Fifty days, folks. Fifty days until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2026 season, and you know what that means: we’re diving deep into the archives for a true gem, a play that still makes you grin like crazy. Our pick for the “Saints Play of the Day” for Day 50? It’s none other than Willie Snead IV’s absolutely bananas 50-yard touchdown pass to Tim Hightower!
When a Receiver Throws a Touchdown, Someone’s Eating Their Hat
Usually, you see wide receivers making insane catches, hauling in passes for scores. But Snead? He flipped the entire script on a trick play that left the Los Angeles Rams defense absolutely flat-footed. Picture it: Drew Brees, the maestro himself, tosses the ball to Snead. Instead of tucking it or looking to run, Snead immediately scans downfield. What does he see? A wide-open running back, Tim Hightower, just cruising past the Rams’ bewildered secondary! Snead unleashed a gorgeous throw, a perfect spiral, and Hightower was gone for 50 yards and a touchdown. You know Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was probably chewing on his hat in sheer frustration after that one. Who wouldn’t be?
Sure, the scoreboard already read 42-21 in New Orleans’ favor. Maybe head coach Sean Payton was getting a little too cute, pulling out a trick play like that in a blowout. But let’s be real: this wasn’t just any game. This was a longtime rival, the Rams, on the visiting sideline. And their coach? Oh man, he’d torched so many bridges with the Saints faithful. When you’ve got that kind of bad blood, when there’s that much history, a little extra flair, a little extra humiliation for the opponent, feels earned. So yeah, we’ll give Sean a pass on that one. The rivalry absolutely justified it.
This Ain’t No Ordinary Rivalry, It’s a Brawl That Keeps Delivering
And speaking of that rivalry, the drama between the Saints and the Rams did not, I repeat, *did not* end there. Not by a long shot! Think about it: after the Saints took down their old NFC West rivals in 2016, the Rams came back swinging in 2017, snatching a close rematch by a tight 26-20 score. Then in 2018, the Saints fought tooth and nail, outlasting the Rams in a fantastic 45-35 game. But then, the absolute gut punch: the Saints lost in what’s still talked about as the most controversial playoff game in recent memory. You know the one. It still boils the blood.
The hits just kept coming, didn’t they? L.A. came out on top on their home turf after Aaron Donald did the unthinkable and injured Drew Brees’ throwing hand in 2019. But guess what? Saints quarterback Andy Dalton had his day a few years later, absolutely getting the better of Matthew Stafford. These two teams have been trading blows ever since, and it’s been an absolute clinic in what a true, hard-nosed NFL rivalry looks like. This isn’t just football, it’s personal.
As we count down the final 50 days to the 2026 season opener, plays like Snead’s 50-yard bomb remind us that some matchups are just built different. These two teams are still throwing punches, and you know every time they line up, it’s going to be absolute fireworks. Bring on the next chapter!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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