When I sat down in front of the computer, I had a pretty good idea what I was going to write about.

I wanted to try and sift through the reasons why the Packers lost the NFC Championship Game 28-22 to the Seahawks in overtime.

Goodness knows there are plenty of reasons why the Packers lost.

The MVP favorite (Aaron Rodgers) played less than MVP like.

The offense seemed to go into cruise control once they had built up a 16-0 lead.

Points left on the field because they could not score touchdowns in the red zone, settling for field goals instead.

The defense collapsing with three minutes and some change left.

The fake field goal. Ugh.

The onside kick. Oh, the onside kick.

I could go on and on and on…

The words started to come out, one after another. A logical attempt to try and break down what happened. To determine what the overwhelming reason was for this loss.

I read through my notes on the game, piecing together the culprit for this disaster. One conclusion that was reached was this was a TEAM loss. Individuals don’t lose games, teams do.

But as the words were going from brain to fingers to computer screen something came over me. A feeling of sadness. Overwhelming, intense, incredible sadness.

Sadness over a season of what could have been. What should have been.

After four months of battle on the field, a season of high hopes sat in ruins on the ground at Century Link.

Another season, over in an instant.

Immediately after the game, I felt empty. Emotionally drained, physically spent. I guess that’s what happens when a team that you are so invested loses, especially the way the Packers did.

The thought was a good night’s sleep and a day off of work (so very thankful for taking today off) would leave me in a better state of mind. But it didn’t. I have that same empty feeling inside today.

A giant pit in my stomach hurt. And it sucks. It really, really sucks.

To be so close, so very close to going to the Super Bowl, and to have it ripped away. It’s painful to even think about. But I can’t. I can’t stop thinking about it.

Victory was right there. A trip to the Super Bowl was right there. A chance to reclaim the Lombardi Trophy was RIGHT THERE. And in an instant, it was gone.

I’ve been around long enough to experience the highest of highs as a Packers fan. Nothing will ever replace the feelings of the two Super Bowl victories I have witnessed. The tears I cried those days were tears of joy.

I’ve also been around long enough the other extreme. Some incredibly deflating moments.

Yesterday was one of the latter. Quite possibly the most deflated I’ve ever felt after a Packers loss.

More deflated than losing Super Bowl 32 (no joke). More deflated than 4th and 26. More deflated than that loss on that frigid night in January 2008.

The tears I shed yesterday were real. As real as real can be. And those are the kind of tears I hate shedding-tears of sadness.

The sadness over yesterday will stay with me for a while, because victory was in the Packers grasp-and they let it get away.

This Packers loss hurts. It will hurt for a while. A long while .

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John Rehor is a writer at PackersTalk.com.

He can also be heard as one of the Co-Hosts of Cheesehead Radio.

You can follow John on twitter at jrehor or email him at johnrehor@yahoo.com.

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