The Worst Ways to Lose in the Playoffs

Losing is never fun, but when it happens in a critical playoff game, it doesn't just sting, it cripples, as players, coaches and fans are left wondering what might have happened had just one play gone the other way.

And the fact the heartbreaking loss ends a team's season means everyone is stewing over it for months and, yes, even years to follow, wondering if it was fate, bad luck or something else that led to the outcome of that game.

With a number of different ways to lose in the playoffs, I've narrowed down the absolute worst ways—so apologies now if these bring up any bad memories.

Cincinnati Bengals' Dumb Penalties

Anytime a team shoots itself in the foot by committing a bunch of penalties, it's a bad look. But when a team does it with straight-up stupidity like the Cincinnati Bengals did in their Wild Card Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, it's a hell of a lot more frustrating.

Searching for their first playoff win in over two decades, the Bengals have no one but themselves to blame for ending their season early, as two costly penalties cost them 30 yards, allowing the Steelers to get into field-goal range for the victory.

The first came when linebacker Vontaze Burfict hit Antonio Brown with a dirty hit to the head, with the next coming when cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones tried to shove Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter during the injury timeout directly afterwards.

For those keeping track at home, that was two unsportsmanlike penalties in a matter of seconds, so, yeah, good job, Cincy.

The Bartman Way

Just when fans think they've seen it all, something as simple as someone reaching for a foul ball goes and changes their minds, causing a slew of reactions that prevented the Chicago Cubs from reaching the World Series.

And without reliving the entire fiasco for Cubbies supporters, having someone pull a Steve Bartman—and, indirectly, cursing the team—is one of the most horrible ways for a team to lose a game.

No, Bartman didn't cause the Cubs to forget how to play defense and didn't give up the seven runs on his own, but his play was a momentum-killer that sucked the life out of Wrigley Field—and because it's a rare occurrence, sports fans will never forget.

Los Angeles Lakers Blow 24-Point Lead in NBA Finals

When the longtime rivals, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, met in the NBA Finals in 2008, everyone was expecting a series that was as epic as both franchises' rich history of. But almost no one would have predicted what happened in Game 4 of the series.

Playing in L.A., the Lakers raced out to a strong start that looked too insurmountable for the Celtics to climb out of, getting up by as many as 24 points and looking as if they were going to tie the series at two games apiece.

Instead of surrendering, though, Boston kept chipping away, and with about four minutes left, the Celtics took the lead for the first and last time to win the game and take a 3-1 series lead.

For all those who watched this on TV and thought it was over, shame on you, because when it comes to a playoff game, no team ever quits.

Green Bay Packers Muff Onside Kick in NFC Championship

Still one of the most emotionally charged football games I've ever witnessed—especially since I live in Seattle—was when the Green Bay Packers' Brandon Bostick muffed the Seahawks' onside-kick attempt in the NFC title game last season; it literally gave me chills.

What makes this sting even more for Packers fans is that the team should have never even been in that position to begin with, as they shut the Hawks down for about 3.5 quarters, leading by 12, with 10 minutes to play until they reached the Super Bowl.

Instead of putting the home team away, Green Bay basically wrote the book on how to lose in epic fashion, ultimately losing in overtime.

Utah Jazz Buried by Michael Jordan's Game-Winner in NBA Finals

I know that there have been other big shots in NBA history that ousted a team from the postseason, but because no one had it like Michael Jordan did, his shot against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals is the one that gets consideration.

There's nothing worse that can happen to a basketball fan watching a close game than to have his or her heart ripped out by an opposing player who knocks down a game-winner as time expires, and when it happens in an elimination game, it stays with you forever.

The difficult thing for Jazz fans is that this happened in back-to-back years against the same team, as Steve Kerr hit a game-winner in Game 6 of the '97 Finals, meaning the Jazz and their fans had to try and recover from a Finals lost twice. Ouch.

Minnesota Vikings Miss a Chip-Shot Field Goal

After they won on a miraculous muffed onside kick in last season's playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks kept their good luck heading into this year's postseason, too, winning on a missed field goal Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh completely shanked from 27 yards away.

Playing in below-zero temperatures in Minneapolis and being held scoreless into the fourth quarter, it looked as if the Hawks' hope for three straight Super Bowl appearances would end in blistery Minnesota.

Instead, Walsh reminded fans that even the most gimme of field-goal attempts aren't so automatic, sending fans home stunned.

San Antonio Spurs Can't Make One Free Throw to Closeout NBA Finals

All Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs needed to do was make his free throws and his team would have won the 2013 NBA Finals, defeating the Miami Heat and their Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Instead, Leonard stepped to the line with zero confidence, with the deer-in-headlights look, making just one of two from the charity stripe, with 19.4 seconds left, allowing the Heat to keep it a one-possession game.

With the security ropes set to hold back fans in anticipation of a Spurs victory, Miami came back and watched Ray Allen tie the game in the waning seconds to send Game 6 to overtime—where the Heat ultimately won the game and, later, the series.

This was devastating for the Spurs and their fans, but also for the Heat fans who gave up on the team by leaving early. Sham on you, guys.

Boston Bruins Fall Victim to Two Goals in 17 Seconds to Lose Stanley Cup

There have been some incredible playoff games during my lifetime, but Game 6 of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Final, between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, is toward the top.

Trailing 2-1 with just over one minute to play, the Hawks—who were facing a nearly certain Game 7 the following night—pulled a rabbit out of their hat to completely shock both the Boston faithful in attendance and those watching via TV at home.

That's because the Hawks netted two goals just 17 seconds apart in the final 1:16, giving them a 3-2 advantage, crushing the hearts of Bruins fans everywhere, as they won Lord Stanley's Cup on Boston's home ice.

No matter who you are, this isn't a loss that can just be swept under the rug and forgotten.

Miami Hurricanes End Up on the Most Questionable Pass-Interference Call Ever

Heading into the national title game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Miami Hurricanes had won 34 straight games and were searching for their second consecutive national title. It's too bad the refs screwed them out of it.

In one of the most debated calls in college football history, refs made an extremely late pass-interference call, determining Miami defender Glenn Sharpe had tugged on Ohio State receiver Chris Gamble's arm while trying to catch the game-tying touchdown pass.

The Bucks took advantage of the extra opportunity, scoring a few plays later and winning the national championship in the next overtime period.

With the flag being thrown so late, the fireworks had actually already been set off and the Canes' sideline had been celebrating, so this one was a stinger that still has players from both sides refuting the call to this day.

England Women's Soccer Scores Own Goal to Get Ousted from Women's World Cup

Refs' bad calls and some worse luck is never easy to deal with. What the English women's soccer team had to endure during the Women's World Cup semifinal this past summer is almost unfair, though.

Tied at 1-1 and just two minutes into injury time, England defender Laura Bassett made the biggest mistake of her life, accidentally heading a crossed ball from a Japanese player into her own net, giving Japan a 2-1 lead that turned into the final score a few seconds later.

It's one of the most devastating ways to lose in any game, but to be on the biggest stage in her sport and in the semifinals made this one the game that should make every fan heartbroken for Bassett.

New York Yankees Become History in the ALCS

Rather than focus on just one game during the 2004 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox that was heartbreaking, how about we just go with the final four of the series instead?

After all, that's when the Yanks blew a 3-0 series lead that led to the Red Sox taking the series in seven and, ultimately, winning their first World Series title in 86 years.

It was like a knife that just slowly went deeper and deeper into New York fans each and every night during the lost series, capped by Johnny Damon's grand slam in Game 7 that all but deflated everyone in the Big Apple.

Coming against their biggest rival with the chance to reach the Fall Classic, this series loss is one that is still talked about—and with good reason, because no team had or has ever accomplished what the BoSox did by overcoming the 0-3 deficit.

Tennessee Titans End Up One-Yard Short

It's the biggest sporting event of each year—the Super Bowl.

So when the Tennessee Titans and the then-St. Louis Rams played one another to end the 1999 season, fans got one of the best ever matchups seen—unless you're a Titans fan.

Trailing by a touchdown and about to score as the time ticked down, Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson wasn't quite long enough to stretch the ball across the goal line, as Rams linebacker Mike Jones pulled him down as the clock hit triple zeroes.

Falling just inches from a sure shot at settling the score in overtime, it's one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Super Bowl—and one nasty way to lose a critical game in the postseason.

Texas Rangers Can't Get That Final Strike to End the World Series

Needing just one strike to win the 2011 World Series, the Texas Rangers ended up blowing Game 6 to the St. Louis Cardinals in a way that none of us had ever seen before; it became one of the most heartbreaking losses in MLB postseason history.

Entering the game with a 3-2 series lead and a two-run cushion heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Texas closer Neftali Feliz couldn't shut the door on a Cards rally, giving up a two-run, game-tying double to St. Louis' David Freese that tied the game.

With the count 2-2 and the Cards down to their last strike of the season, Freese saved his team from elimination in that inning and later in the same game, too, as he, once again, delivered a monster hit in the form of a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 11th with his team trailing by two.

Blowing a late-inning lead once hurts. Doing it within one strike of a title and then again later in the game is just unimaginable.

Seattle Seahawks' Interception in the Super Bowl

As much good luck as the Seattle Seahawks had seen over the past few years in the playoffs, they finally bit themselves during the biggest game of the season. In last year's Super Bowl, they made a pass attempt from the New England Patriots' 2-yard line as time ticked down.

Needing a touchdown for the victory, the Hawks' decision to throw instead of run is widely considered the "worst play call" in Super Bowl history, as Mark Maske of the Washington Post noted, because many believed they should have just handed the ball off to Beast Mode running back Marshawn Lynch.

Instead, the turnover left those in Seattle punching walls, swearing at the TV and wondering how to pick their jaws up off the floor. Seriously, that's how devastating and shocking this loss was.

The Seahawks are on a mission this year trying to make people forget about that loss, so time will tell if they can redeem themselves.