Peyton Manning's Epic Fake Spike Attempt in 2001

Peyton Manning really thought he had everyone fooled with this one. Back in 2001, Manning and the Indianapolis Colts faced the New Orleans Saints, and just before halftime, he tried to pull off a brilliant fake spike near the end zone. He acted like he was stopping the clock, even unbuckling his chin strap and gesturing toward the officials before attempting to catch the defense off guard. For a moment, it looked like Manning had pulled off one of the smartest tricks in football. But there was one problem: the referee blew the whistle before the play could count. Manning continued into the end zone, but the touchdown was ruled dead, leaving Indianapolis to settle for a 52-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt to tie the game at 17–17. The Saints eventually won 34–20, but Manning's attempt remains a hilarious reminder that even an all-time great can't fool everyone.