The NFL recently released its list of the greatest rushing plays of all time and clocking in at No. 1 is Marshawn Lynch’s famous “Beast Quake” run in the Wild Card game against the New Orleans Saints in the 2010-11 postseason that clinched the 41-36 victory for the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks finished the 2010 season with a 7-9 record, making them the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record. In addition, the Saints were the defending Super Bowl champions, making the outcome of this game one of the biggest upsets in the history of the league.
The Seahawks were at their own 33-yard line facing a second and 10. On the play, Lynch received a handoff and ran 67 yards for the game-deciding touchdown, breaking nine tackles on his way to the end zone. What made the play even more notable was the fact that during and after the run, the celebration of Seahawks fans was so loud that a seismograph picked up the noise. This, combined with Lynch’s nickname “Beast Mode,” gave the play the name “Beast Quake.” It is recognized as one of the most iconic plays in franchise history.
Lynch had a similar play in 2014 against the Cardinals that some dubbed Beast Quake 2.0. Even though Lynch is now retired, the original Beast Quake will be remembered by Seahawks fans as one of the most legendary plays in team history, and in all of Seattle sports.
