There was 8 seconds left in Superbowl XXV, and the Buffalo Bills (white shirts) were losing 19-20 against the NY Giants (blue shirts). They were at the 29 yard line, meaning they needed to move the ball 29 yards to the endzone to get six points for the touchdown. With only 8 seconds left in the game, they didn't really have enough time to go for the touchdown (which was highly unlikely). The only option that they had was to try to kick a field goal, which would give them three points and the win. At that distance, it was a 50/50 shot that he could make the field goal.
On artificial turf, the Bills kicker (Scott Norwood) was good for about 50 yards in any game. On natural grass, it is more difficult to plant your non-kicking foot due to less traction. After adding on the 10 yards that the goalposts are beyond the endzone line and 8 yards that the kicker is away from the ball when the play starts, the kick was 47 yards. As the announcer said, it was the longest kick on grass of the season for him. Buffalo's home stadium had artificial turf at the time, so he didn't kick on grass very much.
They lined up for the kick, with the defense (Giants) on the 28 yard line, the offense (Bills) on the 30 yard line, and the center threw the ball (snap) between his legs from the 29 yard line back to the holder at the 37 yard line. As soon as the ball moves, the Giants can start running towards it to block the kick. The Bills players on the line need to delay them long enough to get the kick into the air. The holder placed the ball in kicking position, Scott Norwood kicked it as the Giants rushed at him, and the resulting kick sailed to the right of the goalpost that meant that he didn't score.
The game ended four seconds later with the Bills losing 19-20, and was the start of the biggest streak of futility in American pro sports. They went on to kick butt for the next three seasons, but wound up losing 4 Superbowls in a . No team but the Bills has ever even made it to 4 Superbowls in a , and the team's name is now synonymous with losers despite them being one of the greatest pro gridiron teams of all time. As a lifetime Bills fan who used to live 1km away from their stadium (and my school bus used to drive past it every day), "wide right" was one of the saddest days of my life.....