Lewis vs Woodson: whose iconic INT was better?

Woodson, but its closer than most of these guys think. That pick by Lewis was infreakingcredible. Woodson's play is probably the best play I've ever seen in a football game, but Lewis isn't that far behind. 

Lewis' was amazing because he jumped a bit early, Woodson's was amazing because he did everything perfect.  It is of course fabulous to even be having this conversation.  Beautiful things.

Lewis's is awesome but Woodson's has the highest degree of difficulty of any interception I've ever seen.   He doesn't have time to track down a ball that falls in his direction.  He is close to the line of scrimmage and makes a sudden, perfectly timed reaction to a ball that Schultz was trying to throw away - and gets inbounds.

A better view:

Lewis's INT yesterday was great, and both were incredibly acrobatic; but it was on 4th down against an opponent who had been all but beaten already. Woodson's INT against MSU was on the road, on the sideline, at a pivotal moment of the game. In terms of their sheer value in affecting the outcome, it has to be Woodson's.

I think Lewis's interception is the most amazing pick I've ever seen.

BTW - this probably belongs in a snowflake thread, but I want to share it here instead.  Viewing this in the stands, most fans seemed upset that he didn't knock it down.  I don't think attempting to bat the ball was the appropriate play under the circumstances.

Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwZwFfsr8YA

It's 4th and 10.  Wisconsin has elected to go for the touchdown instead of the first down, and has told Rushing, positioned in the backfield outside of the split end, to run a fly with Robert Wheelwright (the split end) running a post from the line of scrimmage.  Thomas has either deep thirds or deep halfs coverage, with McCray lined up on Wheelwright.  Lewis has Rushing.

At the play, Rushing slips his route behind Wheelwright's.  McCray plays this like a boss and keeps inside Wheelwright step-for-step - the moment Wheelwright reveals that he's got the post, McCray feels secure because Hornibrook has nowhere to put the football.  Inexplicably, however, Thomas (minus fucking 1) has decided that Wheelwright is the biggest threat on the play and completely sells out on covering that route.  The effect is that Lewis is one on one with Rushing without any safety help whatsoever.  And Lewis knows that because he's playing proper technique - behind and inside his man with eyes upfield - and probably silently cursing Thomas while he stares at his nameplate and his back.

The other thing Lewis sees?  Hornibrook, who never looks off Rushing from the moment Wheelwright breaks on his post and McCray has removed him from the play.  So Lewis now knows that one of three things can happen:  (1) Hornibrook throws a bad pass and the game is over.  (2) Hornibrook throws a catchable ball and he needs to get a PBU or a INT.  (3) Hornibrook throws a catchable ball and Wisconsin scores a TD.

Hornibrook throws the ball, and Lewis watches him do so.  It's not a moonshot arc where only Rushing can catch it, but it's quite literally the next best thing - a fluttery soft pitch/catch where Rushing can grab it in stride.  One slight wrinkle - it's going to Rushing's back shoulder instead of inside.  Rushing will need to adjust to grab it, but if he does it's a touchdown, yo.

Lewis (who, remember, is playing inside and behind his man) knows now that his "choice" isn't really a choice at all - make a play on the ball or lose the game.  But because he's inside and behind his man but the pass is outside and away, slapping away at the football has dire potential consequences - if the ball is popped up in the air, Rushing could very well make a great play on it because it's probably going to shoot up in the air towards the visitor's sideline, which is the very place Rushing has to adjust to catch the ball anyway.  So now the only 'safe place" to bat the ball is inside and upfield... which is precisely where Jourdan is in relation to Rushing.

So Lewis elevates, gets a hand on the ball (!!!), and now needs to catch it and keep it from going behind him (which is to say upfield and towards the sideline).  In the act of doing so, he has cradled it against his hip.  So now the only way to turn this into a PBU is to actively try and "drop" it, which risks either giving Rushing some weirdo bounce shot at making an Immaculate Reception, or risks giving the shitty officials the opportunity to decide that he fumbled.

So just hold on, young man.  Don't worry about the optimally effective choice given the down and distance.  You made an appropriate business decision, considering all involved parties.  In the process, you made one of the greatest interceptions of all time, and you just won the damn game.

Another thing I have seen mentioned in this thread was the throw by the MSU QB was a rope that Charles had to catch basically 15 yards away, and Hornibrook's was a flippin duck. Lewis had a great pick, but it's not all that close.

I think many people here are discounting the higher difficulty of JD's play though. He has to do this while trailing a defender he needs to not interfere with and also track the ball at a very difficult angle. Also, if he doesn't at least get a break-up on that it might be a tie game.

Both plays are also perfect examples of the way each player plays physically.

but both of them were simply awesome...

Woodson. Come on, OP.

went on to prove himself at the ultimate level.  Great snag, but premature to call this one iconic.  Repost in 15 years.