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The "Immacuate Reception" was on this date in 1972

Posted on 12/23/25 at 10:03 am
Posted by I-59 Tiger
Vestavia Hills, AL
Member since Sep 2003
36857 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 10:03 am
Immaculate Reception Oakland at Pittsburgh in the divisonal round of the AFC Playoffs. :12 left and Oakland led, 7-6.
Posted by SoFla Tideroller
South Florida
Member since Apr 2010
39178 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 10:11 am to
Those early 70s Steelers teams were really pedestrian on offense. The Raiduhs would have given the '72 Fins a better challenge.
Posted by CSinLC
Member since May 2018
2088 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 10:25 am to
I was watching. How great would it be to Christmas day playoff football?
Posted by OhioLSUfan
Columbus, OH
Member since Oct 2007
1917 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 12:00 pm to
I can’t imagine playoffs before Christmas
Posted by BigBrod81
Houma
Member since Sep 2010
22753 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 12:20 pm to
quote:

I can’t imagine playoffs before Christmas


14 game regular season back then. The 16 game schedule started in 1978.
Posted by EphesianArmor
Member since Mar 2025
2835 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 12:22 pm to
Still the most freaky game ending play in history. The Steelers shut down by the Raidahs without a TD to that point.

Posted by mizzoubuckeyeiowa
Member since Nov 2015
39022 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 1:04 pm to
Still illegal.
Posted by H-Town Tiger
Member since Nov 2003
60805 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 1:15 pm to
First year of the Wild Card games in 1978 were played on Christmas Eve, pretty fun
Posted by 4x4tiger
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2006
5204 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 2:00 pm to
The ball hit the ground but props to Harris for a great acting job
Posted by Ghost of Colby
Alberta, overlooking B.C.
Member since Jan 2009
15090 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 2:53 pm to
Thanks for the broadcast link. I’ve seen the original play dozens of times, but I don’t recall ever seeing those different replay angles.
Posted by H-Town Tiger
Member since Nov 2003
60805 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 3:03 pm to
Did it hit the ground? It was definitely an illegal catch since it wasn’t touched by the Raiders
Posted by BigD43
Member since Jun 2016
1305 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 7:43 pm to
quote:

Still illegal.



Timothy Gay, a physics professor and a longtime Raiders fan,[38] cited Fetkovich's work with approval in his book The Physics of Football and concluded that "the referees made the right call in the Immaculate Reception."
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
175892 posts
Posted on 12/23/25 at 8:18 pm to
How is there even any controversy about who deflected it? It’s clear as day it was deflected by the Raiders.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
19436 posts
Posted on 12/24/25 at 7:22 am to
quote:

It was definitely an illegal catch since it wasn’t touched by the Raiders



The ball was definitely deflected by #31, Jack Tatum if you watch the slow-motion replay.
Posted by pmacneworleans
Member since Dec 2013
2161 posts
Posted on 12/24/25 at 8:17 am to
Franco Harris was really a different type of guy. At that time, he didn't like driving to and from the games, so he used to walk/hitch hike. After that amazing game, the guy literally stuck out his thumb to get a ride back to his home.
Posted by BigD43
Member since Jun 2016
1305 posts
Posted on 12/24/25 at 12:25 pm to
quote:

How is there even any controversy about who deflected it? It’s clear as day it was deflected by the Raiders.



No, the Physicist said the ball did not touch the ground.
Posted by eddieray
Lafayette
Member since Mar 2006
19067 posts
Posted on 12/24/25 at 2:45 pm to
I was pulling for the Raiders
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