We’ve reached Day 43 in our countdown to the New Orleans Saints‘ season-opening road game with the Detroit Lions, which means this 43-yard Bobby Hebert touchdown pass is our pick for the Saints Play of the Day. We’ve gone all the way back to 1987 for this highlight, which you can see for yourself right here. It ended up being a pivotal moment in a matchup that was far too close for comfort.
Hebert checked down to his wide receiver Mike Jones on what should have been just a six-yard gain, but Jones slipped out of a tackle from 49ers cornerback Tim McKyer and took off down the sideline. The broadcast crew were calling it a touchdown before Jones even crossed the 25-yard line. He crossed the goal line a step before future Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott could get a hand on him. It gave New Orleans a shaky lead at 16-7 in the third quarter.
This was a clutch play by Jones and Hebert, and it ultimately made a difference in an game the Saints won 26-24 at Candlestick Park. But Morten Andersen and the Saints special teams unit deserved a lot of credit for the win. Andersen hit on four of five field goals from distances of 40, 27, 51, and 40 yards, missing a 41-yarder but nailing both of his extra point attempts. New Orleans also blocked a 49ers field goal which was recovered by Johnnie Poe and returned for 61 yards to stimy a second-half rally. By the end of the afternoon, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and a host of future Hall of Famers were left watching the Saints celebrate a win in their own home stadium. San Francisco ran this rivalry for a long time, which made upsets like this one that much sweeter.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Bobby Hebert’s 43-yard TD pass is the Saints Play of the Day
