I Can Feel Manning's Pain

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Don't get me wrong, I was rooting for the Saints last Sunday, but I fully expected the Colts to win, and win big. Even trailing 24-17 late in the fourth quarter, I still felt certain that Manning would bring the Colts back, and claim a seat along side Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the greatest quarterbacks I can remember seeing.

So when Tracy Porter picked off Manning and returned it for TD to ice the game, I was stunned, although in a good way. Seeing Manning after the game however, made me think of the Patriots and Giants a few years back and how devastated I was after that game. It also made me think of other stunning defeats my teams have suffered.

Without a doubt Sunday must have been the worst defeat of Manning's career, but as a fan it made me wonder what were the worst losses I can remember. I came up with a list of five losses that have stuck with me long after the games had ended.

1. Game 6 of the 1986 World Series

I know I may be making myself look real old, but this is the mother of all loses. The pain has subsided a bit given the Red Sox recent success, but this was just such a historic loss that nothing else can compare.

I can still remember the top of the 10th when Dave Henderson hit the go ahead home run, and then Wade Boggs scored from second on a single by Marty Barrett to put the Red Sox up 5-3. Calvin Schiraldi then got 2 quick outs in the bottom of the inning. The camera showed the Red Sox dugout, and the players were just waiting to run onto the field. At that point, remember I was only 13 at the time, my parents let me get a VHS Tape to record the final out.

Instead I taped the worst sports moment of my live. After the ball went through Buckner's legs, my brother got up, took the tape out of the VCR, and threw it against the wall, breaking it into a million pieces. I did not sleep a wink that night. Game 7 did not matter. There was no way the Red Sox could bounce back from that.

2. Super Bowl XLII

The Patriots had a chance to become the greatest franchise in NFL history, and let it slip away. People point to the David Tyree catch as the biggest moment of the game, but I still think back to what happened earlier in that same play. The Patriots had Eli Manning sacked, but he escaped. If they just brought him to the ground, it would have been around 4th and 15 with about a minute left. With no timeouts, time would have likely run out on the Giants.

There are so many other plays that stick with me. Pierre Woods had a golden opportunity to recover a fumble deep inside Giants territory in the 2nd quarter. If the Pats could have added another score there, things could have been different.

There was also the decision to go for it on 4th and 13 in the 3rd quarter rather than kick a 48 yard field goal. Often overlooked is the final Patriots possession. Brady and Moss nearly hooked up for 70 bomb. Watch the replay. Brady and Moss were scary close to connecting. What makes this loss so tough is that if any of those things had happened, there would no longer be any argument about who was the best QB ever. It would be Tom Brady.

3. Game 7 2003 American League Championship Series

At the start of the bottom of the 8th, with the Red Sox ahead 5-3, my wife walked into the room, saw the score and said, "Wow, they have this one in the bag." I still blame her for the loss.

Funny thing is later when I finally went to bed that night, she asked me if they won. When I said no, she could not figured out why I was so devastated and then said, "Don't worry, they'll get them next year." We then started to argue because at that moment, I was convinced that the Red Sox would never win a World Series. Turns out my wife was right though. They did get them next year.

The Aaron Boone home run was the iconic moment of the game, but the moment I remember most is when Jorge Posada hit a little blooper to center that scored Hideki Matsui to tie the game. At that point I knew the game was lost. When Boone hit the home run, I was almost glad to be finally put out of my misery.

4. 2006 AFC Championship Game

Looking back, this is when the Patriots good fortunes really began to turn. With a 21-3 lead late in the 2nd quarter, Brady hit Ben Watson with pass for a 1st down to put Patriots inside the Colts 30 yard line. A score here would have put the game out of reach. There was a penalty called against the Patriots however (I don't remember who the call was on, or what for) that pushed the Pats back, and eventually they had to punt. Instead the Colts got the ball back and kicked a field goal right before the half. What could have been a 28-3 lead at the half was only 21-6 instead.

I won't even bring up the Reche Caldwell drop of a sure TD, or the Reggie Wayne fumble on the Colts final drive that some how popped up right back into his hands. If the Pats had won this one, and then completed the perfect season one year later, you could have easily made the argument that the New England Patriots were the best franchise in NFL history.

5. Game 4 1987 NBA Finals

Not too many people remember this game, but the Celtics really let this one get away. Trailing 2-1 in the series, the Celtics had to have this one to have a chance to repeat as champs.

The Celtics dominated most of the game, and were up by 16 points at the half. The Lakers rallied to take the lead in the final minute, but Larry Bird nailed a 3 pointer to put Boston back ahead, which at that point was the biggest clutch play I had ever seen. I was sure that the Lakers would fold. Magic Johnson had other ideas, as his baby hook over Kevin McHale gave the Lakers the win. Although they played for a few more years, this was really the end of the original "Big 3."

It time to move on however. This is starting to get depressing. Next time maybe I should write about the biggest wins. That would far more enjoyable.