Listening to 610 the other day, Josh Innes stated the JJ Watt INT return against the Bengals was one of the top 5 plays in Houston sports history. IIRC, Rich Lord corrected him, but it got me thinking. I think you can argue that Watt's play was Top 5 in Texan's history (#3 next to Cowboys win, Yates' winning TD/division clincher against the Bengals), but overall, just going back to when I started following Houston sports (1983ish?), I don't think Watt's play even cracks the top 20 or 30. Plays that I think rank above Watt's play(in no particular order): Rockets Sampson's playoff game winner against the Lakers in 86 Sam Cassell's game 3 dagger against Knicks in 94 Finals Mad Max's game 7 clincher against Knicks in 94 Finals 1994 Rockets championship - 1st title for City of Houston Robert Horry's game 1 winner against Spurs in 95 Conference Finals Hakeem destroys "MVP" Robinson in Game 2 of 95 Conference Finals Hakeem destroys Robinson again in Game 5 of 95 Conference Finals Mario Elie's "kiss of death" against Suns in 95 Conference Semi-Finals Hakeem's tip in wins Game 1 against Orlando in 95 NBA Finals Astros Mike Scott's division clinching no-hitter against SF in 86 97 Astros clinch first division title in 11 years at home against Cubs 99 Astros season ending win clinches division in style in last game at the Dome Jeff Kent's walk-off HR against Cards in 04 Playoffs Chris Burke's series clinching walk-off HR in the 18th against Braves in 05 Playoffs c Oilers/Texans Bud Adam takes Oilers and leaves town after 96 Season Texan's 1st win against Cowboys TJ Yates game winning TD pass to Walter to clinch Texans' first division title/playoff berth This is no insult to Watt's play. I just don't think it is top 5. So what are your top 20?
You really think so? See, IMO, Watt's INT helped us win and really turned the game in our favor, but it wasn't a game winner, last second play. Yates' play was, and the play clinched a division title and playoff berth for the 1st time.
Earl Campbell 81 yard TD run against Miami.... Mike Renfro's non-TD against the Steelers... Biggio's 3000th hit... Nolan Ryan's no-hitter... Oswalt clinching game after Pujol's HR the game before...
Yeah if you have Kent and Burke's home run, you HAVE to put in Oswalt. He dominated the Cards in Game 6 ...probably the only time I've ever seen Pujols look like a complete fool at the plate. It was a thing of beauty, and propelled the team to their first ever World Series.
yeah, but we would have lived to see another day if we lost that day. Watt's play really turned it around and really shook cincy. We lose that game and it's the end of the road and a huge disappointment. I think the difference in playoff format is huge and has to be taken into consideration. For that reason i wouldn't consider Horry's game winner a bigger play, since it was one game, the first one, and we probably would have still won the way Dream was playing. Also, are we talking about top moments or plays? Winning our first championship is a completely different thing that one specific play, IMO. I would say the only rockets' plays more important than Watt's play were: Dream blocks starks Dream's tip in Elie's kiss of death
My personal favorite... <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OnIy_NhcDFg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I have to agree with Bobrek Earls run against Miami was awesome and of course Rockets 1st championship. I was on Richmond at the Yucatan liquor stand, i kissed and hugged complete strangers but that night we were all friends, it was amazing and i was so proud of our Rockets!
It doesn't often get mentioned, but Dream's block of Starks' 3 pointer in Game 6 of the Finals is absolutely up there for me. I am convinced he would have drained that. EDIT: Good lookin out RV6
Honestly my favorite moment is kind of obscure: during the Oilers' 1993 season, when they started 1-4 and then went on an 11 game win streak; during their first Steelers game, Haywood took a pass over the middle from Moon and just flew for like 40 yards for a touchdown. It was refreshing because I think Cowher had taken over a year earlier and already kind of leap-frogged the Oilers. Also, beating the Niners at Candlestick; that was pretty much as close as I got to thinking they could win a Super Bowl. The Kansas City game was more depressing than the Buffalo game: because with the Buffalo game they already had a reputation for bad clock management after losing to Elway a year earlier, so there was kind of a morbid curiousity to see if they would lose. But I had no reason to think KC would be any kind of force that year so it was just a dagger to the heart.
Yeah, 2 point game, NY leading 3-2, and Starks was 5 of 8 from three......I was scared to death. And that moment completely ruined his confidence for game 7, so that makes it even more important imo.
The Yates TD than the Titans losing just a few minutes later is #1 for the Texans IMO. Watts play was amazing but there was still another half to play...
Earl Campbell should collect about 8 of these. Beginning with the MNF football 80yrd touchdown when he out ran the safety who had the angle. Just RUN,,,,don't cut back. Trust your speed. haha Next is when he exploded the Rams 165lb cornerback after predicting it before the game
