Heartbreaking Philadelphia Sports Defeats Quiz

Answer: Detroit Pistons

The 76ers and Pistons were tied at 2-2 after four games. Both games 5 and 6 went to overtime, and unfortunately for the Sixers, Detroit came out on top in both games, winning by 1 and 4 points respectively.

Answer: Florida Marlins

The 2003 Phillies trailed Florida by a single game for the NL Wildcard spot heading into the final 6 games. Florida then proceeded to sweep the Phils in their next three games, clinching the wildcard spot. Philly was winning 3-0 late in the first game, but a 3-run home run by Jeff Conine erased their lead and their momentum for the entire series.

Answer: Carolina Panthers

The Eagles lost their third consecutive NFC Championship game, the second straight at home. Carolina's strong defense stifled the Eagles, holding them to a mere field goal while winning 14-3 to advance to Super Bowl 38.

Answer: Oklahoma St.

St. Joes, playing for their first Final Four birth ever, took a late 62-61 lead on Oklahoma St. on a Pat Carroll 3-pointer with 29.9 seconds to go. The Cowboys regained the lead with just 6.9 seconds left on a John Lucas 3. Jameer Nelson's buzzer-beater attempt missed, and the Hawks' best season ever ended with a tough 64-62 loss to Oklahoma St.

Answer: Tampa Bay Lightning

The top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning earned their first Eastern Conference Championship by beating the Flyers in a tough, hard-fought seven game series. The teams alternated wins, with Tampa winning games 1,3,5, and 7 and the Flyers taking games 2,4, and 6. Tampa won game 7 by a single goal, 2-1, and eventually would capture the 2004 Stanley Cup.

Answer: Birdstone

Birdstone came from behind to beat Smarty Jones on the last leg of the Belmont Stakes, ending Smarty's shot to be the first Triple Crown winner in 26 years. Smarty still won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004, but fell just short of the three-race sweep.

Answer: Atlanta Falcons

The Eagles lost their third consecutive NFC Championship game in January 2004, and finally got over the hump of the NFC Championship game in January 2005, beating the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 27-10 to advance to their second Super Bowl, which they lost 21-24 to the New England Patriots (their first appearance was in Super Bowl XV in January 1981; they lost 10-27 to Oakland).

Answer: New England Patriots

In a close, physical match, the New England Patriots edged the Eagles 24-21 to win their third Super Bowl in four years. Despite 300+ passing yards from Donovan McNabb and the triumphant return of Terrell Owens, the Eagles could not overcome the Patriots machine that dominated the NFL with a 17-2 record for the second straight year.

Answer: traveling

Ray hit a basket that would have cut North Carolina's lead to 1, with a free throw to come afterwards. However, the referee called traveling on Ray on the play, cancelling the basket and giving the ball to the Tarheels. North Carolina ended up winning 67-66, their toughest test on the way to capturing the 2005 NCAA National Championship.

Answer: Villanova

Philadelphia's only championship among those sports during that 21 year period came in the form on an NCAA basketball championship in 1985. That year, the Villanova Wildcats basketball team, led by Ed Pickney, upset the mighty Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 in the national championship game. The 8th-seeded Wildcats became the lowest seeded champion in NCAA basketball history.