11 Worst Postseason Blunders in NFL History

For every winner there is a loser. For every hero there is a goat. This has been a continual theme throughout the world of sports ever since its inception.

Champions are made out of those who stand up when the time counts and makes plays. These titles are reserved for the best of the best. Those who have the gumption to stand above everyone else and attempt to make that defining play.

The losers in these situations may attempt to make that defining play, but fail miserably.

Today I am going to focus on the 11 worst postseason blunders in the history of the NFL. You will see kickers let their teams down, running backs fumble away a shot at a title and a long snapper literally give a game away.

These moments may represent some fondness for those of us who were going against the individual that made the mistake. But for the most part, they represent sadness and defines what the game of football is all about.

You are either a winner or a loser, there is no in between.

11. Roger Craig Fumbles Away 49ers Shot at Three-Peat

The Scene: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers, 1990 NFC Championship Game

The San Francisco 49ers were widely considered favorites to win an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl Championship. They had just taken care of business against the Washington Redskins the week earlier and were in the verge of going to the big game once again.

The only thing that stood between them and history was the New York Giants.

With San Francisco leading 13-12 and just over 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, Roger Craig was tackled behind the line of scrimmage and coughed the ball up. A San Francisco 49ers first down would have probably sealed another trip to the Super Bowl.

Instead, the Giants took over and drove down the field for a game-winning touchdown. It is the closest that Joe Montana would come to his shot at a fifth title and he would leave San Francisco just a couple short years later.

For Roger Craig, it was something that he will never live down.

10. Tony Romo Literally Fumbles Away Cowboys' Hope

The Scene: Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks, 2006 AFC Wild Card Game

The Dallas Cowboys had not won a playoff game since the 1996 season—nearly 11 years. They were on the verge of defeating the Seattle Seahawks when Tony Romo did the unthinkable.

With just over 1:00 remaining in the game and down by one point, the Cowboys set up for a game-winning 19-yard field goal attempt. For all intents and purposes this was a gimme and Dallas was going to break their long-endured postseason drought.

It wasn't to be.

Tony Romo went on to fumble the snap and come up short on the ensuing run as the Dallas Cowboys fell short and the young quarterback began his legacy as one of the biggest choke artists in franchise history.

You do not need to look much further than this one play in order to understand why so many Dallas Cowboys fans dislike their enigmatic quarterback.

9. Trey Junkin Gives San Francisco 49ers Last Playoff Victory

The Scene: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers, 2002 NFC Wild Card Game

This had as much to do with the New York Giants letting the San Francisco 49ers back into the game more than if had to do with Trey Junkin making the worst mistake of his career.

The Giants boasted a 38-14 lead over the 49ers with just over 5:00 remaining in the fourth quarter. Kerry Collins had picked apart the 49ers secondary and Tiki Barber had run through their front seven.

For all intents and purposes, the game was over.

Then came the onslaught. San Francisco scored 25 unanswered points to take a 39-38 lead with 1:00 remaining in the game. New York drove down the field on their ensuing drive, leaving them only a 41-yard field goal away from avoiding disaster.

Veteran long snapper Trey Junkin, who was just signed earlier in the week, snapped a bad ball and the holder attempted to throw the ball down field. A San Francisco 49ers defender interfered on the play, but a Giants' illegal man down field penalty ended the game with New York on the wrong end of one of the greatest finishes in the history of professional sports.

8. Houston Oilers Blow Biggest Lead in NFL Playoff History

The Scene: Houston Oilers at Buffalo Bills, 1992 AFC Wild Card Game

This was more of a team effort than anything else. The Houston Oilers were beating the Buffalo Bills 35-3 with less than 10:00 remaining in the third quarter. It appeared that the Bills hopes for another Super Bowl appearance were coming to an end, especially with Frank Reich in for the injured Jim Kelly.

It did not happen.

Buffalo completed an improbable comeback by defeating Warren Moon and the Oilers 41-38. In the process, the Oilers self-destructed and enabled Reich to look like a reincarnation of Joe Montana. In all, the Bills scored 38 of the game's final 41 points in just over 25:00 of real football time.

However you want to look at the Bills comeback, there had to be a goat and it was the entire Houston Oilers football team.

7. Gary Anderson Ends Minnesota Vikings Amazing Ride

The Scene: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, 1998 NFC Championship Game

The Minnesota Vikings had come into the 1998 NFC Championship Game with an overall record of 16-1. They were facing the surprising Atlanta Falcons in a game many expected Minnesota to win without much of a problem.

Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Randall Cunningham looked to be too much for an undermanned Atlanta Falcons defense. The game started out that way as well. Minnesota took a 20-7 lead on a Gary Anderson field goal towards the end of the second quarter. Minnesota missed out on a touchdown when Randy Moss dropped a would-be touchdown from Cunningham.

The game went into the half with Minnesota holding onto a 20-14 lead.

With Minnesota up 27-20 and just over 2:00 remaining in the game, Gary Anderson missed his first field goal of the season, sailing the kick wide left. Atlanta drove down for the game tying touchdown and won the game in overtime.

Anderson, who might end up being a Hall of Fame kicker at some point, will always be remembered for this disastrous performance.

6. Brett Favre Chokes in Final Chance at Another Super Bowl Ring

The Scene: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings, 2009 NFC Championship Game

It was Brett Favre's chance to prove that he didn't need the Green Bay Packers to win a Super Bowl. He had the greatest regular season of his career with the Minnesota Vikings and was all but destined to lead his former bitter rivals to their first Super Bowl appearance in nearly 30 years.

With the game tied and less than 30 seconds remaining, Minnesota appeared to be in Ryan Longwell's field goal territory, although it would have been about a 54-yard field goal.

Brett Favre decided to put the ball up once more in order to get the Vikings closer. His pass up the middle was intercepted by Tracy Porter.

New Orleans won the game in overtime and ended up defeating the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

The interception would end up being the last playoff pass of Brett Favre's Hall of Fame career.

5. The Tuck Game

The Scene: Oakland Raiders at New England Patriots, 2002 AFC Divisional Playoffs

This game still sticks with me. I had absolutely no rooting interest for either team, but for the referees to decide the game on a phantom call really did make me upset.

The Oakland Raiders had forced a Tom Brady fumble, which pretty much ended the game. However, the referees made the decision to review the call and overturned it.

Their explanation? Brady was making a throwing motion and not pulling the ball back.

It was the first time that many of us had heard of the rule, but it was the "correct" call. In the end, the Patriots defeated Oakland and sent the Raiders home with a bitter taste in their mouth.

But it was the referees who ultimately decided this epic match between two heavyweights.

4. Super Bowl III

The Scene: Baltimore Colts vs New York Jets, Super Bowl III

Joe Namath and the New York Jets came into Super Bowl III as major underdogs against the vastly superior Baltimore Colts.

Earl Morrall missed a wide open Baltimore Colts receiver in the end zone in the fourth quarter. A touchdown there would have pulled the heavily favored Colts within two points and given them a chance to avoid the humiliating upset.

I attempted to find video of the pass, but couldn't. Needless to say, Tom Matte must not have had one Jets defender within 10 yards of him in the end zone.

In the end, the Jets pulled off the upset and Joe Namath's guarantee proved right.

3. Oilers Touchdown Disallowed and Steelers Go Back to the Bowl

The Scene: Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1979 AFC Championship Game

With the Pittsburgh Steelers leading 17-10 in the last seconds of the third quarter, Houston Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini hit wide receiver Mike Renfro in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.

However, the referee called the pass incomplete and Houston had to settle for a field goal. As you will see on the embedded video, Renfro got both feet in bounds and the officials completely blew the call.

This game began conversation in regards to instant replay and was a precursor to the system we see today.

Although Pittsburgh won by two touchdowns, there is no telling what would have happened if this score was allowed. Which it should have been.

2. Scott Norwood Goes All Wide Right on Us

The Scene: Buffalo Bills vs New York Giants, Super Bowl XXV

The Buffalo Bills had nine Pro Bowl players and were taking on the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. This game pitted a strong Giants defense, led by Bill Belichick, against Jim Kelly and a potent Bills offense.

With the Giants up 20-19 and eight seconds left, Scott Norwood had a chance to win the game with a pretty routine (for him) 47-yard field goal attempt.

It sailed wide right and the rest is history. Norwood's lengthy and solid career came down to a missed field goal in the biggest stage. The Bills would go on to lose four consecutive Super Bowls and this miss set all that futility in motion.

Who knows how the rest of the Bills "dynasty" would have turned out of the kick had sailed a few inches to the left.

1. Jackie Smith Drops Cowboys Hopes of Super Bowl Title

The Scene: Dallas Cowboys vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XIII

With the Dallas Cowboys down 21-14 and less than 5:00 remaining in the third quarter, Roger Staubach spotted a wide open Jackie Smith in the end zone and threw it to the backup tight end. Smith, who had single-digit catches that season, dropped the pass and the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal.

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended up winning the game and Jackie Smith was the biggest goat in the history of the Cowboys' heralded franchise.

It was the Cowboys' second Super Bowl loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and took them another 15 years for a rematch. A game that they ended up winning in 1995.