That game will no doubt, make me more pessimistic about the Bengals in the future. I'm fairly young and probably don't have as much experience with witnessing games as much as you guys, so how would this game rank in your most heartbreaking experiences in sports?

This game first and then the 2005 playoff game. Other than that I wouldn't say there was many other truly heartbreaking losses. Most of the other games the Steelers were just simply better.

Duke in 1992 is still #1. I don't think this one is top 5 because I knew they would lose. It's the Bengals.

I thought they'd lose that playoff game from the moment AD broke his thumb until after Burfict made what should've been the game winning INT.

 

So, I almost believed for about 1 minute until Hill fumbled... As soon as that happened I knew it was a loss.

 

I even told my wife, I bet they get a pass interference call and get a field goal... Turned out to be 2 personal fouls, but didn't surprise me and didn't break my heart.

 

Par for the course... The most disappointing loss was SB XXIII w/ Montana's drive, Stanley Wilson's drug relapse, and Krumrie's broken leg...

 

Bengals really should've won that one.

I predicted that the Steelers would win and was left hopeless until the final quarter when the Bengals took the lead. After that interception, I said, "WE DID IT!" I don't care if its the Bengals, if you are in the lead and you intercept the ball with 1:30 left to go, you have control of the game. The only way you can lose the ball is if the very experienced professional running back fumbles the ball, which rarely happens. Was it too much to ask for that NOT to happen? I was being an optimist for once and I felt like I was slapped in the face by reality for it. I know I'm being too melodramatic about it, but that's just what I felt. I am over it, but its still going to be stuck in my mind for at least another decade.

I'm younger than most on here, but this loss is hands-down the most devastating sports moment in my life.

I thought they'd lose that playoff game from the moment AD broke his thumb until after Burfict made what should've been the game winning INT.

 

So, I almost believed for about 1 minute until Hill fumbled... As soon as that happened I knew it was a loss.

 

I even told my wife, I bet they get a pass interference call and get a field goal... Turned out to be 2 personal fouls, but didn't surprise me and didn't break my heart.

 

Par for the course... The most disappointing loss was SB XXIII w/ Montana's drive, Stanley Wilson's drug relapse, and Krumrie's broken leg...

 

Bengals really should've won that one.

 

I agree, the game was number 2 on my all time list with the SB you mentioned being number one.

Not top 5 for me.

 

1. Bengals - 1989 Super Bowl loss.

2. Reds - game 7 of the 1972 World Series.

3. Bengals - 1981 Super Bowl loss.

4. Reds - 1999 - lose in one game playoff to Mets.

5. UC Bearcats basketball - March, 2000 - Kenyon Martin breaks leg in loss to St. Louis in Conference USA tournament.

 

I could probably think of more, but this is what comes to mind. For the last couple decades, I don't allow myself too much emotion with anything that the Bengals might do.

This, for me, is #1. Lewis Billups dropping the INT in Super Bowl XXIII will forever haunt my dreams, but at least the loss came down to the play of the field. The Bengals giving up THIRTY yards in PENALTIES to a QB with half of a right shoulder b/c they were bat dung crazy was far and away the most disgusted and heart broken that I have been. To take the lead after looking miserable the whole game offensively, and then to intercept a pass with the chance to run the clock down to about 20 seconds and kick a gimme field goal, and then watch that implosion, is the worst feeling that I have had.

My dad who was at the Super Bowl in 89 said that the super bowl loss still probably hurt worse at the time, but he doesn't remember it hurting any worse than this game.

1. '89 Superbowl

2. UK 1992 vs Duke

3. 2005 Playoffs, I truly believe they would win that game

4. This one, and I thought from when Dalton got hurt it would be an first round exit unless they got the bye. But during the game and 4th quarter I got my hopes way up that the Bengals were going to pull it off.

Not even close the number one heartbreaker. Montana and the long drive to snatch the SB from us was the worst. It's the only time I've ever cried over a sporting event.

I would still hate Lewis Billups to this day if he wasn't dead.

I thought it was a great game personally.