Sports fans have seen their fair share of ups and downs over the years, but some of the most memorable moments come from the biggest chokes in sports history. From missed field goals to blown leads, these moments have become ingrained in the collective memory of sports fans. Here we take a look back at the top 10 biggest chokes in all of sports.
The first on the list is the infamous “Wide Right” play in Super Bowl XXV. The Buffalo Bills were seconds away from winning the game when Scott Norwood’s 47-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right, handing the New York Giants the victory. This unforgettable miss has gone down in NFL history as one of the biggest chokes in sports.
The second biggest choke in sports history belongs to the 2004 New York Yankees. After taking a 3-0 lead against the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, the Yankees went on to lose the next four games and the series. This collapse is widely known as “The Curse of the Bambino” and marked the first time ever that a team had come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
The third biggest choke in sports is the Denver Broncos’ loss in Super Bowl XLVIII. After dominating the 2013-2014 NFL season, the Broncos were heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, they were outplayed by the Seattle Seahawks, who went on to win the championship 43-8.
The fourth biggest choke in sports history comes from the 2014 World Cup. After going up 1-0 in the final match against Germany, the Argentinian team collapsed and eventually lost the match 1-0. This heartbreaking loss gave Germany their fourth World Cup title.
The fifth biggest choke in sports belongs to the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. After taking a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots, the Falcons eventually lost the game in overtime 34-28. This collapse was one of the most shocking upsets in sports history.
The sixth biggest choke in sports history is the infamous “Music City Miracle” play from the 2000 NFL playoffs. With 16 seconds left in the game and the Tennessee Titans trailing the Buffalo Bills 16-15, Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson caught a lateral pass from Frank Wycheck and ran 75 yards for a game-winning touchdown. This play has gone down as one of the most miraculous plays in NFL history.
The seventh biggest choke in sports belongs to the 2003 Chicago Cubs. After leading the Florida Marlins 3-0 in the National League Championship Series, the Cubs went on to lose the next four games and the series. This heartbreaking collapse is still remembered today as one of the biggest chokes in sports.
The eighth biggest choke in sports is the 2004 Boston Red Sox’s collapse against the New York Yankees. After taking a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox went on to lose the next four games and the series. This collapse is widely known as “The Curse of the Bambino” and marked the first time ever that a team had come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
The ninth biggest choke in sports history is the 2004 Detroit Tigers’ collapse against the Boston Red Sox. After taking a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series, the Tigers went on to lose the next four games and the series. This collapse marked the first time ever that a team had come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
The tenth biggest choke in sports belongs to the 2014 San Antonio Spurs. After taking a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, the Spurs went on to lose the next three games and the championship. This collapse is still remembered today as one of the most heartbreaking losses in NBA history.
These heartbreaking moments have become part of sports history, and will live on in the memories of sports fans for generations to come. From missed field goals to blown leads, these top 10 biggest chokes in sports will never be forgotten.
For every sports fan, there’s always that one moment where your team was so close to victory, only to have it all slip away in the most agonizing way possible. We’ve all experienced a choking moment in sports, whether it was our own team or a rival team, and it’s something that we’ll never forget. Here is a list of the top 10 biggest chokes in all of sports.
10. The San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XLVII Collapse
In 2013, the San Francisco 49ers were on the cusp of winning their first Super Bowl since 1994. With just over four minutes to go, the 49ers were leading the Baltimore Ravens 28-23. All they needed to do was stop the Ravens from scoring, and the Lombardi trophy was theirs. Unfortunately for them, the Ravens scored a game-winning touchdown and the 49ers lost 34-31. This epic collapse is still talked about to this day.
9. The New York Islanders Missed Opportunity in 1975
In 1975, the New York Islanders were on the brink of winning their first-ever Stanley Cup. After taking a 3-0 series lead against the Philadelphia Flyers, all the Islanders had to do was win one more game. But the Flyers rallied back to win the next four games and the series, becoming the first team in NHL history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. For the Islanders, this was a huge missed opportunity.
8. The New York Giants 2007 Super Bowl Choke
In 2007, the New York Giants were on the verge of winning their second Super Bowl in four years. With a 17-14 lead and just over a minute to go, the Giants were in good position to seal the deal. But then, Eli Manning threw an interception to Asante Samuel, and the Patriots drove down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds. This was a devastating choke for the Giants, and one that they’ll never forget.
7. The Buffalo Bills Four Super Bowl Chokes
The Buffalo Bills are arguably the most notorious chokers in sports. From 1990 to 1993, the Bills made it to the Super Bowl four consecutive times, but failed to win even one of them. The most heartbreaking choke came in Super Bowl XXV, when the Bills were driving for the game-winning touchdown, only to have Scott Norwood’s famous “wide right” field goal attempt sail just outside the uprights. This was a crushing defeat for the Bills, and one that will live in infamy.
For sports fans, there are few things worse than seeing your favorite team or athlete suffer a devastating loss due to an inexcusable blunder. Here we rank the 10 biggest chokes in all of sports, from the most famous to the most heartbreaking.
#10 - Scott Norwood's Missed Field Goal (Super Bowl XXV)
Perhaps the most famous choke of all time, Scott Norwood's last-second field goal attempt in Super Bowl XXV sailed wide right and sent the Buffalo Bills to a heartbreaking defeat against the New York Giants. Despite this miss, Norwood remains one of the most beloved players in Bills history.
#9 - The Cubs' Collapse in the 2003 NLCS
The Chicago Cubs were on the brink of their first World Series appearance in nearly 60 years when they took a 3-2 lead in the 2003 National League Championship Series. But, in a stunning reversal, the Florida Marlins came back to win the last two games and eliminate the Cubs from contention. To this day, the memory of this collapse still haunts Cubs fans everywhere.
#8 - The Celtics' Last-Second Loss in the 2009 Playoffs
The Boston Celtics were poised to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Orlando Magic when Paul Pierce's last-second shot clanged off the rim, giving the Magic a dramatic Game 5 victory. The Celtics would go on to lose the series and the Magic would advance to the NBA Finals.
#7 - The Miracle on Ice (1980 Winter Olympics)
The Soviet Union's hockey team was heavily favored to win the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. But, in a stunning upset, the upstart U.S. team, made up of amateur and college players, defeated the heavily favored Soviets and went on to win the gold medal in what is now known as the "Miracle on Ice".
#6 - The Broncos' Collapse in Super Bowl XXXII
The Denver Broncos were heavily favored to win their first championship in Super Bowl XXXII against the Green Bay Packers. But, in a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, the Packers came back from a 10-point deficit to win the game, sending the Broncos to one of the most heartbreaking defeats in Super Bowl history.
#5 - Bill Buckner's Error (1986 World Series)
The Boston Red Sox were just one out away from winning the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets when Bill Buckner's errant throw allowed the Mets to score the winning run and eliminate the Red Sox in devastating fashion. Buckner would become the scapegoat for the Red Sox's loss and would be vilified by fans for years to come.
#4 - The Falcons' Collapse in Super Bowl LI
The Atlanta Falcons had a seemingly insurmountable 25-point lead in Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots. But, in one of the greatest comebacks of all time, the Patriots rallied to tie the game and send it to overtime, where they would eventually win in stunning fashion. Falcons fans have yet to recover from this devastating loss.
#3 - The Royals' Blown Lead in the 1985 World Series
The Kansas City Royals had a 3-1 lead in the 1985 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals and were just one win away from their first championship. But, in a stunning reversal, the Cardinals came back to win the last three games and eliminate the Royals in heartbreaking fashion.
#2 - The Seahawks' Last-Second Interception (Super Bowl XLIX)
The Seattle Seahawks were just one yard away from winning Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots when a last-second interception by cornerback Malcolm Butler sealed the victory for the Patriots. Seahawks fans were left in stunned disbelief as their team suffered one of the most devastating losses in sports history.
#1 - The Cubs' Curse (1908-2016)
The Chicago Cubs had the longest championship drought in American sports history, going 108 years without winning the World Series. During this time, the Cubs became infamous for their seemingly endless list of heartbreaking losses and near misses. Finally, in 2016, the Cubs ended their drought with a dramatic Game 7 victory, bringing an end to one of the most famous chokes in all of sports.