New York Jets: 2010 AFC Championship Game vs Pittsburgh Steelers
The Mud Bowl where Richard Todd threw five interceptions was a very close second for the Jets, but this game was more devastating for a few reasons- it was the Jets second consecutive AFC Championship loss, and the Jets began to implode following their loss to Pittsburgh.
The Jets had just defeated the Patriots in Foxboro the week prior to their trip to Pittsburgh, and it seemed imminent that they would get to the Super Bowl after falling short the year before. Unfortunately, the Steelers came out firing.
Pittsburgh opened up a 24-3 lead over the Jets in the first half. The Jets did begin to come back, though. Mark Sanchez threw a touchdown to former Steelers’ hero Santonio Holmes, and the Jets recorded a safety to get the deficit down to 12. Jericho Cotchery scored a touchdown later on to make the score 24-19. Pittsburgh held on to win, though, and advanced to Super Bowl XLV to face the Packers.
The Jets began to free fall after the playoff loss to Pittsburgh. Rex Ryan was gone not long after, and the Jets never made it back to the AFC Championship Game again in the era of Ryan and Sanchez.