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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
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Charles Curtis

Is the Patriots’ lateral to Chandler Jones the most boneheaded play in NFL history?

This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning WinSubscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Charles Curtis is filling in for Andy Nesbitt.

What was Jakobi Meyers thinking?

That was one of the many burning questions we all had about the play that led to the Las Vegas Raiders’ stunning game-winning touchdown: In a tie game with only a few seconds left, the New England Patriots decided to run a play instead of taking a knee to go to overtime or attempting a Hail Mary.

But then Jakobi Meyers somehow decided to lateral the ball back across the field to QB Mac Jones … and there was Raiders pass rusher Chandler Jones to grab it and run it back for a touchdown.

Let’s go beyond the fact that Jones stiff-arming Mac Jones into oblivion became a meme and take a different angle: Was this the most boneheaded play in NFL history?

The answer is: It’s up there.

First off, I’m taking out the Buttfumble here. We’re talking about play calls or decisions made (and I sort of get it, Meyers was in the heat of the moment and maybe didn’t think about the fact that it was a tie game, mistakes happen!). The Buttfumble was a delightful accident.

But there was that weird Colts trick play on a fumble that failed in 2015. The Miracle at the Meadowlands I. Dan Orlovsky stepping out of the back of the end zone. Frankly, I feel like this is in the pantheon with Leon Lett diving on a blocked kick to keep the snowy Dolphins game against the Cowboys alive.

So, there you go: It’s probably in the Mt. Rushmore of bonheaded plays. Oof.

Quick hits: Argentina wins! … Some weird calls against the Commanders … and more.

Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

— Seriously: That was an all-timer of a World Cup Final on Sunday. Lionel Messi is a World Cup champ, and Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s shimmy was amazing.

— This wasn’t pass interference on the Giants? And what the heck happened here with Terry McLaurin and the side judge before he was whistled for illegal formation?

The Jaguars could … make the playoffs?!

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