Amazing grabs don’t come along very often. With 9:58 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s contest between the Commanders and Denver Broncos, Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota sought out receiver Treylon Burks in the back right-hand corner of the end zone.
Broncos cornerback Riley Moss provided tight defense. It was inconsequential. Burks elevated his right hand and snatched the ball from the air. He secured it against his body with that right hand and maintained control as he fell backward onto the field with Moss draped over him.
Touchdown, Commanders, on a phenomenal catch that you might not see equaled this entire NFL year. It was Burks’ only reception of the game, which concluded with a 27-26 overtime triumph for the Broncos.
Nonetheless, as incredible as the reception was, it wasn’t entirely unprecedented.
Treylon Burks makes a spectacular, one-handed touchdown catch against the Broncos.
(Patrick Smith via Getty Images)
On Nov. 23, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. amazed the football community with a one-handed, 43-yard touchdown snag from Eli Manning, an act rarely witnessed before. That catch — also featured in prime time on “Sunday Night Football” — has persisted as a prominent highlight in NFL history.
Ten years and one week after his own memorable grab, Beckham expressed his approval for Burks on social media Sunday night, noting that Burks wears the same No. 13 jersey.
Through a combination of enhanced skill, encouragement from Beckham, and advancements in grip-enhancing glove technology, players have managed similar, though perhaps slightly less impressive, catches than Beckham’s.
Very few, if any, surpassed the quality of Burks’ catch on Sunday night.
