Detroit Lions followers deserved a greater ending than the one they obtained on Sunday night time. With the Super Bowl beckoning, Lions followers had been as a substitute handled to one of many greatest collapses in NFL playoff historical past, as Detroit was unable to parlay a 17-point halftime lead into an NFC title.
The Lions’ 34-31 loss goes to harm for a while. After dominating the primary half, the Lions regarded like they had been enjoying on quicksand within the second half. They did not come by way of in pivotal moments, gave up too many huge performs and did not counter each time the 49ers hit them with an uppercut. In brief, the Lions did not do the issues that had gotten them to that time.
Given what was at stake, it is honest to say that the Lions’ loss is without doubt one of the most heartbreaking defeats in playoff historical past. Under is a take a look at the unlucky firm the Lions now hold.
5. Oilers: 1992 AFC wild card
Houston owns the excellence of blowing the largest lead in playoff historical past. Led by Warren Moon, the Oilers raced out to a 35-3 lead however had been unable to cease the runaway prepare that was the Payments within the second half. The 41-38 loss needed to damage extra for Houston followers given the truth that Buffalo’s historic comeback was led by backup quarterback Frank Reich, who threw 4 landing passes.
4. Vikings, 1998 NFC Championship
The Vikings regarded like a shoo-in to succeed in the Super Bowl that season. After a 15-1 common season, Minnesota led the upstart Falcons by a landing and had Gary Anderson — who hadn’t missed a subject purpose all 12 months to that time — lining as much as try a 38-yard subject purpose that might have put the sport away.
Anderson, shockingly, missed the kick, giving the Falcons life with simply over two minutes left. Atlanta took benefit by tying the rating, forcing time beyond regulation, and in the end successful the sport on a Morten Andersen subject purpose. The Vikings have solely been again to 2 NFC title video games since, dropping each.
3. Payments, Tremendous Bowl XV
The one Tremendous Bowl determined by one level got here right down to a subject purpose attempt with eight seconds left. Payments kicker Scott Norwood famously hooked the kick large proper, securing the Giants’ 20-19 win. The missed kick was the deciding play in arguably the best Tremendous Bowl ever performed.
Why is that this loss not larger? As a result of the Payments had been a younger, up-and-coming workforce that might be again. However it stays on this checklist due to the truth that Buffalo did not come near successful any of the next three Tremendous Bowls.
2. Lions, 2024 NFC Championship
Lions followers may certainly style a visit to the Tremendous Bowl at halftime of Sunday night time’s sport. However what adopted was an avalanche that did not finish till the 49ers had constructed a 10-point lead late within the fourth quarter. The 49ers performed a lot better within the second half, however the Lions got here up quick after they wanted to play their greatest. That, greater than the missed fourth-down conversions, in all probability hurts most for Lions followers who’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine what occurred.
Not even the Lions’ loss can match the agony Falcons followers should have felt watching their workforce blow a 28-3 lead. As an alternative of celebrating their first Tremendous Bowl win, Falcons followers needed to watch as Tom Brady added to his legacy by main the best comeback in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Including insult to harm was the Falcons being on the dropping finish of the primary Tremendous Bowl that went to time beyond regulation.
