The Colts’ attempt to fool the New England Patriots with a trick play Sunday night only made Indianapolis look foolish.

It might not have been the dumbest call or execution of a play in NFL history, but it certainly ranks down there in the litany of failures.

And there are many to rival this one, in which Indianapolis, trailing by six points in the third quarter, lined up nine players to the right, with only the snapper (wideout Griff Whalen) and the quarterback (safety Colt Anderson) on the left.

New England wasn’t tricked a bit, and the plan was supposed to include taking a delay of game. Instead, Anderson took a premature snap and was at the bottom of a tidal wave of Patriots tacklers.

Game over, basically.

“The whole idea there was on fourth-and-3 or less, shift our alignment to where you either catch them misaligned, they try to sub some people in, catch them with 12 men on the field, and if you get a certain look, you can make a play,” Coach Chuck Pagano said. “Alignment-wise, we weren’t lined up correctly, and then there was a communication problem on the snap and I take responsibility for that.”

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Who gets the blame on some of the other classic Bozo plays in NFL annals?

JIM MARSHALL: One of the most durable players ever, the defensive end is best known for going the wrong way with a fumble. The Vikings standout recovered a fumble by the 49ers’ Billy Kilmer and, disoriented, returned it 66 yards to his own end zone. Safety, San Francisco.

GARO YEPREMIAN: Perhaps the most infamous Super Bowl play, Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian had his attempt blocked by Washington in 1973. He picked up the ball, made a clumsy attempt to pass and it flew to Mike Bass of Washington, who went 49 yards for a TD. But Miami held on to end a perfect year.

JOE PISARCIK, JOHN MCVAY, BOB GIBSON: The “Miracle at the Meadowlands,” when Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik followed the orders of Coach John McVay and offensive coordinator Bob Gibson to hand off Larry Csonka when kneeling would have clinched a win over Philadelphia. Pisarcik’s attempt never got to Csonka, hit the turf, and Herman Edwards picked up the ball and ran into the end zone for the winning points.

LEON LETT: Late in Dallas’ 1993 Super Bowl rout of Buffalo, Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett picked up a fumble and headed down the right sideline. As he neared the goal line he began showboating, sticking the ball out. Don Beebe of the Bills caught him and knocked the ball out for a touchback.

LEON LETT (PART II): Miami was trying a field goal in the snow in Dallas on Thanksgiving – seriously. The ball was blocked and sat untouched. Until Lett, despite claiming he knew it was a dead ball if no one touched it, tried to pounce on it. It slid away, the Dolphins recovered and kicked the winning field goal. Lett called it “brain freeze.”

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MARK SANCHEZ: New England could give thanks to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez on Thanksgiving night when his running back missed a handoff, so Sanchez took off and smacked into the butt of guard Brandon Moore. Out came the ball, scooped up by defensive back Steve Gregory, who trotted to the end zone.

DWAYNE RUDD: Cleveland linebacker Dwayne Rudd blew his top and cost the Browns a win. Rudd was penalized for ripping off his helmet and flinging it in celebration in the final seconds against Kansas City. That extended the opening game in 2002 and the Chiefs won.

JIM SCHWARTZ: What is it about Thanksgiving? Jim Schwartz threw his red flag on a play that already would be reviewed, Justin Forsett’s 81-yard TD run for Houston. But because the Lions’ coach challenged – considered a delay of the next snap by league rules – the replay official couldn’t initiate a review. What should have been an 8-yard rush because Forsett was down by contact turned into a touchdown. Detroit lost in overtime.

PETE CARROLL, DARRELL BEVELL: A “Beast” of a botched play. With perhaps the best short-yardage back in football, Marshawn Lynch, on the field, the Seahawks threw on second down from the Patriots’ 1. The ball was intercepted to clinch New England’s Super Bowl victory. Carroll was the head coach, Bevell the offensive coordinator.


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