There's heartbreak, then there's this. As Green Bay Packers fans, we know what it's like to experience gut-wrenching season-enders, but there are levels. Micah Parsons' torn ACL is the unavoidable story, but it's just one of several nightmare scenarios that played out in Week 15.
The Packers held a nine-point lead with the ball early in the third quarter. They sensed an opportunity to put the Denver Broncos away, but that's when those sparks of hope unraveled into a pure horror show. It started with Christian Watson's injury on a Jordan Love interception, but that was only the beginning.
Andy Herman of Packer Report spelled it out in the most heartbreaking but brutally honest way.
"Arguably the most devastating day of Packers football since the 2014 NFC Championship game. A disaster of a day. No way around it," Herman wrote.
Packers suffer arguably their most 'devastating day' since the Seahawks nightmare over a decade ago
It's hard to argue with Herman's assessment. We all remember where we were during the meltdown in Seattle, and while the stakes on that day were higher, as it was the NFC Championship Game, there are painful parallels.
Like then, the Packers had this game in control. Everything was going to plan. Even a controversial pass-interference penalty extended a Packers drive, with Josh Jacobs rushing for a 40-yard touchdown on the very next play.
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In 2014, Green Bay held a 19-7 lead with barely over two minutes remaining. Then came one horror mistake after another. All it took was the Packers to break the chain once, and they would've gone to the Super Bowl. Brandon Bostick's onside kick blunder. Morgan Burnett sliding. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix giving up an inexcusable two-point conversion. Andrew Quarless' drop. We could go on.
It happened again on Sunday. One deep shot from Love to Watson sparked a disaster.
That interception handed Denver possession, leading to a seven-point touchdown drive. And then everything that could go wrong went horribly wrong.
Xavier McKinney, who was an All-Pro last season after making eight interceptions, let two picks bounce out of his hands on the same possession. Moments later, Parsons suffered a torn ACL, and the drive ended in a Broncos touchdown. Carrington Valentine later dropped a potential interception with the Packers down by eight. He had also missed a potential pick-six in the first half.
The injuries piled up. Parsons is out for the season. The Packers lost Watson, Zach Tom, and Evan Williams. Quay Walker and Jayden Reed also had to exit the game but returned. Fortunately, everyone except Parsons seems to have escaped season-ending injuries, but only time will tell how much time they miss.
Just a whirlwind of disasters, one after the other. Zach Kruse of Packers Wire summed it up.
"I try to be as professional as possible doing this but I'm not sure I've ever been as shellshocked watching a game as I was today," Kruse wrote. "Just devastating. Feel sick for the players, coaches, fans, everyone involved. It's a cruel game we care so much about."
At one stage, Green Bay looked in control against the AFC leaders, a team that had won 10 straight and hadn't lost at home in a year. Then, a series of nightmares struck the Packers in a way only comparable to that unforgettable meltdown in Seattle.
The only comfort? Unlike after Seattle, the season isn't over yet. However, Sunday's horror show leaves the Packers needing to climb a potentially insurmountable mountain to save their Super Bowl hopes.