Top 10 most painful Packer losses of our era

Greetings party people in the place to be! My name is Steve Karlen, and I'll be your guest blogger today as Matt gave me the green light for a cringe-inducing breakdown of the 10 most excruciatingly painful Packers losses of the last quarter century.

Before we get started, let me add a quick side note to establish my credentials for this assignment. While age and maturity seem to have given me a needed dose of perspective, historically, few Packer fans have taken losses worse than I have. In fact, as a teenager my barometer for evaluating how much I liked my various high school girlfriends was whether getting dumped felt worse than a Packers loss. (Classy!)

We're got a lot of ground to cover so let's get going. First, the honorable mentions:

• 1995 regular season at the Minnesota Vikings (AKA the TJ Rubley Game): A nasty collision cost the Packers both star defensive ends (Reggie White and Sean Jones--who at the time was feared to have suffered a heart attack!) before third-string quarterback TJ Rubley's ill-advised audible and interception led to a last-second Vikings field goal.
• 1998 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings (the emergence of Randy Moss): In a clash of undefeated teams, the Vikings pummeled the Packers behind more than 440 yards and four touch downs from Randall Cunningham. It's no coincidence the Packers first three draft picks were cornerbacks the following spring.  
• 2003 regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings stunned the Packers, winning the first game at the newly renovated Lambeau Field.
• 2009 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings: Noticing a pattern here? The Packers lost in Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field.

I'm already thoroughly depressed, and we haven't even gotten to the list yet. Let's move on.

#10: 1992 Regular Season Finale @ Minnesota Vikings: Having won six games in a row, the Packers were one of the hottest teams in football, needing one last win in the season's final game to make the playoffs for the first time in a decade. It wasn't to be. The Vikings scored the game's last 20 points in a 27-7 romp.

The Meltdown
Historically, this game is largely forgotten because 1992 marked the first of 13 straight non-losing seasons for the Pack. Furthermore, Sterling Sharpe made history for Green Bay when he caught his then NFL record 107th pass of the year. But to be on the brink of the promised land after a 10-year draught, only to get throttled by a team from Minnesota was both brutal and excruciating.

The Last Word: This game wouldn't be the last time Minnesota crushed the spirits of Packer fans. It would be five years before the Packers could pick up a win in the Metrodome. It's no wonder the 1990s Vikings supplanted da Bears as the Green Bay's most hated rival.

#9: Desert Storm (2009 Wildcard Playoff at Arizona): The Packers, down 21 points midway through the third quarter, stormed back to tie the game twice in the fourth quarter before a defensive touchdown ended the game in overtime.

The Meltdown
Three score comebacks happen every once in awhile, but not in the playoffs! A blowout would have been disappointing, but to lose on a freak fumble return was devastating. Not only did the officials miss an illegal hit on quarterback Aaron Rodgers (that would have given the Pack 15 yards and a first down) on the final play, but the Packers JUST missed victory on the first play of overtime when a bomb to a wide open Jennings was overthrown.

The Last Word: Playoff losses can be especially painful because they expose flaws that lingered latently all season--only to blow up at the worst possible time. Such was the case with the 2009 Packers--a team that had an impressive defense, but one that tended to disappear against elite quarterbacks.

Misery Bonus Points: Dubious officiating, heartbreaking finish

#8: Moss Moons Lambeau (2004 Wildcard Playoff Against Minnesota):

Believe it or not; this is the last time we'll see the Vikings on this list. While the Packers swept the regular season series, the 8-8(!)Vikings outclassed the Packers 31-17.

The Meltdown
Not much to discuss here, and there's no silver lining. The Packers lost to a .500 team-- their hated rival--at home in the playoffs.

The Last Word: After this game, things really fell apart. After a 4-12 season, management cleaned house, and Green Bay wouldn't finish with another winning record until 2007.

Misery Bonus Points: Underachieving, choking at home

#7: The Catch II (1998 Wildcard Playoff at San Francisco): The Packers lost a 30-27 shootout as Steve Young hit Terrell Owens with a 25-yard strike in the end zone amidst triple coverage.

The Meltdown
I've always felt that statistical evidence serves as a good predictive tool when viewing sports. And I'd venture to guess that being down four points with eight seconds left and 25 yards to the end zone is a pretty good indicator that your team isn't going to win (especially if the quarterback slips and falls when dropping back to pass). That said, the Packers secondary wasn't up to the task, and Green Bay's season met its earliest end in six years. The loss was even more painful given that the Pack appeared to secure victory by recovering a Jerry Rice fumble on the clinching drive. An egregious missed call preserved the drive and helped usher in return of instant replay to the NFL.

The Last Word: After back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, 1998 was a strange year for the Packers as a wildcard entry to the playoffs.  The loss in San Francisco marked the end of an era as Mike Holmgren and Reggie White moved on after the season. The Packers wouldn't make the playoffs again until 2001.

Misery Bonus Points: Dubious officiating, heartbreaking finish

#6: 2002 Wild Card Playoff Against Atlanta: After rolling through the regular season with a 12-4 record, the Packers got pummeled by the Jets in week 17 to lose home field advantage and then got rocked by the Falcons at home 27-7.

The Meltdown
The opening round playoff game against Michael Vick and the Falcons seemed to be the closest thing possible in professional football to a sure thing. The mighty Packers had never lost a home playoff game, and a warm weather wildcard team didn't seem to pose much of a threat to derail the Green and Gold. But the Falcon's scored the game's first 24 points and never looked back

The Last Word: Looking back, the disaster in Lambeau proved to be a turning point as it marked the end of Favre's cold weather dominance. In the '90s and early 2000s, every post-Thanksgiving broadcast in a northern, outdoor stadium tracked Favre's pristine record with game time temperatures below 34 degrees. Before this game, that record stood at 35-0. After it, Favre was never the same in the cold.

Misery Bonus Points: Underachieving, choking at home

#5: Heartbreak in Dallas (1995 NFC Championship): Now we're getting to the really painful losses. Much like the Packers 2009 playoff loss, this one gets swept under the rug a bit because of the Super Bowl win the following season. But at the time it was a most bitter pill to swallow.

The Meltdown
The Packers, riding high off their first division title since 1973 and a shocking upset of the World Champion 49ers, had the Cowboys on the ropes. Holding a three point fourth quarter lead, Brett Favre threw two interceptions, and a worn-down defense gave up two touchdowns. Packers wide receivers coach Gil Haskell fractured his skull in a sideline collision.

The Last Word: It's hard to remember now, but  the big loss in Big D felt like losing the Super Bowl. In the mid-90s, the NFC Championship Game WAS bigger than the Super Bowl, which seemed to be more or less a formality because the vastly superior NFC won 15 of the 16 Super Bowls between 1981 and 1996.

Misery Bonus Points: Dubious officiating, Super Bowl run derailed

#4: 4th and 26 (2003 Divisional Round Playoff at Philadelphia): The 2003 Packers looked like a team of destiny. After opening the season with a 4-5 start, the Packers won seven of eight, including the 41-7 victory following Irvin Favre's death and Matt Hasselbeck's infamous "We want the ball, and we're gonna score" pick six. Green Bay jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead, but ended up losing 20-17 in overtime.

The Meltdown
With 2:30 left, the Packers faced 4th and a foot at the Eagles 41 yard line. The Packers ground game gashed the Eagles all day, but Mike Sherman played it safe, electing to punt. Of course, 4th and 26 and the worst pass of Brett Favre's career followed, and the Packers went home losers. With a win, only Jake Delhomme and the Carolina Panthers would have stood between Green Bay and the Super Bowl. Instead it would be four years before the Packers won another playoff game.

The Last Word: The 4th and 26 game is the only one that still--eight years later--makes me mad. Seriously, I'm still angry with Mike Sherman. I never mind a missed 4th down attempt in crunch time. If you can't pick up a foot with the game on the line, you just don't deserve to win. Sherman's cowardice, the 4th and 26 conversion and Favre's wounded duck in overtime constitute the worst sequence of events in Packer history.  

Misery Bonus Points: Super Bowl run derailed, heartbreaking finish, choking, coaching miscues

#3: 2011 Divisional Round Playoff Against New York: After winning 21 of 22 games, the Packers fell apart against the New York Giants and lost their bid to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

The Meltdown
The Packers suspect defense couldn't overcome an off day from the offense as a 15-1 season went down the drain.

The Last Word: Any playoff loss like this would have been ugly. But to flush a historic season like Green Bay's 2011 campaign will haunt the organization until it wins another Super Bowl.   

Misery Bonus Points: Super Bowl run derailed, choking at home, underachieving

#1A: Super Bowl XXXII Against Denver: The Packers, favored by two touchdowns, fell to the Denver Broncos 31-24, ending hopes of a dynasty and the NFC's dominance over the AFC.

The Meltdown
On January 25, 1998, not a Packer fan alive imagined the Packers could lose Super Bowl XXXII. Even after the Broncos went up 10 points before halftime, most cheeseheads were confident the Packers would right the ship and bring home another title.

The Pack did manage to tie the game twice, but couldn't take the lead. Mike Holmgren allowed Denver to score the game's winning touchdown after he forgot what down it was.

The Last Word: Even after the loss most fans expected Green Bay's talented roster would still bring home one or two more titles before declining. But the Packers roster and coaching staff were gutted over the next two years, and it would be a decade before Green Bay got within a game of the Super Bowl--and another three years before  the Packers would win the Big Game.

Misery Bonus Points: Super Bowl run derailed, underachieving, coaching miscues, heartbreaking finish

#1B: 2007 NFC Championship Against New York: In a dream season, the Packers faced off against the Giants at home for the right to play the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl. With a game time temperature of zero degrees, the stage was set for a classic Packer playoff victory on the Frozen Tundra. But Brett Favre's last game with the Packers was a stinker as the Packers fell 23-20 in overtime.

The Meltdown
When the Packers survived a terrible second half and a missed 36-yard field goal at the end of regulation, it appeared that fate was on their side. But another overtime interception sealed the Packers' fate. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Last Word: The loss in the '07 NFC Title Game proved to be more than a loss. It was the end of an era. At the time, few imagined Corey Webster's interception would be Favre's last pass as a Packer, launching the bizarre series of retirements and comebacks that marked Favre's bitter divorce with the franchise for which he played 16 seasons.

Misery Bonus Points: Super Bowl run derailed, underachieving, choking at home, heartbreaking finish

There you have it: an odyssey through the most miserable moments Packer history. But if you're tempted to despair, remember it could be worse: we could be Viking fans.