Leon Lett Thanksgiving and Super Bowl Blunders

On Thanksgiving Day in 1993, during a rare snow and sleet storm in Dallas, the Cowboys were leading the Miami Dolphins 14-13 with mere seconds remaining in the game. The Dolphins attempted a 41-yard field goal to take the lead but the kick was blocked. While most of his teammates began celebrating, Lett attempted to recover the ball but slipped on the ice as he attempted to pick the football up, and Miami recovered the "muff" on the Dallas one yard line. There was no need to pick up the ball as the Cowboys would have automatically received possession and could have simply run out the clock. By touching the ball and then failing to hold onto it, Lett enabled the Dolphins to take possession and then try another field goal. This second attempt was successful and the Dolphins won the game 16-14.

Late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXVII, Lett made a play by recovering a fumble on Buffalo's 45 yard line and proceeded to run it back towards the endzone. When he reached the 10 yard line, he started to slow, and held the ball out as he approached the goal line. However, he didn't see a hustling Don Beebe, who was chasing him down from behind. Beebe knocked the ball out of Lett's outstretched hand just before he crossed the goal line, which sent the ball through the endzone, and resulted in a touchback that cost Lett his touchdown. Lett later said he was watching the Jumbotron, and trying to do a "Michael Irvin", where he put the ball out across the goal line.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• american
• football
• blunder
• error
• fumble
• owned

[strokemybeard]

Has anyone seen the thing Snickers did in response to this? It's pretty funny.

[Adler4404]

I believe that's what happens when it gets below freezing and there is precipitation.

[piperthirtytwo]

As a 49er fan, after last night's NFC Championship Game, I now finally understand how Cowboy's fans feel.  Even though I hate the Cowboys and was cheering very hard and laughing at this play. Now I know how it feels and it feels horrible. I am very sad.

[plntntvzn]

@greek1237 Finally somebody else knows the truth. Leon broke free of a block to intercept that pass, whch helped put Cowboys up 14-3. Lett was so darn quick off the ball, & he would somehow beat double teams by rolling his hips while extending his arms out. On that infamous Buffalo play in SB 27,Leon actually did an incredible job of evading a block at the beginning of the play or he would not have been able to pick up that fumble in the first place.The next SB,Lett forced fumble to win the game

[tintin4561]

lett is like the kwame brown on crack cocaine of football

[greek1237]

I like Leon Lett, A shame he will be recall for the plays mention here, but what about the great blocks and the int he but on Green Bay's Farve that help the Cowboys win the 1996 NFC championship? He should be recall for that, not the 2 mention here. He was one of the Cowboys best players we had.

[noladol]

@CallMeKoga Touchback.

[quiefmaster1234]

but.. he was literally hungry....

[NWGROCKMUFFIN]

the drive, the catch and...leon

[NWGROCKMUFFIN]

@strokemybeard yeah lol

[CallMeKoga]

what happens when the ball gets knocked out during a run into the end zone...is the ball placed where it was knocked out? If so, then what's the big deal, you have emmit smith, and michael irving

[rikohp23]

Wait a minute but wouldnt the football still be eligible for recovery since it was touched as it was being blocked by the defensive team???