots' opponents to score at will but Tom Brady and company more than keep up. If you were lucky enough to have Patriots playoff tickets for this affair, you saw the highest scoring game in NFL history. There is a caveat to this immortal event. It can only happen if the Pats play the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's because in the playoffs everything the Patriots do against the Steelers works.

The Hand-Off
There's the "The Catch," "The Tackle," 'The Fumble," and "The Drive" so why not "The Hand-Off." Late in the fourth quarter, with the Green Bay Packers leading by just 17, Aaron Rodgers hands the ball off to some unknown running back that coach Mike McCarthy drafted in the umpteenth round. The back takes the ball and scampers 22 yards for a touchdown. Okay, it's not that dramatic, and it's certainly not memorable, but we think the Packers are going to stroll to their fifth Super Bowl title. In the 2011 postseason, teams will be lucky to be down just 17 points in the fourth quarter to the vaunted Packers.

The Second Coming
With all the talk of "miracles," and with the Hail Mary being a common play for teams trailing at the end of games, it was only a matter of time until we got around to Mr. Tim Tebow. Okay, so here's what happens: the city of Denver is soaked by a torrential downpour. There's so much rain in such a short period of time that Mile High Stadium becomes flooded. The only player that can successfully run in the muck and mud is Tebow. Get it? He walks on water! Tebow leads the Broncos to a playoff victory but unfortunately none of his fans see it. They were all too busy "Tebowing" to watch the game.