Everyone has bad days, but sometimes those bad days can feel extra unfortunate. This week in the NFL, a few teams experienced true football depression. They felt that winning feeling, that chance of actually finding victory, only to have it snatched away by a play that, in normal circumstances, would not occur. Losing never feels good, but plays like these leave an extra sour aftertaste.
1. The Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns: When a field goal determines the game’s fate.
The Cowboys and the Browns played in separate games, but both teams had to watch a long field goal that didn’t go in their favor. The Cowboys had to kick one and the Browns had to watch one being kicked. The Cowboys originally had a 47-yard field goal to kick, but due to a confusing penalty on a snapper, it was moved back to 53 yards. This kick did not go in, and the Cowboys failed to tie up the game, which led to the loss against the Washington Redskins. On the other hand, the Browns stayed neck and neck with the Buccaneers and sent the game into overtime. The Buccaneers’ kicker, Chandler Catanzaro, missed an extra point and a shorter field goal previously in the game, so when he lined up to kick a 59-yarder, the Browns felt their chances were decent. They were not. Catanzaro’s kick went in, and the Browns once again found themselves as the losing team.
2. The Chicago Bears: When a successful Hail Mary still isn’t successful.
The Chicago Bears were a touchdown and extra point away from tying up the game against the New England Patriots. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky heaved the football down the field in a last stitch attempt to tie up the game, and it was caught! Cue the celebration, right? Not so fast. Usually, when a receiver actually catches the Hail Mary, they score the TD. In this case, Kevin White hauled it in just short of the goal line, and the Patriots defense swarmed around him and pushed him back away from any chance of scoring and tying up the game.
3. Baltimore Ravens: When the most accurate kicker isn’t accurate.
The Ravens pride themselves in Justin Tucker. He’s a phenomenal kicker who is regarded by fans and haters alike as one of the most solid kickers in the NFL. He’s won several games for the Ravens, and he’s never missed an extra point since he entered the NFL in 2002. However, against the Saints, he finally missed one. With 24 seconds on the clock, after a 81-yard drive, the Ravens thought they had done enough to tie up the game and send it to overtime. However, Justin Tucker sent the ball wide right, giving the stunned Saints a victory.