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When strategic play design hits a snarl

Take a look at each in-depth breakdown and then vote for your favorite nuttiest play of Week 9 at the bottom of the right column.

Hatching up a big surprise

The situation: Down 13-6 with 1:45 left in the third quarter, the Seahawks line up for a first-and-10 play at the Cowboys' 41-yard line.

Things got a bit nutty when ...Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson's pass bounces off the arm of Sean Lissemore and into the arms of Jason Hatcher, who returns the gift pick 16 yards for a Cowboys first down. The turnover set up a Dallas touchdown, with Tony Romo hitting Laurent Robinson for a six-yard score early in the fourth quarter.


Painter passes twice

The situation: Down 14-0 with 2:29 left in the first quarter, the Colts face a second-and-11 situation from their own 19-yard line.

Things got a bit nutty when ... A pass attempt by Colts quarterback Curtis Painter is deflected by Falcons defensive end Lawrence Sidbury. The ball bounces back into Painter's hands, and the quarterback attempts a second pass to running back Donald Brown. The pass is incomplete, but adding to the embarrassment is Painter being penalized for an illegal forward pass (a QB cannot attempt a second pass on the same play).


Trying to turn nothing into something

The situation: Down 14-3 with 10:05 left in the third quarter, the Chiefs line up for a 52-yard field goal attempt.

Things got a bit nutty when ... Holder/punter Dustin Colquitt fumbles the snap and takes matters into his own hands, running straight into the on-rushing Dolphins defenders and then fumbling the ball. The play, in a way, summed up in a nutshell the Chiefs' day as the Dolphins finally secured their first win of the season.


Big D block party

The situation: Down 13-6 with 4:50 left in the third quarter, the Seahawks line up for a 41-yard field goal attempt.

Things got a bit nutty when ...Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer jumped over Seahawks long snapper Clint Gresham and blocked the kick by Steven Hauschka.


Don't quit your day job, Sanchize

The situation: Up 27-11 with 3:09 left in the game, the Jets face a first-and-10 from their own 41-yard line.

Things got a bit nutty when ... The Jets line up in the wildcat formation, with quarterback Mark Sanchez lined up out wide at receiver, across from Bills cornerback Drayton Florence. Florence bluffed a move to Sanchez, who flinched and then chased after Florence and actually was called for a holding penalty that wiped out an 18-yard run by Joe McKnight.