broken play

American  

noun

Football.

1. an improvised offensive play that results when the originally planned play has failed to be executed properly.

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Example Sentences

“I saw that it was a broken play and the dude I was supposed to guard wasn’t running a route so I spied on the quarterback and slammed him to the ground,” said Talbert, who recovered the ensuing onside kick.

From Los Angeles Times

The broken play highlighted a 13-play, 99-yard drive that Nico Collins finished with a 13-yard touchdown catch.

From Los Angeles Times

The receiver was the one who reacted first to the broken play, cut up the field to find open space and adjusted backward to the ball.

From Los Angeles Times

Doughty opened the scoring at 8:13 of the first period when he controlled the puck on a broken play in the offensive zone and slid a shot under Montembeault for his seventh goal of the season.

From Seattle Times

Four plays later, Salter turned a broken play into a 35-yard touchdown run.

From Seattle Times