The Most Incredible Plays of the 2022 NFL Season

As the NFL prepares to head into the playoffs, it’s a good chance to reflect. Whether it’s an impossible reception, a blistering sack or a dazzling run-after-catch, there were some incredible plays this NFL season. So, using Next Gen Stats, we’ve compiled the most jaw-dropping plays of the 2022 NFL season, as told by the data itself.

Relive each one below.

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Amazing YAC: Jaylen Waddle – Week 16

84-Yard TD Reception

1st & 10 from MIA 16

Waddle picked up 70 Yards After Catch over expectation here against Green Bay – the most remarkable run-after-catch of any reception in the NFL this year. He also clocked a top speed of 21.68 MPH, good for the 6th-fastest speed clocked all season.

Fastest Sack: Anthony Nelson – Week 16

Time: 2.04 seconds

3rd & 6 in the Tampa red zone

A huge red zone turnover for Tampa here, who went on to win the game 19-16 in overtime. Anthony Nelson’s strip sack was the fastest recorded in the NFL this season.

Impossible Completion: Mac Jones to DeVante Parker – Week 3

25-Yard Reception

2nd & 10 from BAL 27

Completion chance: 7.4%

It was a stuttering year for New England quarterbacks, but Mac Jones’ connection with DeVante Parker was note of optimism. Parker’s 25-yard catch here was tied for the lowest completion chance of any reception in the NFL this year.

Impossible Completion: Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb – Week 11

27-Yard Reception

2nd & 3 from DAL 31

Completion chance: 7.4%

Also the most improbable catch of the year was this from CeeDee Lamb. He’s been their most important weapon in the air all year long and was targeted over 150 times this season. In fact, both this and the DeVante Parker catch were more improbable than any catch made last season too.

Longest Plays: Nyheim Hines – Week 18

96-Yard Kickoff Return

Total yards: 115.6

We’ve all seen this one. The most remarkable play in the most emotional circumstances, Nyheim Hines sent Buffalo into raptures after bringing this one home. It was the very first play since the Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest less than a week earlier. Goosebumps.

Remarkable Rushes: Lamar Jackson – Week 2

79-Yard Rushing TD

3rd & 2 from BAL 22

Yards Over Expected: 77

Lamar doing Lamar things. His early season form was MVP-worthy, exemplified here by an incredible rushing touchdown against Miami. His 77 yards over expected was the highest distance of any rushing play this season.

Amazing YAC: T.J. Hockenson – Week 4

81-Yard TD Reception

1st & 20 from DET 15

One of T.J. Hockenson’s parting gifts before leaving the Lions on a midseason trade to the Minnesota Vikings was this incredible catch-and-run. He picked up a staggering 75 yards after catch, 68 more than expected. The TE was a shrewd acquisition by the playoff-bound Vikings.

Fastest Sack: Brandon Jones – Week 1

Time: 2.13 seconds

2nd & 10 at NE 15

A strip sack for Brandon Jones and a touchdown for Melvin Ingram. The 2.13 seconds it took to get to Mac Jones was the second-fastest sack of the entire NFL season. As blistering as the Miami offense was early in the season, their defense was just as solid.

Impossible Completion: Jalen Hurts to DeVonta Smith – Week 3

45-Yard Reception

1st & 10 from PHI 39

Completion chance: 8.1%

What else can we say about the Philadelphia Eagles? According to Next Gen Stats, this completion had an air distance of 58.7 yards, and remains the longest completion of Jalen Hurts’ career. Their regular season will live long in the memory.

Fastest Speed: Kenneth Walker III – Week 7

74-Yard TD Rush

1st & 10 from SEA 26

Top Speed: 22.09 MPH

What a rookie season from Kenneth Walker, who has to be one of the favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He clocked a top speed of 22.09 MPH on this TD run, the second-highest speed recorded in the NFL in 2022.