Odell Beckham Jr. makes history

By
JOHN CLAYTON via <a href="http://espn.go.com/" title="ESPN" class="espn_sc_byline">ESPN </a>
via
November 24, 2014, 1:34 PM ET
3 min read

— -- Editor's note: Still bedazzled by New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr.'s amazing touchdown catch Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN.com taps senior writer John Clayton to put the feat into historical perspective.

Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Arizona, Feb. 3, 2008: Tyree extended both arms and outleaped New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison to make perhaps the biggest catch in the history of the NFL's biggest game. The 32-yard completion was only possible because Eli Manning escaped the grasp of defensive end Jarvis Green before chucking the ball downfield to Tyree. Four plays later, Manning connected with Plaxico Burress for the game-winning touchdown.

NFC Championship Game, San Francisco, Jan. 10, 1982: Clark made a leaping grab in the back of the end zone, beyond the reach of Cowboys cornerback Everson Walls, to send the 49ers to the Super Bowl for the first time. The 6-yard reception with less than a minute left in the game completed a length-of-the-field drive by Joe Montana & Co. that is considered one of the greatest in playoff history.

AFC divisional playoff, Pittsburgh, Dec. 23, 1972: It's perhaps the most memorable play in NFL history. Terry Bradshaw made a last-second, desperation throw that may or may not have deflected off Steelers halfback Frenchy Fuqua. (If the ball was touched by Fuqua without having been touched by Raiders safety Jack Tatum -- a matter of intense debate to this day -- the play should have been ruled illegal.) In any event, Harris kept moving to the football, grabbed it and dashed 60 yards to give the Steelers a date in the AFC title game against Miami.

Cowboys at Giants, East Rutherford, N.J., Nov. 23, 2014: Falling backward and being fouled from behind by Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, Beckham made perhaps the greatest regular-season catch in NFL history. He caught the 43-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning by reaching far up and behind his body to make a one-handed reception with his fingertips.

Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa, Florida, Feb. 1, 2009: Holmes extended both arms high overhead to reel in a pass from Ben Roethlisberger and somehow angled his body in order to keep his feet in bounds. The 6-yard touchdown catch gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals and their sixth Super Bowl ring.