The plays that have defined the NFL season so far

Drew Brees' spin move to send Falcons game into overtime 

2018 has featured so many great plays from Brees, who could be on his way to his first regular-season MVP award. But surprisingly, this run from the 39-year-old may best define the Saints' season.

New Orleans lost at home in Week 1 to Tampa Bay and needed overtime to beat Cleveland the following Sunday. To avoid falling to 1-2, Brees outdueled Matt Ryan in a classic Saints-Falcons shootout.

This run from Brees helped send the game into overtime:

Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to complete comeback against Bears 

The 2018 season isn’t going to be one Packers fans will want to remember. But when they do, Week 1 will be their favorite memory.

Rodgers appeared to have sustained a major knee injury, but not only did he return, but he also led Green Bay back from a 17-point deficit to win. This touchdown to Randall Cobb completed the comeback:

Michael Thomas touchdown catch to beat Rams 

The Saints-Rams Week 9 matchup could end up deciding home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Los Angeles rallied from a 21-point deficit to tie the game at 35.

But the Saints kicked a field goal to retake the lead, and then on their next possession, Michael Thomas sealed the victory with a 72-yard touchdown.

His celebration after the score ensured fans would remember this play for a long time:

Clay Matthews gives Vikings new life with controversial penalty 

In the first three weeks of the season, this is all anyone wanted to discuss. The new roughing the passer body-weight rule gave everyone headaches in September but especially Matthews and the Packers.

Officials called him multiple times for this foul, but this one was the most costly. On this play, Kirk Cousins threw an interception, but with Matthews’ penalty, the Vikings had new life and used it to rally back for a tie at Lambeau Field.

Jared Goff touchdown pass to beat Chiefs 

Through three quarters of the regular season, the Chiefs-Rams Monday Night showdown has been the game of the year. Realistically, there were about 10 plays that night that could have made our list.

But the game-winner is the most obvious choice. Jared Goff found tight end Gerald Everett for the go-ahead score with under two minutes in regulation. That touchdown held up, as the Rams won, 54-51:

Drew Brees yardage record 

As far as individual milestones go, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Brees surpassed Peyton Manning for the most passing yards in NFL history on this pass against Washington Week 5 on Monday night:

Chicago Bears Special 

Since the Philly Special played an intricate role in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory in February, every team seems to have tried some variation of this play.

The Bears ran their version to perfection during the final seconds of regulation in Week 13 against the Giants. Although they lost in overtime, Tarik Cohen’s touchdown pass helped force the extra session.

Graham Gano 63-yard field goal to beat Giants 

With Carolina on a four-game losing streak, this play is dropping in importance. But still, it was a turning point for both of these squads.

The Giants were clinging to a one-point lead and appeared about to claim a key early-season road victory. Instead, the Panthers moved into fringe field-goal range, and Gano handed New York a devastating loss after nailing a 63-yard field goal.

This field goal helped Carolina start 6-2, and at this point, if not for this kick, the Panthers would be under .500. The Giants have only four wins this year, but their season would have felt much differently early had this kick not gone through the uprights.

Chargers return punt for touchdown in comeback against Steelers 

This matchup could prove to be a playoff preview. If these teams meet again in Pittsburgh, the Chargers will have a ton of confidence at Heinz Field, and Los Angeles can credit its comeback Sunday night in large part to the third-quarter punt return for a touchdown.

The Steelers dominated the first half, building a 16-point lead, but that evaporated quickly with a Philip Rivers touchdown pass, this punt return and two two-point conversions.

Los Angeles came back to win, 33-30. The Chargers victory keeps two teams in both the AFC North and West divisions within a game or less of each other heading into Week 14.

DeAndre Hopkins sets up game-winning field goal vs. Cowboys 

Houston started the season 0-3, and while the Texans did beat the Indianapolis Colts a week before their showdown with the Dallas Cowboys, losing to Dallas and falling to 1-4 would have put Houston in a big hole at the beginning of October.

Instead, thanks to this incredible play from Hopkins, the Texans beat the Cowboys in overtime and own the longest winning streak in the league (nine):

Russell Wilson throws touchdown to keep Seahawks alive against Panthers 

Again, Carolina has lost four straight, but this play could still prove to be huge. On fourth down and trailing by seven late in the fourth quarter, Wilson completed this touchdown to David Moore to tie the game.

Seattle won on a Sebastian Janikowski field goal at the end of regulation. The loss is the only one Carolina has sustained at home, and the result could prove to be extremely important as both teams battle for an NFC wild-card spot.

Antonio Brown scores to beat Bengals

Similar to the Gano field goal, the Steelers’ two-game losing streak has the importance of this play that has kept them from dropping.

Even still, this one marked an early-season turning point for both teams. Brown’s touchdown gave Pittsburgh its second victory in what would turn into a six-game winning streak.

Cincinnati started 4-1, but since this loss, the Bengals are 1-6.

Khalil Mack returns interception for touchdown vs. Packers 

Aaron Donald will probably win Defensive Player of the Year, but Mack practically took home the trophy at the end of September. That was in large part because of his incredible first half at Green Bay in Week 1.

In that half, Mack recovered a fumble and returned an interception for a touchdown. Although the Bears lost, his play set the tone for what was to come this year for Chicago’s defense.

Alex Smith breaks leg 

Ugly plays can define a season too, and this one certainly does. Washington was already dealing with multiple injuries on offense before this play, and then in Week 11, the Redskins lost their quarterback for the season.

Including that game, Washington is 0-3 since Smith left. After an injury to Colt McCoy in Week 13, the Redskins’ playoff chances are now in the hands of Mark Sanchez.