With all of the talk about safeties lately, it got us thinking about Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer, Troy Polamalu. He was a once in a life time talent. Someone that changed the game. From jumping snap counts, making clutch interceptions, or showing off his superhuman instinct to blow up offense’s plays, Polamalu’s career was a highlight reel we can all appreciate. Let's take a look at the three greatest plays in his career.
3. 2010 Strip Sack Steelers vs Ravens on Sunday Night Football
Picture it… The Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at the peak of its rivalry. The Ravens had already beaten the Steelers at Heinz Field earlier in the season. This game was for control of the AFC North. With a loss the Steelers would have zero chance at the Division title. With the Steelers offense struggling all night, the Ravens needing just a few more first downs to ice the game, the ever opportune Polamalu made it happen.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, you saw the Head and Shoulders insured hair creep up to the line of scrimmage. Almost simultaneously, the ball is snapped and Polamalu flew into the backfield untouched. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco tried to get the ball out to his right but was too late—Polamalu swiped the ball out of his grasp from his blind side. Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley would recover and the Steelers would score the go-ahead touchdown a few plays later.
Troy Polamalu strips Joe Flacco to give the Steelers a chance to come back and win
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2. The one-handed interception(s) 2008/2009
The one handed interceptions. They were incredible. You had to watch the replay 6-7 times before you even could start to understand how he got his finger tips under the ball on ones against Philadelphia, and San Diego. The one against Kenny Britt thats shown at the top of this story was insane too. He literally jumped out of the stadium and pulled it down with a couple of finger tips. Britt thought he was going to be heading into the end zone for an easy touchdown after Polamalu would miss the ball.
Troy Polamalu makes the one handed interception against San Diego in the snow / Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Polamalu intercepts Kevin Kolb of the Eagles
1. The 2008 AFC Championship Pick-6
4th quarter. Steelers up only 16-14. What a great story the Ravens had on their hands. A rookie head coach, a rookie quarterback and a chance to beat their arch rivals after being beaten by them twice in the regular season. With the Steelers ahead by only 2 points the Ravens had the ball with a chance to go down the field and take a late lead. It was 3rd and 13 with 4:40 to go. Flacco takes the snap, the rush comes in… throws it to his right… and as Jim Nantz commentates:
"Picked off Polamalu!
Polamalu going right, the field is open!
Aaron Smith shields Flacco, Polamalu takes it home!
Super Bowl 43! Pittsburgh might be bound for that thanks to number 43!"
Legendary.
Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Honorable Mention: Super Polamalu
It's still used on NFL promos to this day. In a goal to go situation Kerry Collins took the snap and Polamalu literally hurdled the line of scrimmage and landed on top of Collins for the sack. I don't believe it had ever happened in the NFL to that point. Not to level that Polamalu had taken it too. Surely defensive players had leaped over the line of scrimmage...but once the ball was snapped. Collins had no idea what hit him and was tackled instantly.
Credit: Steelers.com
What are some of your favorite moments from Troy Polamalu? Comment below!
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