Blowout Losses in Big Games

[Rowsdower!]

Well, with Brazil going down 7-1 yesterday, it got me thinking... was that the worst blowout loss we've seen at a high level? We've all seen teams get destroyed, sure... but when they reach a level as prestigious as the semi-finals of the World Cup, you don't expect to see such a lopsided loss.

Then again, our most recent Super Bowl was also a massive blowout that Peyton Manning may never live down (nor should he). Which do you think was the more embarrassing loss? Brazil this week or the Broncos in the Super Bowl? And what are some other high-level blowouts that either broke your heart or made you laugh your ass off?

 

[Lantern Venom]

Well, with Brazil going down 7-1 yesterday, it got me thinking... was that the worst blowout loss we've seen at a high level? We've all seen teams get destroyed, sure... but when they reach a level as prestigious as the semi-finals of the World Cup, you don't expect to see such a lopsided loss.

Then again, our most recent Super Bowl was also a massive blowout that Peyton Manning may never live down (nor should he). Which do you think was the more embarrassing loss? Brazil this week or the Broncos in the Super Bowl? And what are some other high-level blowouts that either broke your heart or made you laugh your ass off?

I can remember the 49ers 55-10 SB win over Denver (who had a future HOF QB) and Dallas's 52-17 spanking of Buffalo (who also had a future HOFer) at QB. Teams win and lose; it's not all about the QB.

As far as the NBA, I've seen 3 sweeps (4-0) in the Finals in my life:
6-07 San Antonio Spurs Def. Cleveland Cavaliers
01-02 Los Angeles Lakers Def. New Jersey Nets
94-95 Houston Rockets Def. Orlando Magic

I saw Mike Tyson KO Michael Spinks in a mere 91 seconds to retain his title in '88. I also saw the recent 16-second Rhonda Rousey win over Alexis Davis to retain her title as well.

I can also recall the 95-21 annihilation of SMU by Houston in '89, although I'm not sure if you're including D-1 college football.

There was also the USA basketball team's thumping of Nigeria 156-73 in the 2012 Olympics.

 

[HaplessHenchman]

I remember the Cardinals losing 11-0 in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series. Although maybe they should have an asterisk to that because they got robbed in Game 6 by the infamous Don Denkinger call at first base in the ninth inning. (No, us Cardinal fans are never going to forget it or get over it so don't bother posting something to that effect.)

 

[Rowsdower!]

I can remember the 49ers 55-10 SB win over Denver (who had a future HOF QB) and Dallas's 52-17 spanking of Buffalo (who also had a future HOFer) at QB. Teams win and lose; it's not all about the QB.

As far as the NBA, I've seen 3 sweeps (4-0) in the Finals in my life:
6-07 San Antonio Spurs Def. Cleveland Cavaliers
01-02 Los Angeles Lakers Def. New Jersey Nets
94-95 Houston Rockets Def. Orlando Magic

I saw Mike Tyson KO Michael Spinks in a mere 91 seconds to retain his title in '88. I also saw the recent 16-second Rhonda Rousey win over Alexis Davis to retain her title as well.

I can also recall the 95-21 annihilation of SMU by Houston in '89, although I'm not sure if you're including D-1 college football.

There was also the USA basketball team's thumping of Nigeria 156-73 in the 2012 Olympics.

I agree that it's not always about the QB, but it can't be denied that in the run-up to the latest Super Bowl, all the talk was about Peyton winning his second ring and how he had the greatest season for a QB ever (despite almost never throwing the ball down the field) and how one more ring would pretty much solidify his place as the Greatest of All Time. And I'm sure that had he won, that narrative would have continued. It would have been less about the team winning and more about Peyton. So I think in cases such as those, the QB deserves more than his usual share of the blame, especially considering how bad they played offensively. You could argue that it's the media that chooses to spotlight certain players, and that's true, but let's be honest, Peyton relishes all that attention. Otherwise he wouldn't appear in 5 million Papa John's and Buick commercials every fall.