Tag: Blocked kick

WATCH: Commanders rookie DE Joshua Pryor blocks Cowboys’ field goal

Rookie Joshua Pryor taking advantage of his opportunities.

The Dallas Cowboys need a win over the Washington Commanders in Sunday’s regular-season finale to clinch the NFC East title and the No. 2 overall seed.

The Commanders need to lose in order to secure the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Don’t tell the players on the field for Washington that it needs to lose.

After quarterback Sam Howell missed a wide-open Terry McLaurin for what would’ve been a touchdown, the Cowboys took possession of the football after Washington couldn’t convert on fourth down. Dallas drove the field for an easy touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.

On the first play of the next series, Commanders running Brian Robinson Jr. fumbled at the Washington 31-yard line. The Commanders defense holds, forcing a field goal attempt.

Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey hadn’t missed a kick all season. However, Washington rookie defensive end Joshua Pryor busts through the line to block Aubrey’s field goal. Defensive back Jace Whittaker, signed from the practice squad on Saturday, picked up the ball and returned it 66 yards.

Here’s the play.

Washington would score its first point when Howell found Robinson on a short touchdown pass to tie the game.

WATCH: Ten Best Blocked Kicks in Notre Dame History

Notre Dame has blocked their fair share of punts and field goals over the years. See the ten best right here!

What is the best sound effect you hear during a football game?

There are a ton of solid ones but one of my favorites will always be the double-thud of a blocked kick.

Notre Dame put together their list of the ten best blocked kicks in program history.  Before we discuss, simply enjoy the ten kicks first.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLnc5Lc2p4&w=560&h=315]

I wasn’t around for two or three, born too late to enjoy those live.  Watching the Crable block against Michigan is great because it’s the first of a pair of field goals to break Michigan’s hearts two years in a row, but the launching off of a teammate to do it looks so foreign compared to rule changes since.

The Glenn Earl block against Air Force was just silliness as well, especially considering he was supposed to be playing back, protecting against a fake.  For being far from a great the 2000 squad was incredibly fun, even if incredibly frustrating at times, too.

My favorite on the rest of the list may have to be when a young Reggie Brooks almost takes the ball from the punter himself.  He doesn’t have to lay out or anything, just tap the kick away, go run into the end zone to recover it and score.  Blanton’s against Utah is very much the same, it just happened to have a perfect hop for the scoop-and-score.

Fun list.