Most disappointing playoff losses by team

[Vanimal46]

But that was the most amazing finish to a Vikes game ever, right? Especially considering the baggage they brought into the game, the path before them, and how they had squandered a great first half.

Without a doubt. That was the most incredible ending to a Vikings game I've ever seen!

[drjim]

Without a doubt. That was the most incredible ending to a Vikings game I've ever seen!

Apparently it was the first walkoff td in playoff history. Guess it would be hard to top that.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

WOW, never mind.

I got nuthin'

[AlwaysinModeration]

I really didn’t see that coming.

[Hawkeye12]

 

Apparently it was the first walkoff td in playoff history. Guess it would be hard to top that.

 

In regulation yes.  But it's happened 3 or 4 times in OT, Tebow for sure did it to the Steelers.

[ScooterDance]

 

In regulation yes.  But it's happened 3 or 4 times in OT, Tebow for sure did it to the Steelers.

First walkoff TD with 0:00 left in the 4th QTR

[ScooterDance]

Also. I didn't even cheer when it happened. Diggs caught it, I went GET OUTTA BOUNDS GET OUTT... WAIT ... WTF 20, 10, 5

 

*blackout*

 

*relive favre INT*

 

*relive Walsh wide left*

 

*relive 41-donut*

*relive Gary Anderson wide le... nope not quite that one*

*wake up*

Woah, we just won? We aren't the soul crushers, but the soul crushed. What is happening?

 

*queue everson griffen best interview ever*

[DaveW]

That was aweeeeesoommmmmeeeee. 

Cya in Philly!

[Doomtints]

The Saints have a new "Most Disappointing Loss."

The Vikes gotta play a full game though.... they also only played for one half v. Chicago. This won't work in Philly. This seems to be more of a problem with the offense, mind you, and likely it's the play calling.

 

Plus, the offensive line needs to be better.... The Philly D is even tougher than the Saints D, and likely the Philly game will be a cold, low-scoring game where Keenum won't be able to toss interceptions and get away with it.

[Puckett34]

I still can't believe what I saw last night.   I'm used to having my heart crushed.    What is this emotion I'm feeling?   Think I've watched the play on loop for far too long last night.

[Vanimal46]

It's nice to be reminded that sports can be unpredictable and incredibly entertaining! I still can't believe that happened last night... It's liberating to finally be on the winning side of an epic game.

[one_eyed_jack]

 

The Saints have a new "Most Disappointing Loss."

The Vikes gotta play a full game though.... they also only played for one half v. Chicago. This won't work in Philly. This seems to be more of a problem with the offense, mind you, and likely it's the play calling.

 

Plus, the offensive line needs to be better.... The Philly D is even tougher than the Saints D, and likely the Philly game will be a cold, low-scoring game where Keenum won't be able to toss interceptions and get away with it.

 

Definitely have to play a better overall game Philly.   

 

D needs to play better too  - after not giving up more than 19 points at home all year, they gave up 24 in the second half.   Granted the interception and blocked punt gave NO generous field position, but still. 

 

You'd expect a low scoring game, but that was the expectation for Jax/Pitt and they scored a combined 87 points, so who knows.

 

Whoever jumps out to a lead in that game is going to have a huge advantage, because neither team has a Drew Brees.

 

 

 

[howeda7]

This goes #3 on the list in the last 35 years. Behind 98 and 09. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

This goes #3 on the list in the last 35 years. Behind 98 and 09.

Are you forgetting '01? 41-0. At least today's game was interesting until late in the 2nd quarter.

[howeda7]

 

Are you forgetting '01? 41-0. At least today's game was interesting until late in the 2nd quarter.

That was less disappointing because that team wasn't as good as this one IMO. Defense not nearly as good. 1st year QB. The Ravens would have beaten them if the Giants didn't. 

[Mr. Brooks]

Are you forgetting '01? 41-0. At least today's game was interesting until late in the 2nd quarter.

This is a far more talented team though. That's why it's so disappointing.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Before the season, would you have said this was the "far" more talented team if you knew Keenum was going to be the QB? That 2000 team had a bad defense, but they also had an elite offense -- Culpepper, Smith, Moss, and Carter. Basically the same formula that almost took us to the Super Bowl just 2 years earlier, and 2000 was our 4th consecutive year with a playoff victory too. What has the current squad ever accomplished that would give you significantly greater hope than the 2000 one? The one and done playoff appearance 2 years ago? The regular season collapse last year? The near collapse last week vs New Orleans?

 

In isolation, I could see one preferring the 2017 squad overall but I think it is closer once you consider that Keenum was playing above his head during the regular season.

 

Then the championship games themselves -- down 14-0 after 2 minutes, that sucked. Compared to today, we were only down 14-7 with a 3rd and 5 on the Eagles 16 yard line with 3:30 left in the 2nd quarter. I guess I preferred watching the latter rather than the former (actually I was late to the former and joined the action down 14-0... ugh).

[gunnarthor]

 

This goes #3 on the list in the last 35 years. Behind 98 and 09. 

87 is up there, too.

[Mr. Brooks]

Before the season, would you have said this was the "far" more talented team if you knew Keenum was going to be the QB? That 2000 team had a bad defense, but they also had an elite offense -- Culpepper, Smith, Moss, and Carter. Basically the same formula that almost took us to the Super Bowl just 2 years earlier, and 2000 was our 4th consecutive year with a playoff victory too. What has the current squad ever accomplished that would give you significantly greater hope than the 2000 one? The one and done playoff appearance 2 years ago? The regular season collapse last year? The near collapse last week vs New Orleans?

 

In isolation, I could see one preferring the 2017 squad overall but I think it is closer once you consider that Keenum was playing above his head during the regular season.

 

Then the championship games themselves -- down 14-0 after 2 minutes, that sucked. Compared to today, we were only down 14-7 with a 3rd and 5 on the Eagles 16 yard line with 3:30 left in the 2nd quarter. I guess I preferred watching the latter rather than the former (actually I was late to the former and joined the action down 14-0... ugh).

I think we need to separate talent from results. They don't always match.

I do think this team is far more talented. On just "talent" alone, I see very few weak spots in this roster. Super talented guys all over the place.

But, you are right, they've accomplished almost nothing.

Zimmer has exactly one playoff win, and he needed a historically improbable miracle to get that one win. And we have local media that rave about him like he's brought us multiple parades or something. I've always found that weird. I don't mind Zimmer at all, but he's accomplished zilch as a head coach.

This is a completely underachieving roster/ team.

I just wonder how many years we will find some excuse for why it's acceptable for all this talent and these supposedly good coaches to achieve nothing in the postseason.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I will say that my perception of these games has changed as I age. Even the '09 game didn't really rattle me -- I was just glad it was close and worth watching. So this one gets a little credit for most of the first half.

 

Of course, I could see the flip side -- that the closer the game, the more disappointing the ultimate defeat. Although that might be splitting hairs when comparing a 31 point loss to a 41 point loss...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Zimmer has exactly one playoff win, and he needed a historically improbable miracle to get that one win.

Interestingly, that part of the description fit Green too entering the 15-1 season, and over a longer time frame.

[Doomtints]

Well ... that ending was a little predictable. 

 

If you think about it, the Vikings curse has them always choking in the same game. In the 70s, this was the Superbowl. After another round was added to the playoffs, it's been the conference title game ... one round earlier!

 

As for this game, with the way the defense played Keenum didn't have a chance. Philly was running a new scheme, as evidence by the Vikings secondary often running the opposite direction from who they were defending against.

 

The Vikings had a good year. Great defense (which ran out of gas at the end ... they weren't good in the Chicago game in the last week either) plus a very good, underrated offense. Keenum has a laser arm. It was hard not to like this team. They will no doubt make the playoffs next year, and in the playoffs anything can happen.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

As for this game, with the way the defense played Keenum didn't have a chance.

Ultimately, but Keenum (and the offense not blocking for him) committed 2 turnovers (one a pick-6) before the Vikings defense allowed its second score.  It snowballed from there, and we probably would have lost anyway, but that Keenum fumble really changed the game, I think.

 

And a reminder that it's a game of inches -- the Eagles drive right before the Keenum fumble, the Vikings defense hit Foles just a second earlier and they force a fumble too.  After the Keenum fumble, they contacted Foles a second before the long TD pass to Jeffry as well (on 3rd down at midfield, no less).

 

Seems like both sides of the ball fell apart right about the same time.

[ashbury]

(one a pick-6)

Now that you remind me of it, that one didn't develop like the usual pick-6 you see on highlights. How many chances were there to stop that score? It was like our guys suddenly were all wading through molasses. Maybe the team meal was drugged and they were all in some kind of slow-motion mental fog, and they were doomed to defeat. Yeah, I'm going with that.

[Mr. Brooks]

Well ... that ending was a little predictable.

 

If you think about it, the Vikings curse has them always choking in the same game. In the 70s, this was the Superbowl. After another round was added to the playoffs, it's been the conference title game ... one round earlier!

 

As for this game, with the way the defense played Keenum didn't have a chance. Philly was running a new scheme, as evidence by the Vikings secondary often running the opposite direction from who they were defending against.

 

The Vikings had a good year. Great defense (which ran out of gas at the end ... they weren't good in the Chicago game in the last week either) plus a very good, underrated offense. Keenum has a laser arm. It was hard not to like this team. They will no doubt make the playoffs next year, and in the playoffs anything can happen.

Keenum does not have a laser arm. He's found other tools that have kept him in the league, but arm strength is probably his weakest attribute. It's why he was never given a real shot, despite breaking all the NCAA records.

[Doomtints]

 

Ultimately, but Keenum (and the offense not blocking for him) committed 2 turnovers (one a pick-6) before the Vikings defense allowed its second score.  It snowballed from there, and we probably would have lost anyway, but that Keenum fumble really changed the game, I think.

 

And a reminder that it's a game of inches -- the Eagles drive right before the Keenum fumble, the Vikings defense hit Foles just a second earlier and they force a fumble too.  After the Keenum fumble, they contacted Foles a second before the long TD pass to Jeffry as well (on 3rd down at midfield, no less).

 

Seems like both sides of the ball fell apart right about the same time.

 

The OL struggled in both playoff games, no doubt.

Still, one wonders what the Vikings could have done with a home game right there ... the Eagles only had home-field due to a tiebreaker....

I'm glad the Vikings knocked out the Saints in a deflating, crushing manner. That right there makes it a successful year.

[Doomtints]

 

Keenum does not have a laser arm. He's found other tools that have kept him in the league, but arm strength is probably his weakest attribute. It's why he was never given a real shot, despite breaking all the NCAA records.

 

I haven't seen a Viking throw like him since Favre. He's got the tools, his issues are with decision making. He really made some dumb throws in the playoffs. Not saying he's the answer, but I will say that if he goes the Vikes are in rebuilding mode yet again. I'm not sold on Bridgewater (are you?)

[spanman2]

 

I don't mind 98 as much as others. We didn't play bad and Atlanta just played better. It happens. They were a good team. Same goes for the Walsh miss and the Saints loss, both were tough losses but the games were pretty entertaining. I was a kid when Darren Nelson dropped the pass in the end zone and that made me cry.

 

The 01 Championship game in NY is actually the one I hate the most as an adult. We just flat out didn't show up. I was in school out east at the time and I had made several bets against Giants fans and ordered a crap ton of food. We were down 24-0 before my pizza arrived.

Include me in the 87 strike season.  I was 10 and had just relocated to South Central PA...mainly Steelers Country but also mix in some Redskin/Eagle fans.  In a nut shell the old man said 'get used to it'.  I have been getting used to for the last 30 years.  It has become less significant in my life over the years but still really pi^^es a guy off at the same time. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm glad the Vikings knocked out the Saints in a deflating, crushing manner. That right there makes it a successful year.

Eh, that only happened because we let them back into the game in the first place.

 

We've beat the Cowboys in our last two playoff meetings too, but it doesn't exactly erase the sting of Drew Pearson or the Herschel Walker trade.

 

Now, if the Twins could finally knock out the Yankees in the playoffs, THAT would be a successful year!

[Mr. Brooks]

I haven't seen a Viking throw like him since Favre. He's got the tools, his issues are with decision making. He really made some dumb throws in the playoffs. Not saying he's the answer, but I will say that if he goes the Vikes are in rebuilding mode yet again. I'm not sold on Bridgewater (are you?)

Don't agree at all. This offense was held back by his limitations.

He consistently underthrows guys that have their guy beat, and often locks in on a guy while someone else was open.

Nobody can be sold on Bridgewater, we haven't seen him since his injury, but even if Bridgewater doesn't have it, they can sign another Keenum type backup to turn it over to. Keenum played well because he was in the right situation.

What we saw from Bradford week 1 is what this offense is capable of with even an average QB.