Heartbreaking losses

[Nov23]

Sunday really hurt. We had it. 25 seconds away from victory, and it seems like we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

However, as bad as Sunday hurt, and as long as it will take me to get over it, let’s not forget that this is the NFL. Losses like these happen every year in the postseason. I keep reading how much bad luck we have, but the fact of the matter is this happens. Yeah, it hurt. And our loss to the Niners in 2011 was just as bad.

You want heartbreak? Look at the NFC Championship game a few years ago between Green Bay and Seattle. I will never forget that game - it’s one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever seen.

You want heartbreak? How about Seattle’s loss to New England in the SuperBowl three years ago? THAT was bad.

You have the Mile High Miracle from 2013 with Denver and Baltimore, San Francisco’s incredible comeback against Atlanta from that same year, Seattle escaping defeat against Minnesota after a missed chip shot field goal as time expired, and OF COURSE 28-3. The mother of ALL heartbreaking losses.

We were down 0-17 late in the third quarter against the best defense in the NFL and came back to almost beat them. I’m proud of this team.

This **** happens, fam. We’re going to get through this. This is going to make us stronger. Be excited. Because next year is our year.

 

[fdl16]

I got over this loss relatively quickly because I don’t think we would’ve beaten the Pats in the Super Bowl.

Better to lose now than to lose then. If we’d lost in the Super Bowl, the odds would be against us returning for the few years Drew has left.


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[Indonesianwhodat]

Agree

it will take time, but in the grand scheme of things this is probably not even the top 5 heartbreaking loss in the NFL

 

[Saint Spud]

28-3 the worst ever.

Personally, this is the worst. Before this one, I had 2:

1. 49ers divisional playoff
2. VT loss to Matt Ryan after leading 10-0 w/ 2:00 left (I’m a VT grad). VT would’ve likely gone to the BCS title game with a win.

But yeah, this tops all of them.

 

[DefensePlease]

10 seconds left

 

[Saint Jack]

I think it would have the gravity Falcons fans are trying to give it had the Saints still been looking for the first Super Bowl. But Brees and Payton are still on the team and they both have rings. The search for another ring continues.
But it doesn't hold the same weight had Atlanta, Cleveland, or Buffalo gone through that loss.

 

[bayoumilitia]

This to shall pass.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference” -Niebhur

 

[0rion]

This loss hurt but it's not even in my top 3....maybe even top 5. Most of mine are pre super bowl win. In those days it felt like we were never going to win anything so to go to the playoffs and then lose first round was crushing. Philly in 93 is one of the worst for me....thought we had that one and gave up 26 points in 4th quarter. Atlanta 91 also ranks way up there.

 

[Cajun Chat]

I got over this loss relatively quickly because I don’t think we would’ve beaten the Pats in the Super Bowl.

Better to lose now than to lose then. If we’d lost in the Super Bowl, the odds would be against us returning for the few years Drew has left.


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I think we are the only team that would have beaten the Pats in the Super bowl. The challenge is they may not get out of this weekend. Could you imagine a Bortles vs. Keenam Super Bowl. The NFL must be shivering (pun intended) at the thought of that happening in Minnesota.

 

[fdl16]

I think we are the only team that would have beaten the Pats in the Super bowl. The challenge is they may not get out of this weekend. Could you imagine a Bortles vs. Keenam Super Bowl. The NFL must be shivering (pun intended) at the thought of that happening in Minnesota.

I don’t fancy Gronk against our depleted LB core. And I don’t think the refs are gonna let Jacksonville get out of Foxboro with a win.


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[Saintsphere]

Yup. Happens to every fanbase. Only one fanbase is happy at the end of the year. Every fan wants to make the playoffs and every fan usually knows what comes with making the playoffs is simple: a great chance of heartbreak.

Teams are really good in the NFL playoffs. More often than not, the best of the best make it. Which means it's often likely the games will be close. Which often means some team and its fanbase is going to get delivered a gut wrenching punch.

We had that with the 49ers loss and the Vikings loss (some could argue the two Seahawks losses as well but I was still on a Super Bowl grace period in 2010 and 2013 was clearly Seattle's year IMO so those losses hurt but not too bad for me).

The Packers (recent champs) have had it happen to them. The Seahawks (recent champs) have had it happen to them. Peyton Manning's teams have had it happen to them. Heck even the Pats (to go 18-0 then lose the SB prob really hurt) had it happen to them but they've won so many damn championships that I sincerely doubt their hurt ever lasts that long or is that gut-wrenching.

The Vikings may be in our same position by next Sunday night or in two weeks. Cam Jordan said it best: sports gives and it takes.

 

[Dizzycajun]

Unfortunately for some of us, the pain isn't over yet.
https://www.saintsreport.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=90718&stc=1&d=1516199651

 

[Slaw]

I don't think they were quite ready to win it all. Needed that playoff experience.

 

[LoE]

Compared to other Saints losses I've seen over the last 50 years - this was nada. We weren't even supposed to be in it with our 0-2 start, our 7-9 seasons, and 21 people on IR.

This was a GREAT year.

Next year will be even better. We're at the beginning of something special, something that will last for years.

 

[texasjefe]

Unless it's the Super Bowl, where a devastating loss gets baked into a team's DNA long-term, a freak internet-posterizing play to lose a game is a fleeting moment and not the story of the loss last Sunday.

For me, the disappointment is failing to convert 3rd-and-less than two before the Lutz field goal to run down the clock. Next, it's a playcall that makes Willie Snead the passer on a crucial late 3rd down call, instead of Brees. And it is Snead missing the wide open Kamara. Earlier in the season, it's the inability on the road in Atlanta to get a two-score lead and put Atlanta away in that game. (1 more win at that time might have had us in the hunt for a 1st round bye).

This Saints team thrilled us and looks to have re-opened the window of relevance and contention after 8 seasons. (I don't give the 2013 team much credit). We now have a decent defense that can be built up, and numerous stars on both sides of the ball when for years our only marquee players were Brees and Jordan.

Saints need to keep upgrading personnel and solve the 3rd down inadequacy to be a top-two team in the NFC. The conference is too tough to have to get to the Super Bowl via the wild card route and on the road.

May of us grayhairs experienced devastating losses in the earlier seasons that robbed us if firstever playoff berths and firstever playoff wins. I recall being sad about those losses for months. And while the 2011 Niner loss was painful - again - we were playing in their stadium and they had had a 1st round bye.

Now when these losses happen, I feel bad for the players and coaches. But I'm fine as a fan. It was just a massively thrilling season, and when we get to the spring, I can't wait to re-live and re-see all of the glory plays.