The Biggest Reason Every Non-Super Bowl Team Is Sitting at Home Right Now

While everyone in the NFL watches the New England Patriots and New York Giants making their way to this year's Super Bowl, teams are left wondering why they're sitting at home.

Well, there's a reason for that. For some, it was the team's inability to do something, while for others, a major injury set their team back and pretty much out of the picture.

No team is perfect, so here's a look at every non-Super Bowl team's major flaw that kept them out of the big game this season.

Miami Dolphins: Needed a Little Moore Earlier

When quarterback Chad Henne went down, the Miami Dolphins turned to veteran Matt Moore. 

The team got off to a 0-3 start with Henne, but Moore was able to take the team 6-7. While that wouldn't have been enough to get them into the playoffs, he perhaps could have done much more if he started out the season as the main man under center.

This season, he threw for 2,497 yards with 16 touchdowns. 

It will remain to be seen if new head coach Joe Philbin will trust Moore under center, or if he will look elsewhere to help elevate this teams offense next season (Matt Flynn anybody?).

Minnesota Vikings: No Fly Zone

The Minnesota Vikings have a future playmaker in Christian Ponder and a stud back in Adrian Peterson, but one place where they continue to struggle is in the secondary.

This past season, teams hit them hard, throwing for on average 251.2 yards per game.

In Week 16, they even allowed Washington Redskins on-off starter Rex Grossman to throw for 284 yards and two touchdowns against them.

While the team's offense still needs to develop, it all starts with defense, and that's where this team is lacking some serious ability.

Arizona Cardinals: Kevin Kolb Is Not the Answer

The Arizona Cardinals finished the year 8-8, but they were expecting much better results when they acquired quarterback Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.

He ended up being a bum, throwing for just 1,955 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions through nine games (if we must include the one-pass appearance against the San Francisco 49ers).

While he did suffer from a concussion early on in the season, it seemed as if Kolb just wasn't the right piece for this team.

They almost made the playoffs with QB John Skelton, so just imagine how well this team could do if they were to find a legitimate passer.

Washington Redskins: Running Backup

The Washington Redskins actually didn't look like a terrible team to start the season. Quarterback Rex Grossman was doing well, and the defense was continually keeping them in games.

Well, eventually the defense started to struggle, while the offense was unable to make anything happen. That was mostly due to the fact that they had no running back.

Their leading rusher was Roy Helu, who had just 151 carries for 640 yards and two scores (led the team).

The team was hoping to have some big results from veterans Tim Hightower and Ryan Torain, but neither were able to come through this season.

They better hope they can find a back soon, or this team will continue to struggle.

Oakland Raiders: We Are Hurting

The AFC West was up for grabs this season, and at first, it seemed as if the Oakland Raiders were the ones to take it.

Unfortunately, they kept getting hit by injuries.

First, they lost quarterback Jason Campbell to a broken collarbone in their game against the Cleveland Browns back in Week 6.

Then, they lost running back Darren McFadden a week later against the Kansas City Chiefs to a foot injury that he was never able to recover from.

McFadden and Campbell were looking like studs to take this team far, but instead, it was left in the hands of backup quarterback Carson Palmer, who was acquired from the Cincinnati Bengals after the loss of Campbell and running back Michael Bush.

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradfords' Regression

The St. Louis Rams were looking solid with quarterback Sam Bradford developing for a bright future, but this season, he just looked terrible.

His offensive line couldn't stay healthy, and his receiving corps were just ugly. His play just wasn't the same, and he was sacked 36 times this season.

After 10 games, things caught up to him, and injury ended his season.

He only threw six touchdowns on 2,164 yards. While this isn't entirely his fault, the team really needed him to step up this season to keep things moving in the right direction.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Catch the Ball Please

Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert was thrown into the fire this season, and he had nobody to throw to.

Gabbert actually had a decent year, throwing for 2,214 yards with 12 touchdowns. He did have 11 interceptions, but he was a rookie and probably wasn't ready to become a starter just yet.

With a receiving group made up of Marcedes Lewis, Mike Thomas and Jason Hill, this team really lacked any go-to guy.

The defense was actually very strong, and running back Maurice Jones Drew did the most he could with the teams lack of a passing game.

If Gabbert had a playing making receiver, who knows how well this team could have done.

Kansas City Chiefs: You Got to Be Kidding Me

The Kansas City Chiefs were expecting big things from running back Jamal Charles this season, but they lost him for the season in their Week 2 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Charles was considered one of the best backs in the league, and considering how bad the AFC West was this past season, the 7-9 Chiefs could have easily been in it if their star back was able to stay healthy.

Instead, the team relied on backups Jackie Battle and Dexter McCluster, who combined for three touchdowns.

Quarterback Matt Cassel going down didn't help their cause either, but they really could have done something with a healthy Charles.

Chicago Bears: Dropping Like Flies

The Chicago Bears were looking like playoff contenders, but things took a turn for the worst when they lost both quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte.

Considering the team had no depth at either position, they were in trouble the moment each went down. The team already had no wide receivers, so it was unlikely that they would do well without either of their top offensive threats.

The team finished the year 8-8, dropping five of their last six games. Injuries definitely got the best of this Bears team.

Seattle Seahawks: Our Starter Is a Backup

Since Pete Carroll took over the Seattle Seahawks, he has done a lot of things right.

His defense has been strong, as well as his running game with Marshawn Lynch, but one mistake he made was letting go of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

The team instead brought in Minnesota Vikings' backup Tarvaris Jackson, who by all means is still a backup.

Jackson failed to get things done early on in the year, throwing for just 3,091 yards and 14 touchdowns through 15 games.

The team still managed to win seven games with him under center, but they likely could have done even better if they actually a legit starter under center.

New York Jets: We Aren't Shonn Up on the Ground

Where was the New York Jets' running game this season?

Both Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson combined for 1,334 yards and just seven scores on the ground.

With a quarterback like Mark Sanchez, they desperately needed a consistent running game.

This team's defense is consistently strong, but their offense will always continue to be in question.

Tomlinson is heading over the hill, and Greene's consistency has to start being brought into question.

Buffalo Bills: Defense? Defense? Defense?

We can easily point to the loss of running back Fred Jackson for the drop off in the Buffalo Bills play this season, but more importantly, there was the horrid defense.

This team had things rolling on offense all year long, but the defense continued to let up on average 27.1 PPG. That is just not going to get it done, no matter how good your offense is.

This team has some playmakers in guys like linebacker Nick Barnett and safety George Wilson, but the rest of the team has been unable to pick things up.

This team could make some noise in the AFC East for years to come, but right now, they need to think of way to improve this defense.

San Diego Chargers: In Need of Some Relief

Phillip Rivers has done a lot of the San Diego Chargers over the years, but one place that the team has struggled to find success is in the running game.

That was the case once again this season, as the team's running back in Ryan Mathews just wasn't able to provide enough relief to the running game.

This season, he did run for 1,091 yards, but his inability to score has continued to put a lot of weight onto Rivers' shoulders.

Mathews was only able to reach the end zone six times, which is nothing near the production that a starting running back should have.

Philadelphia Eagles: Holding Down the Team

The Philadelphia Eagles came into the 2011 season as Super Bowl favorites, acquiring some amazing talent that dubbed them the nickname "The Dream Team."

One player that was already on the roster was DeSean Jackson, and the team was expecting big things out of him.

Jackson was coming off of a great 2010 season, and in return, he was hoping to get a big pay check.

He started out the season holding out, demanding a nice raise. That didn't end up happening for the stud receiver and return man, who in result turned into a dud.

He did have 58 receptions on the year for 961 yards, but he only reached the end zone four times. He was able to make plays here and there, but he just didn't seem to be the same big-play threat that he was for the team last season.

It will remain to be seen if the team will decide to keep this headache around for seasons to come, but they may be best without him.

Carolina Panthers: You Can't Stop Us, but We Can't Stop You

The Carolina Panthers were excited to show off their new toy in quarterback Cameron Newton, and they did just that.

While Newton and the Panthers offense found a lot of success, their defense was unable to do the same. The loss of linebacker Jon Beason early on in the season definitely hurt this team, but it's inexcusable that they were allowing 26.8 PPG.

Their offense was putting up 25.4 PPG, but the defense just couldn't do their part. If this team can step it up on the other side of the ball next season, this will be a team that will be difficult to be beat for years to come.

Dallas Cowboys: No Run, No Fun

Quarterback Tony Romo actually had a very good season for the Dallas Cowboys, but the teams inability to score from the backfield certainly hurt them.

Many had though that Felix Jones was going to be a big threat this season, but it turned out that backup DeMarco Murray was the man who made some noise.

Still, it wasn't enough noise.

The two backs combined for just three touchdowns on the ground, giving Romo no relief in scoring. He had to carry the offense this season, tossing 31 touchdowns and having one rushing TD of his own.

Considering the team only scored five times on the ground this season, it's pretty pathetic that Romo accounts for a fifth of the team's scoring.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Don't Worry, We Will Let You Run Past Us

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the season out 4-2, but they quickly fell apart as they dropped their final 10 games.

One of the main reasons for that? A lack in a run defense.

The Buccaneers were the 32nd-ranked rush defense in the league, allowing their opponents to accumulate on average 156.1 yards.

The team tried to fix the issue by bringing in Albert Haynesworth, but that just didn't really help their cause.

Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans was having a terrible season. Still, he managed to run for 190 yards on them. Over his last four games, he totaled 195 yards. 

If that isn't convincing, I don't know what is.

Cleveland Browns: Madden Curse Lives on

Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns was coming off a ridiculous 2010 campaign. He ran for 1,177 yards while punching in 11 touchdowns.

People were excited about what he could do this season, but unfortunately, the Madden cover boy suffered from the Madden Curse. He only appeared in 10 games, while only running for 587 yards with three touchdowns.

While the team didn't do well all around, the addition of having the same Hillis from last year would have potentially helped this team find success since they would have had a running game.

Indianapolis Colts: Yeah, We Really Need You

With Peyton Manning under center last season, the Indianapolis Colts went 10-6 and lost in the first round of the NFL playoffs to the New York Jets.

While that isn't the best they have done over the years, this season resulted in the team going 2-14 as No. 18 had to sit on the bench all season after season-ending neck surgery.

It was clear that team was a completely different team without Manning, so it will remain to be see how they will do in the future if he returns of if they go with potential No. 1 pick Andrew Luck.

The team has been the Super Bowl twice already with Manning, so maybe his return will give him one last shot to get another ring.

Tennessee Titans: CJ1K?

Running back Chris Johnson held out for a big contract this offseason, and he got exactly that before the season started.

Unfortunately for the Tennessee Titans, he just didn't show up as expected.

While he did break 1,000 yards this season, many have been hoping to see him return to somewhat close to 2,000. His four touchdowns were also unimpressive, making many wonder if he will ever become a legit threat ever again.

With the team bringing in veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck, they had high hopes that this team would be a contender.

Well, that didn't happen.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Well, We Don't Want to Literally Kill Anyone

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the most dangerous and dirtiest players in the league in linebacker James Harrison.

After he had a huge hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy in Week 16, it seemed as if he just wasn't the same player against the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card game.

Obviously, nobody wanted to see him continue to be the head-hunting animal that he was, but many wanted to see a him still be aggressive and make big plays.

The team really needed him to be a force in stopping quarterback Tim Tebow, but he just seemed hesitant to make the big plays for a team that was already down many men.

Atlanta Falcons: Giants Made Turner Disappear

The Atlanta Falcons actually looked to be in good shape coming into their wild-card game against the New York Giants.

Quarterback Matt Ryan was having another good year, and running back Michael Turner was making things happen on the ground.

Against the G-Men, he just disappeared.

On 15 carries, Turner only managed to gain 41 yards. While Ryan didn't have a great game either, 199 yards with zero touchdowns, it was important for the big running back to keep things rolling.

The Falcons just didn't look good altogether, only scoring two points. 

Things could have been prettier though if Turner would have made his way through the defensive line.

Detroit Lions: We Did Our Best Without Best

It's no secret that quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wide receiver Calvin Johnson were on a tear this season.

The only problem was that the team had virtually no run game, which goes all the way back to them losing running back Jahvid Best back in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers.

The team needed something other than just a passing game, but they did pretty well without one.

In the wild-card game against the New Orleans Saints, the team only had 32 rushing yards.

Backup Kevin Smith did as much as he could, but if the team had a back like Best, who knows how much damage they could do on both the ground and through the air. 

Cincinnati Bengals: Youth Got the Best of Us

The Cincinnati Bengals were just ridiculously impressive this season.

They went 9-7 under a rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton, and his fellow rookie wide receiver A.J. Green was just as impressive.

The problem for the Bengals is they were just young and inexperienced.

Against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, they just couldn't get past their veteran defense.

Dalton threw three interceptions, and he just looked really sloppy and raw.

This team will be a great one as they continue to develop, but this season their inexperience got the best of them.

Denver Broncos: Trading Brandon Lloyd

The Denver Broncos traded wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams in the middle of the season, and that move may have been the one that ultimately hurt them.

Quarterback Tim Tebow needed as many options as he could, and the departure of Lloyd definitely left this team a player short in the wide receiver department.

While the move was understandable, as the team saw themselves pretty much out of the playoffs, the combination of Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal would just prove to not be enough.

It would remain to be seen how the team could have fared with Lloyd, but one can't argue that they would have been in a better position given the additional help he could have provided Tebow.

New Orleans Saints: We Can't Stop the Pass

This New Orleans Saints team was lights out this year on offense, as quarterback Drew Brees and his options at running back and wide receiver just tore up any opposition's secondary.

The one place where the team lacked ability was in their own secondary, and that showed when they fell to the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in the divisional round.

This season, the Saints ranked 30th amongst NFL teams in passing yards allowed, allowing 259.8 per game. In this game against the 49ers, they allowed quarterback Alex Smith to just go off.

He threw for nearly 300 yards while passing three touchdowns and taking one in with his feet.

They just couldn't stop this OK pass offense, and in the end, it's what hurt them in a shootout 36-32 loss.

Houston Texans: Matt Schaub Down

Quarterback Matt Schaub was looking great this season, and he had the Houston Texans going places.

While they lost him for good with a broken foot after their Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team was already in good shape with a record of 7-3. 

They were looking for backup Matt Leinart to come through and keep things going, but they lost him on the first drive of his first start. Enter TJ Yates, who actually took the team 3-3 and almost made some noise in the post season.

The team was able to knock off the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round, and then, only lost by seven to the Baltimore Ravens on the road.

With Schaub under center, who knows how far this team could have gone.

Green Bay Packers: Where'd Our Hands Go?

Going into the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers looked like clear favorites to take it all.

They were 15-1, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers was having a ridiculous season yet again. 

He was by far one of the most consistent passers this season, but for some reason, his receivers just didn't show up in their game against the New York Giants.

The Packers' receivers dropped eight passes in the game, including wide-open throws to players like tight end Jermichael Finley.

Some of the blame can go to Rodgers, as his passes were a little off, while some of the credit can go to the Giants for really stopping the Packers at what they do best.

The team clearly had no running game to start, but this is what they relied on. To lose like they did, the only thing that kept them from moving along was their hands.

Baltimore Ravens: The Little Man Is Gone

Where was the Baltimore Ravens' elusive running back Ray Rice in this game?

He was a beast all season, but against the New England Patriots, the 5'8" back all but disappeared.

He was given the rock 21 times, but he was only able to get 67 yards on the game. He also only had one reception for 11 yards, essentially taking him out of the equation.

The Ravens defense did their part in holding New England to just 23 points, and quarterback Joe Flacco did a fine job in throwing for over 300 yards. It was just Rice who didn't come through when it mattered most for this team.

If he would have been able to break free at least once, this game could have been a completely different story.

San Francisco 49ers: Anybody Else Want to Catch a Pass?

The San Francisco 49ers stuck with the New York Giants throughout the entire game.

Quarterback Alex Smith played to his ability, completing half of his passes for 196 yards with two touchdowns.

Both receptions were by tight end Vernon Davis, who appeared to be the only player who could make something happen off one of Smith's passes.

While Davis had 112 yards, the rest of the team only had 84 yards. Forty-five of those yards came from running back Frank Gore, who also had 74 yards on the ground on just 16 carries.

While these three all did their part in this game, the 49ers' weakness at receiver really showed in this loss.

They were close, the defense played great, but it was a lack of ability on the receiving end to really get the 49ers into the Super Bowl.