They don't give an award for the most vicious hit of Wild Card Weekend, but if they did, it would probably go to Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree, who absolutely leveled Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore on Sunday.
During a play in the second quarter, Moore started scrambling to his right, and that's when the hit happened. It was like watching a semi-truck plow into a Prius.
Matt Moore knocked out of game-briefly-by Bud Dupree hit https://t.co/Wvu8vUtH5Vpic.twitter.com/CFs3NsuC6N
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) January 8, 2017
Here's another angle of the hit.
Matt Moore just got splattered. #MIAvsPITpic.twitter.com/ytVO6ToVj1
— Dylan (@DylansFreshTake) January 8, 2017
Not only was Moore able to get up and walk off the field, but he ended up returning to the game after missing just one play. Moore was actually down on the field longer than he was in concussion protocol.
After he was allowed to return to the game, many people watching at home had the same question: Why is he being allowed back in the game so quickly?
I don't know if Matt Moore has a concussion and neither do you, but I do know it should take more than 4 minutes to determine that.
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) January 8, 2017
CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson gave the answer to that question while giving an update on Moore's health.
"The independent neurologist, they watched the hit, he said he did not lose consciousness, and he saw that he hit him in the jaw, and so they did a quick evaluation and they cleared him to go back in," Wolfson explained.
Wolfson also added that Moore was pointing to his lower back as he walked off the field after taking the hit. Dolphins backup quarterback T.J. Yates came in for one play while Moore was examined.
gotta suck to be tj yates when the coach thinks "matt moore with no brain" is a better immediate option.
— goo.gl/yYpuWd (@psamp) January 8, 2017
For most fans, the fact that Moore returned at all was a minor miracle considering the fact that most people thought he might be done for the game after taking the brutal hit.
Can we take up an offering to help pay for Matt Moore's funeral 😢#RIPpic.twitter.com/c71b3BLdx8
— Henny Kravitz (@Wade23Marcus) January 8, 2017
The doctor that cleared Matt Moore to come back in pic.twitter.com/r77KvNwe8L
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) January 8, 2017
The #Miami doctors are putting Matt Moore's jaw back together with super glue and duct tape. #Steelers
— The Break Room (@BreakRoomShow) January 8, 2017
After the hit, Dupree and the Steelers were penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer. The Dolphins ended up getting a field goal on the drive that trimmed Pittsburgh's lead to 20-6.
In his first full series after taking the hit, Moore looked sharp, going 3 of 4 for 60 yards. However, the Dolphins quarterback also took another huge hit on that drive. With the Dolphins at the Steelers 8-yard line, Moore got rocked and lost a fumble after being hit by James Harrison.
At halftime, the Steelers lead the Dolphins 20-6.
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