Top 5 Must-See NFL Plays from Week 9 (Video)

These are the top five must-see plays from Week 9 in the NFL.

Sinch for Lynch

Oh sure, Beast Mode often entails Marshawn Lynch rumbling long distances. But the Seattle Seahawks running back also can do his best work in close quarters. Watch this 3-yard beauty of a touchdown run as Lynch puts his head down, barrels through Charles Woodson, Sio Moore and seemingly the rest of the Oakland Raiders defense for an impressive score. How’s that for a distraction?

Kick save 

Maybe in Brazil this is legal. But not in the NFL, Cairo Santos. The Kansas City Chiefs kicker is new to the league — and the country — and clearly wanted no part of tackling Percy Harvin as he returned a kickoff near the end of the first half Sunday. Santos saves a touchdown by executing a kick-tackle, which of course is illegal and earned him a penalty. Wait for the replay, which makes Santos’ move all the more clear and ridiculous.

Timely tackle

The Dallas Cowboys were trying to cut into a 14-10 Arizona Cardinals lead right at the end of the first half Sunday with a Dan Bailey field-goal attempt. But Bailey’s try was blocked by Jeremy Bethel and returned by Patrick Peterson, who appeared to have a great chance to score with no time showing on the clock before halftime. Peterson wasn’t getting tackled by Bailey or holder Chris Jones, but out of nowhere came Jason Witten, who made the touchdown-saving tackle. What a hustle play, even if the Cardinals won the game.

Gift-wrapped score

Sometimes you just get lucky. Check out Kansas City Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano, who was in no way shape or form the expected or intended receiver on this play. Quarterback Alex Smith was throwing a slant to Dwayne Bowe, but New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace deflected the pass back into the middle of the field. Fasano, who was on his can on the play, ended up with the ball in his hands, scoring a touchdown. Oh, and if you’re the Jets, sometimes (often?) you get unlucky.

Gronk is back

The New England Patriots knew they had to keep running up the score against the Denver Broncos to prevent Peyton Manning from leading a comeback, so they went to the well. Tom Brady looked for Rob Grokowski on this seam route, and watch how Gronk reaches back — with his robotic-looking arm — to make an insane one-handed catch at the goal line. On the play Brady notched his 62nd career 300-yard game, tying Brett Favre for 4th most all-time, and on the following play — a 1-yard TD catch by Gronk — he tied Randy Moss for as the second-fastest to 50 career TD receptions (59 games). 

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm