If I were to ask you the question, “What do you love about sports?”, you couldn’t give me one single answer. I’m sure you would say that you love sports because of the communities they create. Some would say they love sports because it gives you something to watch almost every single night.

The bottom line is, there are a million reasons why we put ourselves through the stress and heartache of watching our favorite teams. I say stress and heartache because we see more losing than winning if the ultimate goal is a championship. We shouldn’t just be watching for championships. If you are, then you must be miserable.

Part of the reason why we watch sports is because it is the greatest reality TV show around. Nothing about sports is scripted. Which is why one of my favorite things about sports is the walk off. You never know when it will happen, who will be the reason for it, or how the game will be won.

The Greatness Of A Walk Off

The game-winner on offense ends the game. It is over. The finality of a game-winner makes it one of the more exciting things about sports. The buildup of 9 innings, 4 quarters, 3 periods, or even extra innings/overtime leads to these moments meaning more.

You could sit through a 3-hour baseball game, but if someone hits a walk-off homerun, you will be talking about that moment during your drive home and the next morning at work or school. You probably won’t be talking about the pitching change that you disagreed with in the 6th inning.

Here are my top 8 ways in sports for a team to Walk Off a game on offense:

I just want to make this clear, OFFENSE! Before someone tweets at me “Where is the game-winning diving catch?!” I’m sure my list could lead to debate, so tell me yours!

• 8) A Base Hit Or Sac Fly

  If a runner is on third base, or in the case of a base hit, a runner on second, knocking them in to win is exciting. Just nowhere near as exciting as the other ways to win in baseball and the other sports we are going to talk about.

  Philadelphia Phillies on Twitter: "PACHE PULLS THRUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/1P3T8ilVOG / Twitter"

  PACHE PULLS THRUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/1P3T8ilVOG

• 7 ) Game Winning Field Goal

  Sorry kickers… It is still awesome to see your kicker win it like Jake Elliott did in 2017 against the Giants. But what do we normally say late in the game? The offense has to get into Field Goal Range. It is up to the kicker to win it, but the offense does the dirty work to even give him a shot.

  Philadelphia Eagles on Twitter: "61 yards. An #Eagles franchise record. What a moment for Jake Elliott! #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/F4qp10FMs1 / Twitter"

  61 yards. An #Eagles franchise record. What a moment for Jake Elliott! #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/F4qp10FMs1

• 6) Game Winning Shot NBA

  This one was the hardest one to put lower on the list. The game-winning shot is freaking awesome… but where was it from? Full court? Or a layup? It is so hard putting this list together because I think of some of the greatest game-winning shots in the history of basketball. I will spare you talking about Kawhi… but a play like Christian Laettner in the NCAA Tournament is iconic.

  Yahoo Sports on Twitter: "THE SHOT.OTD in 1992 Christian Laettner hit a game-winner to beat Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/CresOPOFbl / Twitter"

  THE SHOT.OTD in 1992 Christian Laettner hit a game-winner to beat Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/CresOPOFbl

• 5 ) Shootout Goal in Hockey or Soccer

  I know people complain about a “skills competition” being the reason why a team wins or loses, but it is still cool to watch. And not only are we watching, but we are all watching 2 people. The person attempting the shot and the person in net. All eyes on you makes it pretty awesome.

• 4) Walk Off Home Run

  I’m sure people are shocked that I have this at 4, but there are a couple of reasons why. The extra-base hit with a runner on first needs so many things to happen for the run to score. The Walk Off Home Run is just one swing of the bat.

  Now if I were to say the team is down 3 with the bases loaded, then yeah, that would probably be number 1. But because it can happen so many different ways, and only the home team can do it, that is why it is behind the OT goal and comes in at 4.

  NBC Sports Philadelphia on Twitter: "BRYCE-GRAND-FREAKIN'-SLAMMIN-HARPER. pic.twitter.com/qFFcqtoYV3 / Twitter"

  BRYCE-GRAND-FREAKIN'-SLAMMIN-HARPER. pic.twitter.com/qFFcqtoYV3

• 3) Overtime Goal in Hockey

  This one could probably be second, but I’ll admit, I am biased when it comes to baseball. This is my list dammit.

  The overtime goal in hockey is awesome because it could happen at any second and both teams could do it. Most of these scenarios on this list have one team on offense and one team on defense. The fact that both teams have the chance to end it with a goal puts this way to win high on the list.

  https://x.com/NBCSportsHockey/status/1099521327541694469

• 2) Extra Base Hit With a Runner On First

  Ok, I know. This is very specific. Hear me out.

  A game-winning hit is awesome any way it happens. A walk off home run is cool to see. But the excitement of watching a ball hit into the gap and immediately turning your attention to see if the runner on first got a good jump, then seeing where the ball is in the outfield, watching the third base coach to see if he is sending the runner home, the play at the plate… best example, Jimmy Rollins in the 2009 NLCS.

• 1) The Walk Off Touchdown

  This comes in at number one because of the rarity of it. There aren’t many games that end with a game-winning touchdown unless it happens in overtime. Usually, the game ends with a team driving down field to get into field goal position.

  But when it does happen, it becomes a moment you will never forget like Desean Jackson returning a punt against the Giants or Stefon Diggs and the Minneapolis Miracle.

  NFL Legacy on Twitter: "The Miracle at the New Meadowlands. 11 years ago today, DeSean Jackson walked it off with a punt return TD! (Dec. 19, 2010) pic.twitter.com/tcQOG44Dm3 / Twitter"

  The Miracle at the New Meadowlands. 11 years ago today, DeSean Jackson walked it off with a punt return TD! (Dec. 19, 2010) pic.twitter.com/tcQOG44Dm3

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