Every NFL Team's Biggest Struggle Face

The look can strike any NFL player at any time. 

What is a struggle face, you ask? It is that moment when embarrassment, vulnerability and despair combine to form an everlasting image.

The face has been seen in record numbers over the course of the 2012 season, as cameramen have caught players on every team at their worst moments.

So, which expressions have stood out the most?

Let's examine the biggest struggle face for every NFL team.

Arizona Cardinals

Photo courtesy arizona.sbnation.com

Adam Snyder is sad.

Why is he sad, you ask?

Probably because poor Mr. Snyder has to block for John Skelton, Kevin Kolb and Ryan Lindley.

We feel your pain, Adam.

Atlanta Falcons

Photo courtesy of espn.go.com

Let's go inside the mind of Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan for just a moment:

"Did I really just throw five interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals? Well, we both wear red and white. Plus, we won. So get off my case."

Baltimore Ravens

Photo Courtesy of girllovesports.com

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's expression is clear and concise. Let's describe a thought he had to have at least once in a Week 13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers:

"So, your telling me that we just lost to Charlie Batch? I give up."

Buffalo Bills

Ryan Fitzpatrick looks rather deflated here as the ball rolls helplessly away from him.

Could he dive after it?

Absolutely, but he almost seems too terrified to entertain such a thought.

Carolina Panthers

There have been many struggle faces associated with Cam Newton, but are any better than this?

Here, Newton sits despondently on the bench as the New York Giants embarrass his Carolina Panthers by a score of 33-7 (final score: 36-7).

Chicago Bears

Photo courtesy of ffspin.com

It is hard to tell what emotion Jay Cutler is exuding in this photo.

Many people believe he always looks angry, ticked off or irritated. So, perhaps this is a combination of all three.

One thing is for sure, he is definitely struggling.

Cincinnati Bengals

Losing to a division rival is always tough.

For Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals, losing to the Baltimore Ravens is downright miserable.

Cleveland Browns

Another young AFC North QB (well, relatively young at least) means another struggle face caused by the Baltimore Ravens defense.

Here, Brandon Weeden looks like a puppy that just had his bone stolen—if the puppy was a quarterback and the bone was actually a ball.

Dallas Cowboys

A Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons was a tough pill to swallow for the Dallas Cowboys.

The loss was Dallas' fourth in five weeks and helped further sink the team into the NFC East basement.

The Cowboys have since recovered, but Orlando Scandrick's mouth guard may never be the same.

Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning's first loss as a member of the Denver Broncos came on Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.

Denver did not play terribly, losing 27-21, but Manning had a notably off day.

He threw three interceptions and ended the game with this gem of a struggle face.

Detroit Lions

Photo courtesy of deadspin.com

Nothing says "struggle face" like a facemask full of turf.

Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions were supposed to build off their playoff appearance from a season ago and compete in the NFC North.

Instead, they have a 4-9 record, including a 13-7 Week 7 loss to the Chicago Bears that produced this everlasting image.

Green Bay Packers

In Mike McCarthy's defense, pretty much the entire country was in disbelief at this moment in time.

Yes, this image captures the Green Bay Packers head coach immediately following one of the biggest blown calls in league history.

We all remember the story: Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate was awarded a touchdown catch on a pass he barely touched.

The replacement referees messed up, and all McCarthy could do was stand in shock.

Houston Texans

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The 11-2 Houston Texans have not produced many struggle faces this season, but a 42-14 drubbing at the hands of the New England Patriots in Week 14 changed that in a hurry.

What was supposed to be the best Monday Night Football game of the season turned ugly quick, as players like J.J. Watt were unable to stop Tom Brady and the Patriots offense.

Here, Watt looks utterly dazed and confused.

Indianapolis Colts

Photo courtesy of desertnews.com

The 9-4 Indianapolis Colts are one of the best stories of the 2012 season.

Rookie Andrew Luck has lived up to the hype, and the team is playing inspired football in honor of head coach Chuck Pagano and his battle with cancer.

However, even the Colts are not immune from the occasional struggle face.

The expression on Luck's face here would suggest that he has just thrown one of his 18 interceptions.

Jacksonville Jaguars

I think Blaine Gabbert was just forced to watch a replay of himself attempting a pass more than five yards downfield.

Kansas City Chiefs

Photo courtesy of usnewspage.com

Dwayne Bowe just wants the football.

Matt Cassel would rather throw it to the wrong-colored jersey, and Brady Quinn is, well, Brady Quinn.

Bowe is a talented wide receiver, but it clearly pains him to not see any targets.

Miami Dolphins

Rookies make mistakes. That is simply the nature of the NFL.

However, few are able to capture the "scared out of his mind" look better than Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill did here.

It is eerily reminiscent of the expression made by a University of Michigan punter a few years back.

Minnesota Vikings

How does a player come back in just eight months after tearing an ACL and MCL in the same leg?

Only Adrian Peterson knows the answer to that question, and he has answered it by leading the NFL in rushing through 14 weeks.

Still, at times he looks just as puzzled as the rest of us. Here, he most likely wonders why Toby Gerhart was put into the game at all.

New England Patriots

Photo courtesy of usatoday.com

Tom Brady may not look like he is struggling in this photo, but on the inside he must be.

During this Week 6 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, Brady reportedly told cornerback Richard Sherman that he would "see him after they won."

Well, the Patriots lost, and Sherman was the one seeking out Brady after the game.

New Orleans Saints

This just has not been the New Orleans Saints' year.

From "Bountygate" to the head coaching carousel and the team's floundering 5-8 record, everything seems to have gone wrong.

QB Drew Brees has played admirably, but his struggle face shows that even he is having a tough time dealing with it all.

New York Giants

There was a time, long ago, when the Philadelphia Eagles started this season by winning three of their first four games.

Apparently, New York Giants wide receiver Ramses Barden knew the Eagles were actually a dysfunctional mess, which is why he was so upset after losing to them.

Here, he can't even bear to open his eyes and look at the field.

New York Jets

The Mark Sanchez/Tim Tebow QB saga for the New York Jets has received more than enough exposure.

However, there may be no greater struggle face than seeing Sanchez relegated to clipboard duty after being pulled from a game in favor of third-stringer Greg McElroy.

Oakland Raiders

It may seem crazy, but I have this dream that someday Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden will stay healthy and play a full 16-game schedule.

So far that dream has failed to even come close to reality.

Here, McFadden watches yet another contest move on without him.

Philadelphia Eagles

Why is Bryce Brown so distraught, you ask?

That's a good question with no real answer, but Brown sure did come storming out of the gates for the Philadelphia Eagles in place of the injured LeSean McCoy.

He had 347 yards rushing in his first two starts before hitting the proverbial wall against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14.

That is when he should have made a struggle face, not here when he was dominating.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger must love leading the Pittsburgh Steelers on game-winning drives.

Here, as he is forced to watch the Tennessee Titans' two-minute drill, Roethlisberger's struggle face suggests that he is using some sort of voodoo to force the Titans into a punting situation.

That or he is just really, really focused.

Either theory works.

San Diego Chargers

Has Philip Rivers had an opportunity to showcase any emotion other than devastation all season?

Seriously, his San Diego Chargers have been largely terrible, and a decision has reportedly already been made to fire head coach Norv Turner.

Rivers has a lackluster offensive line in front of him and has forced numerous passes that have been intercepted because of it.

Excuses aside, this struggle face is a great summation of the Chargers' season.

San Francisco 49ers

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Remember Alex Smith?

He was having a great season before being sidelined with a concussion. At that point, Colin Kaepernick assumed the starting QB role for the San Francisco 49ers and has yet to give it back.

That means Smith has been relegated to drinking lots of water and waiting eagerly on the sidelines for another chance.

He even has his helmet and a football ready to go! 

Seattle Seahawks

Richard Sherman makes his second photo of the list, but this time he is the one struggling.

Here, the cornerback looks over to the sideline with a puzzled look on his face. Why is Sherman so puzzled, anyway?

Maybe he is watching backup QB Matt Flynn practice the art of calling heads or tails on the sidelines. 

St. Louis Rams

Photo courtesy of usatoday.com

Poor Danny Amendola.

The St. Louis Rams receiver flashes brilliance when he is able to suit up for an extended period of time, but those instances are few and far between.

Here, an arm-sling-wearing Amendola is embraced by Larry Fitzgerald after the Rams won a Week 5 meeting against the Cardinals, 17-3.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Photo courtesy of nj.com

Greg Schiano looks like someone being scolded by one of his parents in this photo.

Schiano is clearly getting a lesson in NFL etiquette from Tom Coughlin, who was more than a little upset at the way Schiano handled a kneel-down at the end of the game.

Cooler heads would prevail, and to be fair, Coughlin's face is always beat red.

Tennessee Titans

Photo courtesy of msn.foxsports.com

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak is a man of many expressions.

This one appears to be a cross between anger and hunger.

Or perhaps he is trying to choose between Jake Locker and Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback.

Washington Redskins

Photo courtesy of washingtonpost.com

This look on Mike Shanahan's face is downright terrifying.

What led to this expression and the people responsible for it are not important.

Let's just hope we never see this look on Shanahan's face ever again.