Teams That Looked Better Than They Played

In an age of throwback and alternate uniforms, some teams have shown that, while they look great in their outfits, their play during the game actually clashes.

That's why I figured I would take a look at some of the coolest-looking garb that teams have donned, only to find themselves on the losing end thanks to a poor performance.

While they may have entered the game straight stylin' and profilin', they exited without their play matching their cool uniforms.

2014 San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

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After starting with five wins in their first six games—most notably, the victory over the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks—the San Diego Chargers haven't had great luck over the past month, dropping their past three games and falling in the AFC playoff race.

No more was that shown than in a game back in late October of this year when they lost to the divisional foe Kansas City Chiefs 23-20 at home.

Wearing one of the coolest unis in NFL history—the powder blues with the white helmets—the Chargers may have looked great running around on the field, but they failed to walk off of it with a victory in a crucial game against a big opponent.

2014 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

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In anticipation of their prime-time matchup against traditional power Virginia Tech earlier this year, the Ohio State Buckeyes wanted to make sure they wore their alternate Rivalry uniforms.

And that's about all that seemed to be going for them.

That's because the then-No. 8 Bucks fell flat on their faces in their home opener, losing 35-21 to a Hokies team that, after shocking Ohio State, lost to East Carolina on their home field the following week.

The Buckeyes may have looked great for fans and recruits, but their play didn't match the style of their garb.

2013 Washington Capitals

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Although I prefer the original throwbacks that the NHL's Washington Capitals have worn on occasion, the new design that pays homage to the classic look is one of the coolest sweaters in the league.

Still, as stylish as they look out there on the ice, boasting one of the best players on the planet in Alex Ovechkin, the Caps did not match their play with the style of their uniforms in 2013, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons and finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference standings.

At least the team's jerseys are cool, though.

2013 Carolina Panthers vs. San Francisco 49ers

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Believe it or not, the Carolina Panthers' all-black uniforms were actually chosen as the best in NFL history, beating out the San Francisco 49ers'.

It's too bad the Panthers were unable to beat the Niners in something a little bit more important, like last season's NFC divisional playoff game, losing at home 23-10 to end their season.

And while a loss in the postseason game stings, the feeling must have carried over into this season, too, as the Panthers sit at 3-6 and just got humiliated by the Philadelphia Eagles, 45-21, on Monday Night Football.

But for fans who want to see the stylish all-blacks on the field, here are the dates the team plans on wearing them this season, which, hopefully, leads to better play.

2014 Syracuse Orange vs. Boston College Eagles

With the hopes that their throwback uniforms would help extend their winning streak last season to 26 games, the Syracuse men's hoops team took the floor against the Boston College Eagles in what they assumed was a serious fashion statement.

Maybe the then-No. 1 team should have stuck with its original get-up, because the Orange got shocked by the Eagles at home, proving that it's not how good a team looks in its uniforms when it plays crappy during the game.

It ended up being, arguably, the biggest upset in college basketball in 2013-14, so maybe the Orange will rethink wearing those things again.

2014 Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona Wildcats

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Sure, the Oregon Ducks football team might have one of the most explosive offenses in the game, but they had anything but during a matchup with previously unranked Arizona earlier this season.

Ranked No. 2 entering the game, the Ducks didn't exactly light up the scoreboard, failing to match their breast cancer awareness-inspired uniforms by losing to the 24-point underdog Wildcats, 31-24, on their home turf.

The Ducks have rebounded nicely by getting back into the playoff picture, but on this night, their play didn't match their uniforms.

2014 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

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In one of the most anticipated returns in sports history, the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James' homecoming didn't exactly go as they had expected.

Donning their all-blue uniforms—which, as a Cavs fan, I think is their best alternate look—James and his mates couldn't match their play to their garb, getting stunned by the visiting New York Knicks in their season opener.

On a night when the atmosphere was electric and the team welcomed a new jersey to its collection, the Knicks played spoiler to it all.

2013 Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

I know that the Denver Broncos' orange jerseys aren't as much alternates as just their normal look—they seem to actually like them more than other options—but, as good as they look, the team made them look really bad in last year's Super Bowl.

That's because, playing the Seattle Seahawks and their vaunted defense, Broncos players looked better in front of a mirror than on the field, getting absolutely humiliated by the Seahawks, 43-8.

Maybe it's time to start wearing the navy blue or white tops for big games, no?

2014 Maryland Terrapins vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

USA TODAY Sports

It really was a great thought, as the Maryland Terrapins football team would honor the good ol' United States by wearing a red, white and blue-inspired uniform in their matchup against the West Virginia Mountaineers in 2014.

While the uniform was certainly unique, the play of the Terps was anything but, as they gave up 28 first-half points and eventually lost 40-37 to the Mountaineers.

By no means was it a blowout, but one would think that with such incredible uniforms, the effort would be a little bit better.

Come one, guys, U-S-A! U-S-A!

2014 Miami Marlins

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Maybe I'm just a sucker for a bright colored jersey, especially in baseball, but I really do think that the Miami Marlins' orange tops are some of the freshest in all of MLB.

It's too bad the team itself isn't as solid as those tops, though.

After getting off to a solid start to the 2014 season, the Marlins finished just 77-85, missing out on the playoffs for the 11th time since their World Series win in 2003.

The Marlins' unis might appear to be youthful and flashy, but the team fails to match that personality on the field.

2014 Brazilian World Cup Team vs. Germany

What a major injustice the 2014 Brazilian national soccer team did to all those who donned the classic jersey before them.

Pele. Ronaldo. Roberto Carlos. All of them had to be embarrassed for the Selecao following their laughable 7-1 loss to the German national team in the semifinals of this year's World Cup, played in front of millions in their home country.

It's one of the most honorable patches and kits to wear in soccer, yet the Brazilians showed they were undeserving of such acclaim in that instance.

2014 Oakland Raiders

Ben Margot/Associated Press

A commitment to excellence? I think not.

Although the Oakland Raiders have what many think are some of the coolest uniforms in both the NFL and all of sports, the team's play in recent years hasn't been as stylish.

Failing to make the postseason since their Super Bowl trip back during the 2002 season, the Raiders are currently the only winless team in the league and have a real shot at becoming just the second 0-16 team in NFL history.

The team's silver and black colors are cool and intimidating, but not when the team stinks it up as bad as it has in the past decade.