That was then: Celebrating what was

Al Zarilla

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What would be wrong with Warner having two rings? He went to three Super Bowls, won one and could have won the other two. His path to the NFL was unusual so he doesn’t have the career numbers that other QBs have but at his peak he was the best in the game. He wouldn’t be close to the worst QB with two Super Bowl titles.
Nothing wrong with Kurt having 2. I like him. It was more my saying that deciding on a strategy to lay the wood to all Rams skill position players when the ball came anywhere near them was probably something no other coach does, and won the Pats the game. Instead of taking away 1 or 2 top offense guys, he took away them all.
 

j44thor

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Re-watching the Pats Seahawks SB. Hard to believe Chris Matthews wasn't a bigger story that game. First NFL catch in the SB, ends up with over 100yds receiving and TD and would only total an additional 176 yds receiving in his career over 2 seasons. Talk about a nobody having a massive impact in the SB.
 

DJnVa

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Madden gets a lot of grief for his saying that he thought the Pats should have kneeled on the ball and played for overtime and I wasn’t much of a fan of his. But in rewatching the game the other day I was struck that his commentary was spot on from the first frame of that broadcast.
On the other hand, Summerall was *bad* that day.
 

BigSoxFan

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Re-watching the Pats Seahawks SB. Hard to believe Chris Matthews wasn't a bigger story that game. First NFL catch in the SB, ends up with over 100yds receiving and TD and would only total an additional 176 yds receiving in his career over 2 seasons. Talk about a nobody having a massive impact in the SB.
Yup. That pathetic defense at the end of the first half pissed me off more than probably any other time in the playoffs during the BB/Brady era. It was so inexcusable.
 

Hendu for Kutch

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I remember in the past year or two reading an article linked from here about how Tom Brady had personally delivered the most devestating loss in team history to about 1/4 of the league. Anyone else recollect that?

I think it might be safe to add the Chiefs to that list now, no?
 

BlackJack

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I remember in the past year or two reading an article linked from here about how Tom Brady had personally delivered the most devestating loss in team history to about 1/4 of the league. Anyone else recollect that?

I think it might be safe to add the Chiefs to that list now, no?
I found this from June 2016:

The most devastating loss in all 32 NFL team’s history

It has the Patriots listed for 6 teams:

Raiders 2001 division round
Chargers 2006 division round
Ravens 2011 AFC Championship
Seahawks SB XLIX
Rams SB XXXVI
Panthers SB XXXVIII

This was obviously before SB LI, so Atlanta would easily be added to that list.

They have KC’s worst as the 1995 division round against Indy. This year’s AFC Championship probably has that beat.

That’d be 8 for Brady led Pats teams.
 

koufax32

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You would have to add Jags last year as well, right?
I can confirm this. The vast majority of the fan base will put last year above the playoff loss to TEN 20 years ago when they were 14-2 and lost to TEN 3 times. There are billboards here that just say “Mack wasn’t down” over a year later.
 

Rook05

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I found this from June 2016:

The most devastating loss in all 32 NFL team’s history

It has the Patriots listed for 6 teams:

Raiders 2001 division round
Chargers 2006 division round
Ravens 2011 AFC Championship
Seahawks SB XLIX
Rams SB XXXVI
Panthers SB XXXVIII

This was obviously before SB LI, so Atlanta would easily be added to that list.

They have KC’s worst as the 1995 division round against Indy. This year’s AFC Championship probably has that beat.

That’d be 8 for Brady led Pats teams.
I’d argue for the 15-1 Steelers going down at home in 2001...
 

Rook05

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I found this from June 2016:

The most devastating loss in all 32 NFL team’s history

It has the Patriots listed for 6 teams:

Raiders 2001 division round
Chargers 2006 division round
Ravens 2011 AFC Championship
Seahawks SB XLIX
Rams SB XXXVI
Panthers SB XXXVIII

This was obviously before SB LI, so Atlanta would easily be added to that list.

They have KC’s worst as the 1995 division round against Indy. This year’s AFC Championship probably has that beat.

That’d be 8 for Brady led Pats teams.
Edit: Double post
 

BlackJack

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The USA Today article has SB XXX as the Steelers’ worst loss. Hard to argue with that.

The Jags last year would certainly be a contender but they listed the 1999 AFC Championship. That’s a bit closer but I’m inclined to give ‘99 the nod.
 

tims4wins

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The USA Today article has SB XXX as the Steelers’ worst loss. Hard to argue with that.

The Jags last year would certainly be a contender but they listed the 1999 AFC Championship. That’s a bit closer but I’m inclined to give ‘99 the nod.
Super Bowl 30? Hardly. That Steelers team was totally overmatched against the Cowboys, they were lucky to keep it a game (kind of like the 96 Pats). The 2004 Steelers were much better. Hell even the 2001 Steelers might have been better.
 

Dan Murfman

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The following year in the AFC championship game they were 9 point favorites at home the Chargers and they blew a 10 point second half lead. That’s got to be up there.
 

dynomite

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Re-watching the Pats Seahawks SB. Hard to believe Chris Matthews wasn't a bigger story that game. First NFL catch in the SB, ends up with over 100yds receiving and TD and would only total an additional 176 yds receiving in his career over 2 seasons. Talk about a nobody having a massive impact in the SB.
Chris Matthews, David Tyree, late career Ricky Proehl, Owen Daniels. It's crazy when you think about the odd assortment of medicore or unknown players who have had signature moments against the Pats.

In part I think that's a result of the Patriots playing in a ridiculous number of playoff games and Super Bowls, but I also think it's the result of Belichick taking away the most obvious weapons on the other team.

You want to beat us? Beat us with a 4th string WR no one has ever heard of.

Yup, that was the year Joey Porter said the Patriots could "Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER get to our level", which prompted Teddy Bruschi to say "What level was that?"......
Absolutely. Think about 2004 for the Steelers. After decades of playoff failures, including ugly home losses in the AFC Championship game in ‘94, ‘97, and ‘01, they go 15-1 and beat the Patriots. It’s clearly one of Bettis’s last hurrahs, and they finally have the chance to get revenge on Brady and Belichick and go to a Super Bowl against their in-State rival, the Eagles. And instead, they get humiliated by the Patriots once again.

Maybe the blow was softened a little bit because they had a great young core that promised a bright future (and indeed, 3 Super Bowl appearances and 2 rings would follow in the next 6 seasons) but at the time that must have been totally devastating.

Super Bowl 30? Hardly. That Steelers team was totally overmatched against the Cowboys, they were lucky to keep it a game (kind of like the 96 Pats). The 2004 Steelers were much better. Hell even the 2001 Steelers might have been better.
Right. The Cowboys were 13.5 point favorites. The fact that the Steelers were within 3 points with 4 minutes left was a major accomplishment.

In terms of the list of hardest losses for your franchise, I like the list above:

Raiders 2001 Division Round
Rams SB XXXVI
Panthers SB XXXVIII
Chargers 2006 Division Round
Ravens 2011 AFC Championship
Seahawks SB XLIX
Falcons SB LI
Jaguars 2017 AFC Championship
Chiefs 2018 AFC Championship

I'll go with the Tuck Rule game for the Raiders, even though I would think getting completely embarassed in the Super Bowl by your former coach must have sucked.

1) For the Steelers, I'd be interested what their fans say. The 2004 AFC Championship would be my guess, but the 2010 Super Bowl loss to the Packers was pretty rough, too (they were down 21-3 in the 1st half and ended up getting the ball back down only 6 with 2 minutes left, but couldn't convert a 4th and 5 at midfield).

2) What about the Jets? I didn't remember anything about that 2004 loss in the Divisional Round to the Steelers. I would have thought many Jets fans would say the "Butt Fumble" 2012 Thanksgiving game, when they officially turned into a laughingstock on national TV and their unofficial mascot "Fireman Ed" came out after the game to renounce his fandom. I know it was a regular season game and they went into it 4-6, but to lose like that on one of the most hilarious inept plays in modern sports history has got to be pretty low. Remember, before that game Rex and The Sanchize were known as the duo that got the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games and beat the mighty Patriots in Foxboro in 2010. After that game, they were relegated to an eternity of internet memes -- the butt of endless jokes.

I also wonder about the 1994 Marino "Fake Spike" play for the Jets. Again, a regular season game, but they were up 17-0 and were on Monday Night Football competing for the AFC East, and instead blew the game, lost their last four games, and Pete Carroll ended up getting fired.

Edit: This post is already too long, but what the hell!

3) What about the Texans? The FTW article claims it's their loss against the Ravens in the Divisional Round in 2011 because of a muffed punt in the 1st quarter. Apparently that was a big loss for them, but did their fans really think they were going somewhere with TJ Yates at QB?

Losing at home to their rivals the Colts this season must have sucked, but I think there's a good argument for the "Letterman Jacket" 2012 game in Foxboro. Like the Jets with the Butt Fumble, this was the moment when the balloon of that Texans era deflated with a whine.

Remember, the Texans came into that game with an 11-1 record -- best in the AFC at the time -- to face the 9-3 Patriots, looking to establish themselves as the AFC's Super Bowl favorite on Monday Night Football and basically lock down a bye. ... Instead, they're down 21-0 at halftime and 42-7 in the 4th quarter while the whole country giggles at their matching jackets. They lose 2 of their last 3, miss out on a bye, and get blown out again in New England in the Divisional Round. The next year they lose 14 games in a row and Kubiak gets fired.
 
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tims4wins

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While the nation is harping on the entire "OT is unfair" discussion, what they miss is that Tom Brady has had exactly 3 possessions in overtime in the playoffs, and has put up 2 touchdowns and a field goal (and probably would have put up 3 touchdowns, had one been needed in 2001). He is 16-22 for 165 yards on those drives, leading the Pats on drives of 61, 75, and 75 yards. He has never given his opponent a chance at a possession, unlike say Brees who threw a pick on the Saints first OT possession. He is a stone cold killer.
 

rodderick

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While the nation is harping on the entire "OT is unfair" discussion, what they miss is that Tom Brady has had exactly 3 possessions in overtime in the playoffs, and has put up 2 touchdowns and a field goal (and probably would have put up 3 touchdowns, had one been needed in 2001). He is 16-22 for 165 yards on those drives, leading the Pats on drives of 61, 75, and 75 yards. He has never given his opponent a chance at a possession, unlike say Brees who threw a pick on the Saints first OT possession. He is a stone cold killer.
All I see is people whining about how Rodgers twice lost OT playoff games without seeing the ball, but remember when he won the coin toss and fumbled the game away against the Cardinals? It's like it's a given those guys would drive down the field and score when the only QB we've seen do exactly that every single time is Brady.
 

tims4wins

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All I see is people whining about how Rodgers twice lost OT playoff games without seeing the ball, but remember when he won the coin toss and fumbled the game away against the Cardinals? It's like it's a given those guys would drive down the field and score when the only QB we've seen do exactly that every single time is Brady.
Exactly. I watched Saint Peyton throw an OT pick at home in 2012. It's not that easy, yo.
 

johnmd20

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2) What about the Jets? I didn't remember anything about that 2004 loss in the Divisional Round to the Steelers. I would have thought many Jets fans would say the "Butt Fumble" 2012 Thanksgiving game, when they officially turned into a laughingstock on national TV and their unofficial mascot "Fireman Ed" came out after the game to renounce his fandom. I know it was a regular season game and they went into it 4-6, but to lose like that on one of the most hilarious inept plays in modern sports history has got to be pretty low. Remember, before that game Rex and The Sanchize were known as the duo that got the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games and beat the mighty Patriots in Foxboro in 2010. After that game, they were relegated to an eternity of internet memes -- the butt of endless jokes.

I also wonder about the 1994 Marino "Fake Spike" play for the Jets. Again, a regular season game, but they were up 17-0 and were on Monday Night Football competing for the AFC East, and instead blew the game, lost their last four games, and Pete Carroll ended up getting fired.
The butt fumble game isn't in the same realm as that playoff loss. Those missed kicks were legendary at the time. The butt fumble was in a season the Jets were floundering, as you noted. That's not a devastating loss, it was just worth a very good laugh.

And that fake spike game was a 1pm game on Sunday. So it wasn't a national audience, but it is a famous game.
 

dynomite

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The butt fumble game isn't in the same realm as that playoff loss. Those missed kicks were legendary at the time. The butt fumble was in a season the Jets were floundering, as you noted. That's not a devastating loss, it was just worth a very good laugh.

And that fake spike game was a 1pm game on Sunday. So it wasn't a national audience, but it is a famous game.
Good point on the Fake Spike game, I read the Football Reference box score wrong. Sorry about that.

On the Butt Fumble, maybe that’s right. I have almost no memory of that 2004 Jets-Steelers Divisional Game, and I guess as a Patriots fan I’ve completely lost my perspective on how special it is to make the playoffs at all, and that loss sounds agonizing.
 

Saints Rest

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While the nation is harping on the entire "OT is unfair" discussion, what they miss is that Tom Brady has had exactly 3 possessions in overtime in the playoffs, and has put up 2 touchdowns and a field goal (and probably would have put up 3 touchdowns, had one been needed in 2001). He is 16-22 for 165 yards on those drives, leading the Pats on drives of 61, 75, and 75 yards. He has never given his opponent a chance at a possession, unlike say Brees who threw a pick on the Saints first OT possession. He is a stone cold killer.
It’s a ridiculous argument, when the counter-argument is as close as that afternoon’s game. Saints win the toss, Brees throws a pick, and LA wins with an easy FG.
 

shawnrbu

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Watching the Pats/Eagles XXXIX highlights.

"No team has ever lost a Super Bowl when leading by 10 points in the 4th Quarter."

Fast forward 14 years and that accomplishment has happened twice.
 

grsharky7

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Brady and Belichick have beaten almost the entire AFC at one point or another in the playoffs since this run began.
Colts (03,04,13,14)
Steelers (01,04,16)
Chargers (06,07,18)
Jags (05,07,17)
Titans (03,17)
Chiefs (15,18)
Ravens (11,14)
Texans (12,16)
Broncos (11)
Jets (05)
Raiders (01)

So the only AFC teams they haven't beat are the Bills, Dolphins, Bengals, and the Browns. The Bills and Dolphins haven't had many appearances since 2001, so that is understandable. However, it is surprising they never faced the Bengals during this run, they've had several appearances in the playoffs. As stated above the Pats have given some of these teams the worst or one of the worst losses (2004 Steelers, 2006, Chargers, 2018 Chiefs, etc) in their history. You look at that list and almost every team in the AFC has their season ended by the Pats at some point in the past 18 years.

Edit: forgot the Browns in my original post. Sorry for the oversight!
 
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tims4wins

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Brady and Belichick have beaten almost the entire AFC at one point or another in the playoffs since this run began.
Colts (03,04,13,14)
Steelers (01,04,16)
Chargers (06,07,18)
Jags (05,07,17)
Titans (03,17)
Chiefs (15,18)
Ravens (11,14)
Texans (12,16)
Broncos (11)
Jets (05)
Raiders (01)

So the only AFC teams they haven't beat are the Bills, Dolphins, and the Bengals. The Bills and Dolphins haven't had many appearances since 2001, so that is understandable. However, it is surprising they never faced the Bengals during this run, they've had several appearances in the playoffs. As stated above the Pats have given some of these teams the worst or one of the worst losses (2004 Steelers, 2006, Chargers, 2018 Chiefs, etc) in their history. You look at that list and almost every team in the AFC has their season ended by the Pats at some point in the past 18 years.
It's not surprising that they haven't played the Bengals since the Bengals haven't won a single playoff game during this era, and the Pats don't play on Wild Card weekend.
 

tims4wins

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Hey guys the Pro Bowl is on today if anyone wants to watch some of the Pats stars... oh wait, never mind. And to think I used to watch this game to see guys like Ty Law and Ben Coates play one more time after the Pats had been knocked out of the playoffs.
 

Hendu for Kutch

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It's not surprising that they haven't played the Bengals since the Bengals haven't won a single playoff game during this era, and the Pats don't play on Wild Card weekend.
I was talking about that with a buddy that I went with to the McGinest 4.5 sack Wild Card win over the Jaguars after the '05 season. We're in an exclusive club - way fewer people have seen Brady play a Wild Card game in person than seen him play in a Super Bowl.
 

grsharky7

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It's not surprising that they haven't played the Bengals since the Bengals haven't won a single playoff game during this era, and the Pats don't play on Wild Card weekend.
I know, but they have made it seven times during the Brady/BB era and both teams played in the WC round in 05 and 09. It is surprising that the Bengals never won a single playoff game met up with the Pats.
 

E5 Yaz

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I was talking about that with a buddy that I went with to the McGinest 4.5 sack Wild Card win over the Jaguars after the '05 season. We're in an exclusive club - way fewer people have seen Brady play a Wild Card game in person than seen him play in a Super Bowl.
He's played in only 3 wild card games out of 40 postseason games. Three times as many Super Bowls as wild cards
 

E5 Yaz

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I know, but they have made it seven times during the Brady/BB era and both teams played in the WC round in 05 and 09. It is surprising that the Bengals never won a single playoff game met up with the Pats.
 

DJnVa

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Brady and Belichick have beaten almost the entire AFC at one point or another in the playoffs since this run began.
Colts (03,04,13,14)
Steelers (01,04,16)
Chargers (06,07,18)
Jags (05,07,17)
Titans (03,17)
Chiefs (15,18)
Ravens (11,14)
Texans (12,16)
Broncos (11)
Jets (05)
Raiders (01)

So the only AFC teams they haven't beat are the Bills, Dolphins, and the Bengals.
Browns
 

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Watching the Pats/Eagles XXXIX highlights.

"No team has ever lost a Super Bowl when leading by 10 points in the 4th Quarter."

Fast forward 14 years and that accomplishment has happened twice.
Been watching the entirety of SB36 as as a weeklong hype up with much greater appreciation than 9 year old me. The schemes back then, with what was allowed by hits was truly a different era. Like, talented guys on the Rams DL, but these guys would be caught in quicksand in today's game if asked to run a flood. Just look at that recovery speed (or lack of it) on the 3 wide skinny post package that went to Troy Brown almost immediately, as further evidence.

Anyway, so I'm just past Patten's touchdown. What a strange intital camera view they gave it. Absolutely a dime, and amazing it was held on to with full control. Amazing double move to wheel around the Dexter McCleon, in the span of about 2-3 yards.

But on the ensuing kickoff, I saw something similar to your item. Super Bowl Fact: Biggest Halftime Deficit Overcome is 7 Points.

Back then, given offensive scarcity, I get it. But if you told me we'll be down 7, with the ball to start the second half, I genuinely wouldn't remotely be afraid. I'd almost consider more than manageable, which is insanity. After all, Brady this decade is 6-5 when down exactly 7 at the half. That said, the only team to have done so with a greater Super Bowl halftime deficit is, of course, the Patriots in Super Bowl 51.
 

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You made me curious if there are others who did so and/or broke this with the Bills and Dolphins in their first 3/4 years in the league, albeit not starting:

3x: Phil Hansen, Henry Jones, Vern Den Herder (lone Dolphin).
4x: Carwell Gardner, Glenn Parker, Mike Lodish. Naturally, all Bills.
 

tims4wins

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The best recap of LI was probably Turning Point. That was an hour (less commercials) with tons of sideline sound, analysis, etc.
 

Mystic Merlin

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You can rewatch the game on YouTube.

There were so many chances they DIDNT exploit (fucked up a great design on the onside kick, missed XP, settled for a FG on a first and goal on the first possession of the fourth quarter), that it makes a 25 point comeback all the more amazing.