Which Grey Cup Loss was Most Difficult?

[peg_city]

See poll.

[peg_city]

I'm voting for 2023.

The Als upsetting the argos on the ECF made me think the Bombers were going to win this by at least 7. And we were winning, up until the last drive.

[blue_gold_84]

2022. The threepeat was within reach. In Regina of all places. After a franchise best regular season.

[Blue In BC]

Not enough choices. I still haven't gotten over losing in 1965.  However, of the choices given I pick 2022.

[blue_or_die]

I voted for 2024. Probably recency bias, but:

- Coming off a dominant WF win against the hated Riders (energized after their win the week before) with all the energy and momentum
- Playing against a journeyman backup QB who's never actually been successful
- Probably crowd on our side? More Winnipeggers traveling than S. Ontarians (out to Vancouver, no less) I imagine
- Coming off 2 GC losses in a row that were well within reach up to the final seconds. Shoulda been fired up and in "not ever letting that happen again" mentality
- We were pretty healthy, unlike in 2023 when we played multiple players who weren't good to go
- Statistically, if you go to the Grey Cup in 2022, 2023 and 2024, you're going to win one. Just basic probabilities alone
- And worst of all: in the entire second half, we weren't in the game at all. We were blown out by Nick Arbuckle.

I'm actually so irked by the whole thing that I don't really show up on this site anymore, and I'm usually on here most days even if just lurking. I needed/need time off from CFL after that. Totally crushing.

[bwiser]

The loss to Montreal bugs me because if Parker can cover his receiver on third down we win the cup.

[dd]

Definitely 2024. 2022 and 2023 were upsets, games we should have won.  2024 was an embarrassment !!

[bluengold204]

2024 being embarrassed like that was the worst

[TecnoGenius]

I'm voting for 2023.

The Als upsetting the argos on the ECF made me think the Bombers were going to win this by at least 7. And we were winning, up until the last drive.

I was there in person for all 3.

If you're talking about difficult feelings, '23 was the worst by far.  After the screw-up loss in '22 (that FG was going to go in!!), we were in "not gonna happen again" mode.  Not just that, but "no way it'll happen again".  We still thought we were unbeatable and the '22 loss was just bad luck.

The '23 GC had so many chances to win.  Everything that could go wrong at the end went wrong, and everything that could go right for MTL went right.  When you thought no way WPG will lose again, we find a way to lose.

'24 is not nearly as painful sitting there in the stands because by halftime we all could see it coming.  We should have been blowing Arrrbuckle out of the water and our very expensive O should have been putting up points with ease like our first scoring drive.  TOR clearly was out-coaching and out-thinking us all game and so it was a slow deflating let-down.  I can live with that a lot better than some Sayles missed-FG-block screw up and/or letting Cody (CODY! Mr. Now Maybe No Starting Job Cody) win a 3-down-territory drive.

But if you measure "difficult" in terms of embarassment... maybe '24 is worse?  I don't know.  I wasn't really embarrassed after the game.  Everyone from other teams I spoke to I just said "ya we're used to it, old hat, meh", and I kind of meant it, and they understood.

We've replaced CGY as the "they are gonna choke in the big one" team.  Maybe for '25 that will be a good thing as we can be the underdog.

At least we've all learned to handle losing the big one.  Lots of practice.  Time to start up some winning!  (How about touch that WDF trophy this time, eh?)

(I'm still eminently satisfied we got to keep BC & SSK out of the GC though!  That matters just as much as grasping that cup because it makes their fans so angry!)

[TecnoGenius]

- Probably crowd on our side? More Winnipeggers traveling than S. Ontarians (out to Vancouver, no less) I imagine

Sitting there there was definitely more deep blue than light blue.  For the first Q at least the crowd was clearly "homer" for WPG.  Being smart with noise on D, etc.  But by the 3rd Q the crowd had turned and there was more support for TOR.  I guess the fickle not-in-it fans just wanted to back the anticipated winner.

Well, or they were rewarding good play, because we weren't seeing any good play from WPG after Q1.

There were a suprising amount of TOR fans that came out.  Our newest friends at the hotel were TOR, and the dudes on either side of our seats were TOR.

[peg_city]

I was there in person for all 3.

If you're talking about difficult feelings, '23 was the worst by far.  After the screw-up loss in '22 (that FG was going to go in!!), we were in "not gonna happen again" mode.  Not just that, but "no way it'll happen again".  We still thought we were unbeatable and the '22 loss was just bad luck.

The '23 GC had so many chances to win.  Everything that could go wrong at the end went wrong, and everything that could go right for MTL went right.  When you thought no way WPG will lose again, we find a way to lose.

'24 is not nearly as painful sitting there in the stands because by halftime we all could see it coming.  We should have been blowing Arrrbuckle out of the water and our very expensive O should have been putting up points with ease like our first scoring drive.  TOR clearly was out-coaching and out-thinking us all game and so it was a slow deflating let-down.  I can live with that a lot better than some Sayles missed-FG-block screw up and/or letting Cody (CODY! Mr. Now Maybe No Starting Job Cody) win a 3-down-territory drive.

But if you measure "difficult" in terms of embarassment... maybe '24 is worse?  I don't know.  I wasn't really embarrassed after the game.  Everyone from other teams I spoke to I just said "ya we're used to it, old hat, meh", and I kind of meant it, and they understood.

We've replaced CGY as the "they are gonna choke in the big one" team.  Maybe for '25 that will be a good thing as we can be the underdog.

At least we've all learned to handle losing the big one.  Lots of practice.  Time to start up some winning!  (How about touch that WDF trophy this time, eh?)

(I'm still eminently satisfied we got to keep BC & SSK out of the GC though!  That matters just as much as grasping that cup because it makes their fans so angry!)

Yeah, by half time I was worried. And after Collaros threw that interception when he came back I knew we were done and turned off the TV

[jayrock]

Surprised the 2007 GC did not make the list.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Surprised the 2007 GC did not make the list.

There are lots of years you could add. I guess when you're been to the Grey Cup more than any other team in the league you're going to lose your fair share. Whatever our winning percentage, I'd guess it's better for 4 out of 19 though.

[Blue In BC]

There are lots of years you could add. I guess when you're been to the Grey Cup more than any other team in the league you're going to lose your fair share. Whatever our winning percentage, I'd guess it's better for 4 out of 19 though.

We lost in 1965, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2007 and 2011 before losing in 2023 and 2024. I haven't checked which team has lost the most times but we must be close to the top. While we've won a bunch, it's still disappointing to lose those games where we were the favorite to win.

[blue_gold_84]

Surprised the 2007 GC did not make the list.