Vikings have announced they’re retiring Marcus Williams’s number
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) January 15, 2018
Well, that was excited.
Tonight’s Minnesota–New Orleans NFL divisional playoff game ended with this walk-off 61-yard TD pass from the Vikings’ Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs, but pay special attention the the whiffed tackle by No. 43 of the Saints, Marcus Williams:
.@STEFONDIGGS FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!! #SKOL #NOvsMIN #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/UAoNJ2NJ97
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2018
Here’s what could be one of the worst plays in NFL history from a different angle:
I would hate to be Marcus Williams after this play. #Vikings #NOvsMIN #Saints #NFL #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/En163o2K4y
— DM (@RockyMurphyCLE) January 15, 2018
Note that Williams took out his teammate as well:
Not only did Williams miss the tackle, in addition, he took out his teammate who had a chance to tackle Diggs
— Steve Forbes (@ForbesETSUhoops) January 15, 2018
From the other side:
Props to Keenum and Diggs and Vikings, but Saints’ Marcus Williams just made 1 of the worst non-plays in NFL playoff history. Didn’t knock ball down. Whiffed/dove on a phantom hit. Basically just got out of the way on 61-yd game-losing TD on final play. Just inexplicable. pic.twitter.com/unQLZfWcbv
— Richie Whitt (@richiewhitt) January 15, 2018
This is bad:
Prince’s ghost blocked him in the back, only explanation. #Vikings #Saints #NOvsMIN pic.twitter.com/66HK65zmR8
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) January 15, 2018
And it’s even worse in HD:
The #Vikings are moving on after a miracle whiff from Marcus Williams. pic.twitter.com/VFgmX526Hw
— 105.7FM The FAN (@1057FMTheFan) January 15, 2018
One theory is that Williams was trying to avoid a pass interference penalty:
Jimmy Johnson says Marcus Williams didn’t want to get flagged for interference.. Strahan compares Diggs to Rod Tidwell – Show me the Money!!
— sandy cannold (@SandyCannold) January 15, 2018
But the vast majority of the comments we’ve seen took issue with Williams for leading with his head instead of squaring up to make the tackle:
Head up young players. See what you hit. pic.twitter.com/EC1UdGQwTQ
— Robert Littal (@BSO) January 15, 2018
In a synopsis of what’s wrong with the #NFL, Marcus Williams, rather than using his brain, leads with his helmet, risking a concussion to the receiver and himself and costing his team a trip to the #NFC championship in the process. #NOvsMIN
— Paul Hampel (@phampel) January 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/djhomicide/status/952713978852945921
I've watched that play about 20x at this point. That might be worse than Rahim Moore. What the hell was he doing?
— Ian Kenyon (@IanKenyonNFL) January 15, 2018
Gonna be a long, long offseason for the rookie DB:
Marcus Williams will have to live with that forever. Yikes.
— Ste Hoare (@stehoare) January 15, 2018
Marcus Williams isn't the only one who forgot he had arms. Players don't wrap up anymore. Everyone wants to go for the hit. Only a matter of time before it cost someone.
— Shaun Powell (@Powell2daPeople) January 15, 2018
And he was having a really good season … until tonight:
Should be pointed out Marcus Williams was a big reason the Saints were even in that spot. Great rookie season, played extremely well against Carolina, had a game-swaying interception in the third quarter tonight.
— Brad Gagnon (@Brad_Gagnon) January 15, 2018
***