The biggest chokes in the history of the NFL playoffs

With the Cowboys trailing Pittsburgh by a touchdown in the third quarter of Super Bowl XIII, Smith was wide open in the end zone. He infamously dropped the pass, and Dallas kicked a field goal instead. The Cowboys lost the game, 35-31.

Cleveland fans think their teams are cursed because of events like Byner's fumble. Down 38-31 late in the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game vs. Denver, Byner fumbled at the goal line to ensure an invitation to the Super Bowl for the Broncos.

The Bills were heavily favored to beat the Giants in Super Bowl XXV and had their chance at the end of the game. Kicker Scott Norwood lined up for a 47-yard field goal to take the lead but missed wide right, allowing the Giants to win.

There might not be a more memorable comeback in football history than the one orchestrated by backup quarterback Frank Reich and the Bills in the 1992-93 AFC wild-card round. Starting quarterback Jim Kelly was removed with a knee injury, but Reich came on in the second half to eventually tie the game at 35. The Bills would win the game on a field goal in overtime, to the chagrin of the Oilers defense.

Chiefs fans just know it as the "Lin Elliott Game," and it's one they'd still like to forget. The Chiefs were heavily favored against the Colts in frigid temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium but lost 10-7 after Elliott missed field-goal attempts of 35, 39 and 42 yards. Elliott would never play another NFL game.

Already making the playoffs in only their second NFL season, the Jaguars were given almost no chance to beat the Broncos in the AFC divisional round. After going 9-7 during the regular season, the Jags traveled to Mile High to face the 13-3 Broncos coming off a bye. Jacksonville was able to pull off the 30-27 upset despite trailing by 12 points in the first quarter.

Led by Randall Cunningham, Robert Smith, Cris Carter and Randy Moss, the 1998 Vikings offense was historic. The Vikes finished the regular season 15-1, averaging 34.8 points per game, and veteran kicker Gary Anderson hadn't missed a kick during the regular season. That changed in the NFC championship game vs. Atlanta, with Anderson missing a 38-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining that would have put Minnesota ahead by 10. The Falcons drove down the field to tie the game and won in overtime.

It's debatable whether Buffalo's loss to Tennessee in the wild-card round was more of a choke on the Bills' part or a great kickoff return by the Titans. Buffalo kicked the ball off ahead 16-15 with only a few seconds left. From there, Frank Wycheck lateraled the ball across the field to Kevin Dyson, who had a path to run 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Now Hasselbeck is paid to talk as an NFL analyst on ESPN, but his mouth has gotten him in trouble in the past. In particular, he infamously stated during the overtime coin toss of the 2003-04 NFC wild-card game vs. Green Bay, "We want the ball, and we're going to score!" Soon after, Hasselbeck threw an interception to Packers cornerback Al Harris that was returned for the game-winning touchdown.

Tony Romo became known for his playoff failures, and none was more memorable than the 2006 NFC wild-card game. Dallas had a chance to kick a game-winning 19-yard field goal against the Seahawks, with Romo acting as the holder. Romo failed to put down the ball cleanly and then was tackled from behind as he scampered for the end zone, giving Seattle the miracle win.

The Patriots were overwhelming favorites to beat the Giants in Super Bowl XLII after going 16-0 during the regular season and winning their first two playoff games. An off night by the Patriots and a perfect recipe for success from the Giants allowed for an epic 17-14 upset by New York.

Playing for the Vikings late in his career, Favre had a chance to lead Minnesota to the Super Bowl in the NFC championship game vs. New Orleans. However, Favre threw a bad interception near the end of regulation when the Vikings were close to field goal range. New Orleans won the game in overtime.

With regular punt returner Ted Ginn Jr. injured, young Kyle Williams was tasked with handling punt returns for the 49ers in the NFC championship game. He fumbled near the end of regulation and overtime, allowing the Giants to advance to the Super Bowl.

Denver was heavily favored to win at home and was ahead by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the AFC divisional round game vs. Baltimore. Joe Flacco threw a deep pass that was misplayed by the Denver secondary and caught by Jacoby Jones for a touchdown of 70 yards. Baltimore would kick a field goal to win in overtime.

Kansas City took a surprising huge lead on the road in the AFC wild-card game against Indianapolis, leading 31-10 at halftime and extending the lead to 28 points early in the third quarter. Then the Chiefs defense and several injuries let them down, as Andrew Luck and the Colts came storming back. The Colts wound up winning, 45-44.

The Broncos were slight favorites to win Super Bowl XLVIII over the Seahawks, but Peyton Manning and Denver failed to show up for the game. Seattle's defense had a handle on Denver all game, winning 43-8 in a game Broncos fans would like to forget.

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks played a terrible NFC championship game, but the Packers couldn't put them away. Green Bay led 19-7 in the fourth quarter, but the Seahawks were able to score a touchdown, recover an onside kick and take the lead. Green Bay came back to kick a field goal and send the game to overtime tied at 22, but Wilson threw a 35-yard touchdown to Jermaine Kearse to win.

One of the most incredible plays in Super Bowl history was an interception on a slant pattern at the goal line by then-little-known Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, giving the Patriots the win in Super Bowl XLIX. The Seattle coaching staff has been criticized ever since for failing to let Marshawn Lynch run the ball, and Wilson also took a risk with the throw.

Minnesota hosted the Seahawks in frigid temperatures in the NFC wild-card game. Walsh was able to make three field goals, but it's his final attempt that is most remembered. He lined up to kick a game-winning 27-yard field goal, trailing 10-9 with 26 seconds remaining, but he hooked the ball wide left.

It's tough to put Atlanta's blown lead in Super Bowl LI on one person, as the entire team played a role. However, Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan admitted to taking much of the blame for his playcalling after the Falcons led 28-3 in the third quarter but failed to run out the clock. In particular, the Falcons remained aggressive up by eight points with less than five minutes, moving Atlanta out of field-goal range and keeping time on the clock for the Patriots. New England came back to tie the game at 28 in regulation and win in overtime.

Chicago had high hopes of making a run in the 2018 playoffs. Trailing 16-15 to the Eagles near the end of regulation during the wild-card round, all the Bears needed was a 43-yard field goal from kicker Cody Parkey. Parkey had an eye for hitting the upright for much of the season, and the trend continued in excruciating fashion for Bears fans. His game-winning attempt was partially blocked, hit the left upright, bounced off the crossbar and fell back toward the field, and the Eagles won and advanced.