19 of the Ugliest NFL Playoff Games in the Super Bowl Era

There's always that excuse: "It's just one of those games."

Well, just one of those games happened to be a complete stinker—one that was so ugly that the NFL world will never forget. 

"Just one of those games" could simply be a huge blowout or even a low-scoring game with both defenses dominating while the offenses tread water. Either way, they're ugly. 

In that spirit, allow me to introduce to you 19 of the ugliest playoff games in the Super Bowl era.

2009 Wild Card Round: Ravens vs. Patriots

For the first time in the Bill Belichick era in New England, the Patriots lost a home playoff game, and it was an ugly one.

The Baltimore Ravens ran all over the Patriots, winning 33-14 as Ray Rice ran for an incredible 159 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.

Meanwhile, Joe Flacco had to throw only 10 passes—that's how ugly this one was. 

Super Bowl XXXV: Ravens vs. Giants

This was supposed to be one of the best defensive battles in Super Bowl history, but the Baltimore Ravens offense was able to score a ton of points on the New York Giants. 

In Super Bowl XXXV, the Ravens were able to pull off the 34-7 victory, as quarterback Trent Dilfer threw for only 153 yards but running back Jamal Lewis ran for 101 yards.

On the other side of the ball, Baltimore was able to force four Kerry Collins interceptions.

2004 Divisional Round: Broncos vs. Colts

Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts offense could not be stopped in their huge 49-24 victory over the Denver Broncos in the 2004 playoffs.

Manning threw only one interception as he accumulated a whopping 458 yards while throwing four touchdown passes.

Denver's secondary had no answer for No. 18.

2000 NFC Championship Game: Vikings vs. Giants

Kerry Collins and the New York Giants were simply unstoppable against the Minnesota Vikings in the 2000 NFC championship game as they shut down the Vikings, 41-0. 

The Giants held the Vikings to only nine first downs while racking up 31 on their way to 41 points. 

Collins played incredibly, as he completed 28 of his 39 passes for 381 yards and five touchdowns. 

2010 NFC Championship Game: Packers vs. Bears

Jay Cutler may have had a sprained MCL, but he certainly drew a lot of criticism regarding his toughness and how he failed to play in the second half in the 2010 NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers. 

I sided with Cutler on this one, as a sprained MCL is a pretty serious injury and would certainly affect his ability throwing the ball, but the media, fans and even players all ripped him.

In fact, when Cutler found out about other NFL players criticizing him, tears came to his eyes. 

The score may not have been ugly, and the Bears certainly played their hearts out, but the way that Cutler was scrutinized was not only extremely ugly—it was uncalled for. 

Super Bowl XXVII: Cowboys vs. Bills

Anytime a team puts up 50-plus points against you, it's pretty damn ugly. When it's in the Super Bowl, it's on a whole new level of ugliness. 

The Dallas Cowboys steamrolled the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII, 52-17.

Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman threw for four touchdowns, while Emmitt Smith ran for 108 yards on 22 carries and scored a touchdown. 

1992 Wild Card Round: Oilers vs. Bills

This game is best known as "The Comeback," as the Buffalo Bills overcame an improbable 32-point deficit.

However, as this was an impressive comeback by the Bills, this was downright ugly for the Houston Oilers. 

The Oilers gave up 35 points in the second half as well as the game-winning field goal in overtime that ultimately ended their season. 

1970 Divisional Round: Lions vs. Cowboys

This was not only one of the ugliest playoff games in NFL history but also the lowest-scoring game in playoff history.

The Dallas Cowboys somehow found a way to knock off the Detroit Lions and move on to the NFC championship game with a 5-0 victory.

This game consisted of a field goal, a safety and a whole lot of defensive stands.

Super Bowl XX: Bears vs. Patriots

If William "Refrigerator" Perry can score a touchdown against your defense, then you're just having a bad day.

All in all, it was not only a bad day but an embarrassing day for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.

The Bears walked all over the Patriots in this one, as they won with an ugly victory of 46-10.

2003 NFC Championship Game: Panthers vs. Eagles

Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles could not have played an uglier game offensively in the biggest game that season: the NFC championship game against the Carolina Panthers.

McNabb threw three interceptions, and the team's backup quarterback, Koy Detmer, threw another interception.

That's four interceptions total to go along with no touchdowns—pretty damn ugly and pitiful.

Super Bowl XXII: Redskins vs. Broncos

This was one of the ugliest Super Bowls in NFL history, as the Washington Redskins destroyed the Denver Broncos, 42-10.

Redskins quarterback Doug Williams threw all over Denver's secondary, as he accumulated 340 yards while tossing four touchdowns.

On the ground, Washington's Timmy Smith could not be stopped, as he ran for a whopping 204 yards on 22 carries for two touchdowns.

2003 AFC Championship Game: Colts vs. Patriots

The Indianapolis Colts were simply not built to play in the snow—especially Peyton Manning.

When the Colts traveled up to Foxboro to battle the New England Patriots in a winter wonderland, they got their bells rung as the Patriots set them packing, 24-14.

Manning was the ugliest of them all, as he completed less than half of his passes for only 237 yards while being picked off an embarrassing four times.

Super Bowl XXXVII: Buccaneers vs. Raiders

In what was known as "The Gruden Bowl," Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers absolutely embarrassed the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.

The Raiders, who happened to be formerly coached by Gruden, turned the ball over five times on their way to a 48-21 beating.

2008 Divisional Round: Cardinals vs. Panthers

Jake Delhomme and the Carolina Panthers were no match for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2008-09 playoffs.

Delhomme was the goat of the game, as he turned the ball over six times. Yeah, that's right: six times—five interceptions and one fumble.

When it was all said and done, the Panthers were blown out 33-13.

Super Bowl XXIV: 49ers vs. Broncos

This was one Super Bowl that John Elway was not meant to win—he was incredibly awful against the San Francisco 49ers.

In the biggest Super Bowl blowout in NFL history, the San Francisco 49ers ran over the Denver Broncos, 55-10, to win Super Bowl XXIV. 

Jerry Rice was unstoppable in this one, as he caught seven passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns. 

Super Bowl VI: Cowboys vs. Dolphins

When you weren't able to score a single touchdown, you had a pretty bad day. In this case, for the Miami Dolphins, they had a bad day in the worst possible scenario: Super Bowl VI.

The Dallas Cowboys were able to shut down the Dolphins 24-3, as they went on to win Super Bowl VI on the back of their defense, which held Miami to only 134 passing yards.

2002 Wild Card Round: Colts vs. Jets

This could very well be the worst game in Peyton Manning's career, as he threw two interceptions in the Indianapolis Colts' 41-0 loss against the New York Jets.

For the Jets, their defense forced three turnovers, as well as Chad Pennington throwing for three touchdowns, LaMont Jordan running for 102 yards and a touchdown and Curtis Martin racking up 67 yards.

1999 Divisional Round: Dolphins vs. Jaguars

This is a game that I am sure all Miami Dolphins fans would love to forget, as their Dolphins were embarrassed 62-7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1999 playoffs.

Miami turned the ball over seven times, the Jaguars' Fred Taylor had 135 yards and a score and Mark Brunell and Jay Fiedler combined for four touchdowns.

1986 Divisional Round: 49ers vs. Giants

This game was so ugly that it actually involved Joe Montana being knocked out with a concussion—definitely not good news for San Francisco 49ers fans.

Lawrence Taylor and the New York Giants walked all over the 49ers in this one by a score of 49-3. 

The Giants were able to force four turnovers, while Phil Simms completed less than 50 percent of his passes but still found a way to throw four touchdowns—now that's interesting.