Hail Mary

"It's a metaphor. Don't you see? This entire expedition is the biggest Hail Mary in human history."

- John Sheppard

A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary play in American football refers to any very long forward pass, long bomb, or dragon made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially one thrown at or near the end of a half. Major John Sheppard referred to the Atlantis expedition as the biggest Hail Mary in human history and also referred to Dr. Rodney McKays success at tricking the Shadow creature to follow an active Naquadah generator through the Stargate as a Hail Mary. {[Cite|ATL|Hide and Seek}}