Written by Emerson Lam
Everyone has underperformed expectations before. It could’ve been from getting brain fog whilst writing an essay, getting stranded with a bad group in a group project, or – touch wood- accidentally flunking an exam. These incidents can just be chalked up to “things that just happen in life”, the ebbs and flows of what it’s like to be human. However, when this underperformance (colloquially known as “choking”) occurs on a national or professional level, it can very much be viewed differently. Failure on this level isn’t just about the moment itself; each major upset carries a deeper story, shaped by what came before and after it. We can take a look at these narratives in good fun whilst taking a look at how things ended up the way they did.
Beginning on an individual scale, no failure in recent memory beats the utterly botched throw home by Orion Kerkering to mark the Philadelphia Phillies’ 2025 playoff collapse. Facing the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies were clear underdogs, but still talented enough to force a win. They lost the first two games in the best-of-5 match, putting them against elimination, but won Game 3 in an overpowering manner to instill hope back in the fans. This was compounded by Game 4 being a neck-in-neck matchup, with both not managing to overpower the other’s pitchers, going into extras with a 1-1 tie. When Kerkering came in to pitch, he was already inheriting an extremely dangerous situation, with any mistake threatening to eliminate the entire team. The crowd held their breath as the batter lined the ball right back to the pitcher, and instead of throwing the ball to first base and escaping with no harm, Kerkering attempted to throw the ball back to the catcher, missing wide.
Failure.
The aftermath was understandably one of celebration for the Dodgers, and of absolute shock for all Phillies players and fans. Kerkering put his hands on his knees and grimaced, whilst his teammates on the field quickly rushed over to comfort him. Although this play was the climax of the match and serves as a highlight reel moment, the discourse of fans were more on how the team was unable to hit against the eventual World Series winners, citing that as the real reason behind the team’s elimination. With the play happening a mere few months from the time of writing, nobody knows how this mental scar would factor into his future play, but understandably the hope is that this doesn’t end up affecting him.
Now, let’s shift to a more team-centered collapse: the Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Falcons fielded one of the most potent offenses in NFL history, finishing 11–5 and scoring the eighth-most points ever in a season. The Patriots were equally dominant at 14–2, led by Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. The Falcons surged to a 28-3 lead right after half time, viewed by onlookers as practically guaranteeing the franchise’s first Super Bowl. Yet, there was still much more in store. Tom Brady and the team chipped away relentlessly, scoring and scoring until the game was tied at 28–28. The Falcons failed to adjust, continuing to pass aggressively instead of managing the clock as their lead evaporated. In overtime, New England’s offense proved too strong, scoring the winning touchdown and completing the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Collapse.
The Patriots celebrated the win as just another moment in their longstanding dynasty in the league, whereas Falcons fans everywhere had their hearts ripped out. A quick look online showed just how brutal it felt, with fans pouring out shock, anger, and disbelief. One Reddit post summed it up perfectly: “There was no god in that stadium, only the devil.”
A piece on sports failure undeniably can’t be complete without a section on “7-1”.One of the most devastating losses in football history saw Brazil’s national team face Germany at home in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with many tipping the hosts to win the tournament. Even with key players like Neymar and Thiago Silva out injured, it was still very much a toss-up as to who would win the encounter. Instead, Brazil were effectively finished before halftime, trailing 5–0 by the time the second half began. Two more goals followed, making it 7–0, and although Brazil scored a late consolation, the damage was already done. Germany even eased off to avoid inflicting total humiliation, while Brazilian players were left distraught and apologising for a performance that stunned the nation. Even now, many still use the phrase “7-1” to describe humiliating failure, a testament to the lasting odor that this loss has in the lives of Brazilian people.
Next time you fail at something, maybe take a look back at these failures. Perhaps, looking at the failure of others can just make your cloudy day feel a bit better in comparison!
