Craziest moments in NFL history: Beebe swats ball from showboating Lett
We're having difficulty containing our excitement for the start of the NFL season. In an effort to cope with that delirium, each day until the Sept. 4 kickoff, The Buzzer will post about one crazy moment in NFL history. "Crazy" is subjective, so what does that mean here? In this series we won't be highlighting the most outstanding plays or statistical feats -- but those plays that make your jaw drop and cause you to blurt out, "Holy $*%", that was crazy!"
It's the ultimate hustle play, a tiny bright spot in an otherwise forgettable Super Bowl loss.
In the fourth quarter of a Buffalo Bills drubbing at the hands of the mighty Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII, the Bills trailed 52-17, minutes from their third consecutive Super Bowl loss to another NFC East team. The Bills were playing for pride at this point, to just close the margin of victory a bit. Watch.
Watching the game live, television viewers didn't see Bills wide receiver Don Beebe on screen until the Cowboys' Leon Lett had reached the 41-yard line with a rougly 10-yard (or 30-foot) head start.
The small blue streak of Beebe narrowed the gap and continued his furious pursuit. The score wouldn't matter -- the game was effectively over -- but the 5-foot-11 wideout wouldn't countenance the hulking tackle's mocking. He finally caught Lett as he slowed down before paydirt.
The Cowboys hoisted the Lombardi trophy, but Beebe's effort on the play remains a lasting symbol of the tenet, "Don't Quit."
Incredibly, Lett goofed big time again in 1993, his Thanksgiving fumble blunder, the subject of a previous installment in this series.
