When would you rather have your season end? (1 Viewer)

[CrossEyed]

They were talking to Ryan Clark after the game and he said that he'd rather not get there than get there and lose. I always thought this was an odd position to take. I realize that getting that close and losing hurts, but would most people really rather not get there at all?

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Ryan Clark is an idiot.

 

[azgroover]

At the moment, you probably wish you'd never played in the game. Years down the road, you'd probably look fondly at it with how close you got. It's always interesting to listen to any member of the old Bills' teams reminisce.

 

[CrossEyed]

Ryan Clark is an idiot.

Actually he's not. He's a regular on local sports radio and is one of the more interesting athletes I've heard on a regular basis.Although I do completely disagree with him on this particular subject.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Ryan Clark is an idiot.

Actually he's not. He's a regular on local sports radio and is one of the more interesting athletes I've heard on a regular basis.Although I do completely disagree with him on this particular subject.

I should have qualified things. He's an idiot in regards to this statement. It's sure as hell going to sting right after a loss but years down the road I think most folk would say they'd rather lose in the Super Bowl than lose on the way to the big game.

 

[eakfootball]

A loss in the super bowl definitly will hurt more, and you will think about for years. But how many people can say they have been to a super bowl, I would rather go and lose than not go at all.

 

[faulkfan]

Jim Kelly seemed to handle it well. Maybe Clark is just too short-sighted or sensitive...

 

[munchkin]

We Patriot fans don't handle it well though

Absolutely would rather get there and lose than bow out early. If you get there you have a shot. Arizona came darn close a couple of years ago after a less than stellar regular season. How about the Giants in 2007; oh, never mind.

 

[Reepicheep]

Obviously it was sort of a special circumstance due to the Bears being the Packers cheif rival, but I was about four times as nervous/on edge about the NFC Championship game as I was about the Super Bowl. Losing would have been crappy but missing the SB entirely at the hands of the Bears would have been even worse.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Of course the competitor was momentarily disheartened after a tough loss.

 

[Fensalk]

Obviously it was sort of a special circumstance due to the Bears being the Packers cheif rival, but I was about four times as nervous/on edge about the NFC Championship game as I was about the Super Bowl. Losing would have been crappy but missing the SB entirely at the hands of the Bears would have been even worse.

Yes I think rivalries factor in but what are the greatest rivalries between teams in different conferences? Not too many of those.

 

[DropKick]

Of course the competitor was momentarily disheartened after a tough loss.

Now, in fantasy, I'm drafting 11th but wish I had a 1-12 season so I could draft first...

 

[Cookiemonster]

I will say it hurts a lot less as a fan to lose this one after recently winning two. The '95 Pitt/Dallas one hurt much worse. For one, I couldn't stand the Cowboys. For two, I had never experienced a Steelers Super Bowl win. It's all in the perspective. Eye of the beholder.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

You have to MAKE the Super Bowl if you want any chance at winning the Super Bowl.

The Steelers could easily* have won last night and in the '95 game against Dallas.

*not saying they should have (Im not) but it was within their own power in both of those game to play better and change the outcome to a victory.

I am in a far worse state-of-mind when my team under plays itself and goes out too early or misses the playoffs entirely... when they were good enough to make it. (See vs.Chargers '94 playoffs -or- '06 regular season, /wrist)

 

[FUBAR]

Ask any Lions fan.

 

[Kowskull]

Alfred Lord Tennyson, answered this back in 1850

Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.

 

[bcr8f]

Recently Super Bowl history says it is worse. When you play badly it could be worse, but if you devote yourself it could be better, depends on how you react.

Reporters like getting players to make statements before they have a chance to calm down so I ignore much of what they say.

 

[Bri]

Most Supe champs lost at some point in the playoffs a year or two before so I take it all as a stepping stone.

Steelers have players that have won it, but not the entire team.

 

[DiStefano]

So it's better to have lost the AFC championship, than to have won and gone to the Superbowl and lost. Then it's better to have lost a playoff game, than have won and gone to the AFC championship game and lost. Then it's better not to have made the playoffs, than to have gone to the playoffs and lost.

Reductio ad absurdum.

 

[Bri]

understanding this was supposed to be in general but many steelers fans posting...I thought the Steelers attitude and reaction to the loss was about what you want to hear. Sure you don't want to lose N all, but it showed character. I'm pretty sure Tomlin won over some free agent interest as well.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Mike Brown apparently supports the 2nd answer.

-QG

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Losing in the conference championship game is 100 times worse. Especially when you do it 4 times in a decade. And when you were the favorite in three of those four losses.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Losing in the conference championship game is 100 times worse. Especially when you do it 4 times in a decade. And when you were the favorite in three of those four losses.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

Of course the competitor was momentarily disheartened after a tough loss.

This.Losing on that stage has to hurt a lot. Human beings naturally try to avoid pain, so he would say that right after the loss when it hurts the most. But like other said, he'll feel differently later and I'm sure that pain will provide a new kind of motivation to get back there and set things right. I think Scott Norwood missing that FG had something to do with the Bills getting back there. Losing again gave them more motivation to come back. At some point it stopped being motivating and became depressing, of course, but reaching four Super Bowls in a row is more and more impressive to me as I get older. You can't call them a dynasty because they never won, but what's a step below that? A pillar of excellence? Just really impressive, anyway.Hopefully he'll bring that motivation to next season and play harder in order to make it back. Right now he'll say he'd rather not be there but he'll see it differently later, as others said.

 

[Bri]

I think it's like a few of us have said (and Neil above) you don't know til the next year. It can be a crushing defeat and end careers, but if it generates proper motivation then (as much as one can be supportive of a loss) I guess you've gotta be in favor of it. I mean if the Steelers win the next couple Supes...

 

[gandalas]

In the late 90s and for most of the '00s, it was definitely not desirable to be a loser in the superbowl, according to how it set back your Franchise...this has not been the case the last few years, however.

* Atlanta Falcons. (Super Bowl XXXIII). 1998 season: 14-2; 1999 season: 5-11

* New York Giants. (Super Bowl XXXV). 2000 season: 12-4; 2001 season: 7-9.

* St. Louis Rams. (Super Bowl XXXVI). 2001 season: 14-2; 2002 season: 7-9.

* Oakland Raiders. (Super Bowl XXXVII). 2002 season: 11-5; 2003 season: 4-12

* Carolina Panthers. (Super Bowl XXXVIII) 2003 season: 11-5; 2004 season: 7-9.

* Philadelphia Eagles. (Super Bowl XXXIX) 2004 season: 13-3; 2005 season: 6-10.

* Chicago Bears. (Super Bowl XLI) 2006 season: 13-3; 2007 season: 7-9.