After the epic chokejob by the Lightning yesterday, I started to think about some other teams that had absurd regular season performances only to totally shit the bed in the playoffs.
The obvious candidates are the 07 Pats (!!) and the Warriors from a couple years ago, but both those teams did make their respective finals with the Warriors sweeping their way there - they just couldn't close the deal.
I was UVA in the tourney last year might count, but even then, that's a one and done, not getting the shit beat out of you four games in a row.
A team like Tampa Bay just getting their doors blown off by the lowest seed that just snuck in to the playoffs is just so bizarre to me, was seeing if anyone had any comparable examples.
The mid 2000's saw a lot of "choke jobs" in the NFL where #1 seeds lost in their first playoff game. But it is pretty nuanced since the NFL season has so many highs and lows and injuries impacting things.
The mid 2000's saw a lot of "choke jobs" in the NFL where #1 seeds lost in their first playoff game. But it is pretty nuanced since the NFL season has so many highs and lows and injuries impacting things.
Also it’s one and done in the NFL, vs blowing a multi-game series.
11 Packers
93 Sonics
04 Chargers
If it's not just my teams, then UVA last year comes to mind. Kind of beautiful that they avenged it this year.
I don't think 08 Giants counts. They lost 3 of their last 4 IIRC, the Plax incident, etc...
I wonder what'd have happened if Osi didn't get hurt that preseason though.
Now, there’s a good chance that Broncos team would have smoked the Vikings the same way they did the Falcons in that Super Bowl, but that was probably the best regular season the Super Bowl starved Vikes have ever had
Yeah. I'm thinking you have to get bounced immediately
I can't think of many worse letdowns, if any, in my memory
This was the first thing I thought of.
The Lightening though. An absolute run away freight train derailed.
The Denver team mentioned before was in 1994 vs Seattle with Kemp and Payton. Seattle won 63 games that year
The Denver team mentioned before was in 1994 vs Seattle with Kemp and Payton. Seattle won 63 games that year
UVA was the overall #1 seed last year.
Good one. They already had their tickets to the NFC Championship game in their lockers!
This was like the ultimate black mark on Dirk’s career until they won the 2011 Finals.
They had 100 points in the regular season (best in the Western Conference) had a 2-1 series lead against the sub-.500 San Jose Sharks (in the 3rd year of existence) then fell behind 3-2. Won Game 6 at home 7-1, only to lose Game 7 at home.
In the NBA, the '94 Sonics were a good thought. 63 wins, cruised to an easy 2-0 first round series lead, then lost 3 straight to the 42-win Nuggets including Game 5 in Seattle.
I think any team that won multiple postseason playoff games and went to the championship are not what this thread is about. It isn't teams who had great regular seasons and didn't win it all, it's about teams that had great regular seasons and flopped completely in the playoffs.
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as Villanova should have been a victory and back to back Championships.
I think any team that won multiple postseason playoff games and went to the championship are not what this thread is about. It isn't teams who had great regular seasons and didn't win it all, it's about teams that had great regular seasons and flopped completely in the playoffs.
Really, where in the op is that stated? It asks for the biggest flops after a stellar regular season.
A big flop is a big flop regardless of when it happens in the postseason and why I think the 04 Yanks are right up there. They won 103 games and the Division and lost the Championship series after being up 3-0. It was the first time that's happened in baseball history and you can't flop worse than blowing a three games to none lead in a series.
They had something like 13 Pro Bowlers on that team. We had 1 (Osi). Not that the Pro Bowl is an accurate measure of a player. But still!
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as Villanova should have been a victory and back to back Championships.
I think any team that won multiple postseason playoff games and went to the championship are not what this thread is about. It isn't teams who had great regular seasons and didn't win it all, it's about teams that had great regular seasons and flopped completely in the playoffs.
I disagree, the Hoyas seemed destined to be back to back champions and then to meet a Villanova team that was not great and lose is a big letdown.
One and done.
In 89', many, including Parcells believed he had a Super Bowl winner.
Flipper fucking Anderson.
One and done.
In 89', many, including Parcells believed he had a Super Bowl winner.
Flipper fucking Anderson.
in theory, the Giants still had the personell to have championship teams in '87, '88, '89. '87 was ruined by the strike
Wait, I just did, didn't I?
Wait, I just did, didn't I?
I don't know why anyone would. That was not a "stellar" regular season by any definition of the word - they were the road team in a Wild Card game.
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...nobody has brought up the 2002 Giants and The Playoff Game That Shall Not Be Direcly Spoken Of in San Fran
Wait, I just did, didn't I?
I don't know why anyone would. That was not a "stellar" regular season by any definition of the word - they were the road team in a Wild Card game.
True. I just remember the offense being so good at the end of that year going into the playoffs that the team really seemed to have good momentum. Fassel's teams always seemed to overachieve against expectations
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In comment 14389864 jvm52106 said:
Quote:
as Villanova should have been a victory and back to back Championships.
I think any team that won multiple postseason playoff games and went to the championship are not what this thread is about. It isn't teams who had great regular seasons and didn't win it all, it's about teams that had great regular seasons and flopped completely in the playoffs.
Really, where in the op is that stated? It asks for the biggest flops after a stellar regular season.
A big flop is a big flop regardless of when it happens in the postseason and why I think the 04 Yanks are right up there. They won 103 games and the Division and lost the Championship series after being up 3-0. It was the first time that's happened in baseball history and you can't flop worse than blowing a three games to none lead in a series.
Calm down, man. A difference of interpretation. You think a team that won multiple post season games and played for the championship "totally shit the bed in the playoffs" because they didn't win it all. I don't. I would describe it as falling short.
I think there are many more examples of what you are talking about than what I am talking about, and the example that was included in the OP. No worries.
As a season ticket holder, it’s just stunning
97 win team losing to Jeff Suppan and the 81 win Cardinals.
97 win team losing to Jeff Suppan and the 81 win Cardinals.
NO TEAM in professional sports give fans more wild highs and lows than the Mets. There are so many magical moment and so many soul crushing defeats. Though the 2006 season was a choke fest fitting the Mets persona, the worst of the playoff losses was in '88. The Mets had won 100 games -- best in the NL-- and went into the playoff as the hottest team in baseball. They got beat by the Dodgers in 7 games. The worst part was Kirk Gibson hitting key HR's in two decisive games (one game went extra (12?) innings).
Yeah... if you're a life-long Mets fan, you're either an idiot, or have a wonderful sense of humor.
Quote:
In comment 14389864 jvm52106 said:
Quote:
as Villanova should have been a victory and back to back Championships.
I think any team that won multiple postseason playoff games and went to the championship are not what this thread is about. It isn't teams who had great regular seasons and didn't win it all, it's about teams that had great regular seasons and flopped completely in the playoffs.
Really, where in the op is that stated? It asks for the biggest flops after a stellar regular season.
A big flop is a big flop regardless of when it happens in the postseason and why I think the 04 Yanks are right up there. They won 103 games and the Division and lost the Championship series after being up 3-0. It was the first time that's happened in baseball history and you can't flop worse than blowing a three games to none lead in a series.
As a season ticket holder, it’s just stunning