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On Wednesday, the official NFL Twitter account dropped the top 10 plays from the Detroit LIons’ 2017 season. It’s a pretty solid montage of some of the best moments from last year. You should definitely check it out right now if you haven’t already:
The @Lions' Top 10 Plays of 2017! pic.twitter.com/p0NC934QUs
— NFL (@NFL) June 27, 2018
But I’m here to tell you that while this list is very enjoyable and it’s fun to relive these moments, this list is very, very wrong. As a connoisseur of lists, I think of myself as an expert at ranking, and this is, at best, a B- of a list. Let me break it down:
Plays forgotten
The Lions defense is somewhat absent from this list, which is to be expected because offense tends to make the better highlights. The list does include Nevin Lawson’s scoop-and-score, which is an okay play, but shouldn’t have made this list. Glover Quin’s diving interception against the Steelers also made the cut, and probably deservingly so, but there were at least three other defensive plays I would’ve ranked higher.
No. 1: Quin’s pick-six of Matt Ryan:
No. 2: Quandre Diggs is a human bullet:
What a hit by #Lions Quandre Diggs. Antonio Brown goes flying! pic.twitter.com/Dm4L4uEYBN
— Steve Frederick (@SportsGuyTweets) October 30, 2017
No. 3: Quin’s fourth-down stop at Green Bay:
there it is yeah that's filthy pic.twitter.com/JUlfgA7LuO
— Kellie Rowe (@kellierowe) November 7, 2017
Additionally, this list may be missing the best offensive play of the entire year. How in the hell did this list forget about The Philly Special before The Philly Special was a thing?
The order
Here is the order of the NFL’s list:
10. Kenny Golladay’s leaping TD vs. Cardinals
9. Golladay’s turning catch vs. Packers
8. Lawson’s scoop-and-score vs. Browns
7. Quin’s diving INT vs. Steelers
6. Marvin Jones Jr.’s spinning one-handed catch vs. Saints
5. Jones’ deep catch vs. Ravens with defender all over him
4. Jones’ leaping grab over Bears defender
3. Jamal Agnew punt return TD vs. Giants
2. Jones’ TD catch over two Vikings defenders
1. Golden Tate #YACKing’s all over Saints
Okay, two things: No. 8, No. 5, and No. 1 don’t even deserve to be on the list. That play by Tate was fairly routine for him, and they didn’t even show the best part which was obviously the touchdown celebration.
Here’s my (the correct) list:
10. Quin’s diving INT vs. Steelers
9. Quin’s pick-six vs. Cardinals
8. Golladay’s turning catch vs. Packers
7. Quandre Diggs’ bullet train tackle vs. Steelers
6. Jamal Agnew’s punt return TD vs. Giants
5. Marvin Jones Jr.’s spinning on-handed catch vs. Saints
4. Kenny Golladay’s leaping catch vs. Cardinals
3. Jones’ leaping grab over Bears defenders
2. Tate-to-Stafford trick play
1. Jones’ TD catch over two Vikings defenders
Debate.