Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Holy Roller (American football)" in English language version.
That nickname was a play off the 'Immaculate Reception.' Stabler was there for that play, too - on the sidelines when Pittsburgh running back Franco Harris picked a deflected pass out of the air and rambled for the winning touchdown in the Steelers' 13-7 victory over the Raiders in a 1972 AFC playoff game.
Of course, afterward in the locker room Stabler said he intentionally had fumbled the ball forward, which would have been an incompleted, forward pass under the rule.
The Raiders beat the San Diego Chargers on Sept. 10, 1978, at Jack Murphy Stadium on a play San Diego fans called the "Immaculate Deception."
Charger fans took to wearing "Immaculate Deception" T-shirts. They pictured a blind-folded referee signaling touchdown.
The league changed the rule the next season, making it illegal for the offense to advance the ball beyond the spot of the fumble in the last two minutes or at any time on fourth down.
During the off-season, the league added a provision to the rule book about fumbles after the two-minute warning that allows only the player who fumbled the ball to advance it.
The play, derisively known as the Immaculate Deception by Chargers fans, led to an NFL rule change.
Right or wrong, the decision in San Diego has led to the appearance of a funny new T shirt, illustrated with a blindfolded referee signaling a touchdown above the words IMMACULATE DECEPTION.
