TAMPA, Fla.
On Sunday afternoon, a surprising turn of events unfolded as two NFL players, almost simultaneously, blocked field goal attempts, seized the ball, and dashed down the field for touchdowns.
For Jordan Davis of the reigning champion Eagles, a key block in the game’s dying moments transformed what looked like a sure loss against the Rams into a thrilling 33-26 win.
Meanwhile, Wil McDonald IV, donning his suit for the Jets—a team that, oddly enough, hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2010, when he was just 11—had an impressive 50-yard return after blocking a field goal with 1:49 still on the clock.
Sure enough, Baker Mayfield capitalized on that momentum, setting up former Jets kicker Chase McLaughlin to nail a 36-yard field goal, sealing a 29-27 victory for the Buccaneers against the struggling 0-3 Jets at Raymond James Stadium.
As the two-minute warning approached, the Buccaneers were leading 26-20 when McLaughlin attempted a 43-yard field goal. McDonald, showcasing raw enthusiasm, leaped between the long snapper and right guard, not only blocking the kick but sending the ball hurtling in the opposite direction.
He promptly picked up the loose ball right at the center of the Buccaneers’ iconic Pirate Helmet logo and didn’t slow down until reaching the end zone.
“It feels like a legendary play to me,” McDonald reflected, candid but humble. “I think it’s probably the best play I’ve ever made in my NFL career. I mean, at the end of the day, I helped the team secure a better position to win.”
This mark wasn’t just another score; it was the first time a blocked field goal resulted in a Jets touchdown since 1997, when Raymikens achieved a similar feat for the Raiders.
Garrett Wilson, a Jets receiver, chimed in post-game, commenting on McDonald’s sheer determination: “It’s pure will. When I say ‘Will,’ I mean really making that play happen through willpower.”
The Jets staff had prepared various strategies, listening to McDonald’s insights on where he thought the kick could get blocked—either from the edge or the middle. Earlier in the fourth quarter, he was just inches away from another block against McLaughlin’s 55-yard attempt, but a penalty ultimately thwarted that opportunity.
McDonald expressed a sense of growing confidence: “I felt like I was getting closer with each attempt.” His former teammate, Brace Hall, wasn’t shocked by the big play. Hall noted, “A truly amazing play by a rising player. I was pleased that he made that play to get us in a position to win, though I know it’s tough we lost.”
Wilson echoed Hall’s sentiment, emphasizing that McDonald’s remarkable moment deserved a fitting celebration. “At some point, when people make such plays, we’re going to finish this and celebrate it the right way because it was a hell of a play,” he said.
