NFL Wildcard Playoffs: Biggest Fails from Today's Games

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The 2012 NFL Playoffs kicked off with a pair of games Saturday, and while players such as running back Arian Foster of the Houston Texans and Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions turned in stellar performances for some others it was a week best forgotten.

It's those flubs we'll "celebrate" here, with a look at some of the biggest fails from today's action.

1. Andy Dalton's First Playoff Game

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The solid rookie season turned in by quarterback Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals was a large part of the Bengals surprising run to the playoffs, but Dalton's play in his first career playoff game was also a large part of Cincy's early exit, as Dalton tossed three picks in a 31-10 loss.

2. The Cincinnati Ground Game Gets Grounded

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Perhaps Andy Dalton wouldn't have thrown three interceptions or attempted 42 passes if the Cincinnati Bengals could have run the ball at all, but the Bengals managed only 76 rushing yards on the day, including a miserable 7 carry for 14 yards effort by running back Cedric Benson.

3. Chris Crocker Drops the Ball...Literally

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It's quite possible that the biggest play in Saturday's game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans was the one that wasn't made, as Cincinnati safety Chris Crocker dropped a sure interception in the third quarter with the Bengals trailing by only seven points.

The Texans scored a few plays later, and the game was effectively decided.

4. Marvin Lewis Challenges Logic

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I hate to pile on, but this game was a failfest for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Head coach Marvin Lewis gave his detractors plenty to chew on in the offseason Saturday, making two boneheaded challenges in the first half, losing them both and costing his team both a pair of timeouts and the ability to challenge any other plays for the remainder of the game.

5. The Lions/Saints Crew Goes Double-Dipping

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The fail of the day may well have occurred in Saturday night's tilt between the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions, when an inadvertent official's whistle caused the Lions to be unable to advance a Drew Brees fumble.

But wait, it gets better.

The whistle actually came before the Lions possessed the ball, so by rule not only was the ball dead but possession should have reverted to the Saints.

Thus is proven the old adage that if at first you don't succeed, just screw things up even worse.

6. Anyone Wanna Cover That Guy?

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The Saturday night game between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints featured plenty of action but precious little defense, demonstrated perfectly by a 56 yard fourth quarter touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Robert Meachem during which the coverage was basically non-existent.

Not to be outdone, the Lions then out-failed themselves by allowing a 41 yard strike featuring the same duo a few minutes later that led to a dagger touchdown by running back Pierre Thomas.

90 points allowed in two weeks...that's some fine defense that is.