The Top 10 "What Ifs" of the 2009 NFL Season

In any season, one moment, one decision, can change an entire season.

Here are the top 10 what if's of the 2009 season.

10. What if the Titans didn't implode every time they got into scoring range against the Ravens?

The Titans had 391 total yards but somehow lost to the Ravens who had 211 total yards in the Divisional Round.

If Kevin Mawae's replacement center didn't snap the ball poorly twice in Ravens territory would the Titans have won?

If Alge Crumple didn't fumble the ball on the five yard line would the Titans have won?

If LenDale White didn't fumble the ball in the red zone would the Titans have won?

If Kerry Collins didn't just throw up a prayer off his back foot for no reason would they have won?

I have never seen a playoff game where one team was so dominant but lost like the Titans did.

All the Titans needed to do was not shoot themselves in the foot every time they got in scoring territory and they could have won.

If the Titans had won, would they have beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship game who they beat 31-14 in week 16?

9. What if the Cardinals had granted Edgerrin James's request and released him?

Things got so bad for James this season, that during an eight-game stretch starting in week nine he was limited to 11 carries.

James was so unhappy following a 35-16 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 16, that he asked to be released. Fortunately for him and the Cardinals, they refused to do so.

James regained his starting role in Week 17 and since then he has suddenly been playing with a chip on his shoulder.

In the Cardinals' playoff stretch, James seems to be fresher, more explosive, and more importantly he seems to be fighting for every yard he can get.

James’ performances have been vital in helping bring the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl ever; but if the Cardinals granted James his request, would they be in the position they are now?

8. What if Martin Gramatica wasn’t resigned by the New Orleans saints?

I still wonder why Martin Gramatica was resigned by the Saints after playing in only three games with them last year. Gramatica has a few good years in the NFL but since 2003, he seemed to have lost his confidence; especially in the clutch.

From 05-07 there was a reason he only played in eight games in the NFL. However, for some reason the Saints decided to keep Gramatica as their kicker.

In the Saints 34-32 loss to the Broncos in week three his 43 yard miss and 51 yard miss at the end of the game cost the Saints dearly.

Two weeks later against the Vikings his performance cost the Saints again. Martin Gramatica not only had field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown in the first quarter, he also missed a 46-yarder that could have given the Saints a lead with two minutes to go.

Gramatica had been battling a groin injury during the season and that seemed to be his excuse, but he seemed fine when he hit a 53 yarder against the Vikings in the same game.

Martin Gramatica season would be over two days later and the Saints would put him on the injured reserve.

Garret Hartley, one of the kickers who replaced Gramatica in pre-season was perfect on the season going 13 for 13 after taking over as the kicker this season.

The two games that Gramatica lost for the Saints cost the eight-win Saints a playoff appearance.

If the Saints had got Hartley or someone else instead of Gramatica they would have most likely made the playoffs and who know how they would have fared.

7. What if Kyle Boller never got hurt and Troy Smith didn’t get ill during the pre-season?

Joe Flacco would probably not have started the season as the Raven’s starter and the Ravens might have not made the playoffs.

If the Raven’s never made the playoffs, would the Titans have won their divisional game?

The Ravens got lucky that they were forced to play Flacco and even though they aren’t in the Super Bowl, they had a great season.

6. What if Donovan McNabb was never benched for the second half against the Ravens in Week 11?

Before McNabb was benched he had been playing awful in his recent games. After he was benched, he suddenly began playing like a different quarterback.

His great play helped lead the Eagles to the playoffs and the Conference Championship Game. There is no way to know if his benching was the cause for his turnaround.

But do you really think it’s just a coincidence that after being benched he suddenly looked like he was playing with a chip on his shoulder?

If Mcnabb wasn’t benched, would he still be the Eagles QB next year. Would Andy Reid still have a job? Would the Buccaneers have made the playoffs and thus Jon Gruden would still have a job?

5. What if Ben Roethlisberger’s concussion was more serious?

When he was knocked out in his Week 17 game against the Browns and wheeled off on a stretcher, many people assumed he would be out for the playoffs.

Luckily for the Steelers, he was diagnosed with a mild concussion and practiced during the week leading up to their first playoff game.

What was coach Mike Tomlin thinking leaving Ben Roethlisberger in for so long during a meaningless game.

If Roethlisberger was more seriously hurt, the Steelers most likely would not be in the Super Bowl and quite a few people would have been unhappy with Mike Tomlin.

4. What if Plaxico Burress didn’t shoot himself in the leg?

The Giants were 10-1 before Burress shot himself in the foot and lost 4 out of their last 6 afterwards.

Without Burress the Giant’s offense missed having that go to receiver and big target in the red zone.

 The Giants offense as a whole including their running game suffered without Burress attracting so much attention.

Burress was vital to the Giants winning the Super Bowl Last year and if he was able to play in the playoffs, who knows how the Giants might have fared this year.

3. What if Brett Favre had stayed retired?

If Brett Favre hadn’t un-retired, his legacy would never have taken the hit is has.

When he did retire, the media worshipped him for weeks and he seemed to have retired with a legacy as one of the most beloved athletes of all time.

When he decided to un-retire, the Brett Favre Saga began. Suddenly, people were starting to get fed up with his games. He seemed to be all about himself and not the team, and many of his fans took the Packers' side.

Then after playing poorly down the stretch during the Jets late season melt down, even more people seemed to turn on him. But even more frustrating to some people, was his talk about retiring once again late in the season.

I have never seen one athlete’s legacy get tarnished as much as his so late in their career and if Brett had just stayed retired it never would have.

If Brett Favre had stayed retired, could the Jets have been better off without Favre?

If he stayed retired, Chad Pennington wouldn’t have been cut and would never have played for the Dolphins.

Chad Pennington’s career would never have been resurrected, and the Dolphins most likely wouldn’t have made the playoffs.

The most surprising turnaround this year and maybe ever, would probably not have happened without Pennington.

Instead of the Dolphins making the playoffs, the Patriots would have most likely made it and who knows how this year’s playoffs would have unfolded with the Patriots in it.

2. What if Bernard Pollard didn't knock Tom Brady out for the season?

I know injuries do happen frequently in the NFL and I could write many more what "ifs" about other players in the league who got hurt this season. However, Brady’s injury was extremely vital to the 2009 season and will go down as one of the biggest injuries in NFL History.

In all my years watching sports I can’t remember the favorite team to win it all lose a player as vital to their team as Brady for the entire year so early in the season.

If Tom Brady never got injured, maybe the Patriots, not the Steelers, would be playing in the Super Bowl right now?

Matt Cassel would probably at this moment still not have a started a game since high school and would still be just be a nameless backup to most people.

Matt Cassel is the a great example of how one moment can change the life of someone forever. Cassel will forever owe his success to Bernard Pollard.

1. What if Matt Leinart didn’t have such a horrible pre-season game?

It was obvious to anyone who watched Leinart or Warner play last year that if the Cardinals wanted to win this season, Warner was the only real choice.

The Cardinals got lucky and Matt Leinart ended up playing so badly this preseason that the job was given to Warner by default.

But what if Matt Leinart didn’t have such a horrible pre-season game against the Raiders?

Against the Raiders he played beyond poorly as went for 12 for 24 yards and threw three interceptions all in the first half. Leinart’s awful performance in that game seemed to solidify Warner as the Starter.

It was obvious that Coach Ken Whisenhunt wanted to name Leinart the starter but couldn't.

If Leinart was named the starter and played at the same level he played in the preseason, Whisenhunt would have taken some serious heat from the fans and media.

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