The Ravens' downtown stadium, which is currently called M&T Bank Stadium, is celebrating its 10th season of existence. We're going to look at the Top 10 moments in its history, listing two each day.
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6. Chris McAlister’s surprising runback. Sept. 30, 2002

A national television audience was supposed to see how far the Ravens had fallen after a historic salary-cap purge. Instead, it witnessed a historic event.

As the previous winless Ravens shocked the unbeaten Denver Broncos for a 34-23 win, cornerback Chris McAlister recorded the longest play in NFL history.

McAlister returned a missed field goal 107 yards to put an exclamation point on a remarkable 31-point second quarter.

With one second left in the half and the Ravens ahead, 24-3, Denver's Jason Elam came up short on a 57-yard field goal try. Fielding the ball deep in the end zone, McAlister slowed up near the goal line, selling the Broncos on the idea that he would down the ball, but he decided not to take a knee.

According to McAlister, it wasn't a hesitation but all part of the plan.

“That's how we set it up,” McAlister said. “We're supposed to take a step back and try to get them to go to sleep. And then I'm supposed to go towards the sideline and pick up some blocks.”

Breaking free to the outside after a crushing hit by Ray Lewis on the Broncos' Keith Burns at the 5-yard line, McAlister went 107 yards untouched and starting high-stepping for the final 30 yards as coach Brian Billick followed him down the sideline with his hands raised.

“It wasn't as bad as it looked,” said Burns, who quickly got up from Lewis’ jolt. “But a hit is a hit.”

The return was originally announced at 108 yards. But after studying photos and video footage of the play, the Elias Sports Bureau determined that the kick by Denver's Jason Elam went seven yards into the end zone.

Still, it surpassed the previous record of 106 yards.

“I'm very honored,” McAlister said. “I'm very blessed to have that record, but to me it's just another play in a football game.”

The New England Patriots’ Ellis Hobbs (108-yard kickoff return this season) and the Chicago Bears’ Devin Hester (108-yard return off missed field goal in 2006) and Nathan Vasher (108-yard return off missed field goal in 2005) have since eclipsed McAlister’s mark.