Every NFL Team's Biggest Regret from the 2013-2014 Season

Now that the 2013 regular season is nearing its end, it's time to take a look back at the past 16 weeks.

Since we all can be a little cynical this time of year, we're going to take a look at some of the more regrettable decisions made by NFL teams this season.

For this list, we're going to forget the past offseason and examine mistakes made after Week 1.

Whether it was a missed opportunity, a questionable roster move or a poor coaching decision, every team has earned at least one regret since the regular season started. Yes, even the playoff-bound teams have made a few.

Each of the 32 NFL teams will regret...

New England Patriots

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Late-Game Interceptions

Despite a massive roster overhaul and some key injuries, the New England Patriots have managed to bring home yet another AFC East division title in 2013.

At 11-4, the Patriots are also in position to earn a first-round bye in the postseason.

With just one more win in the record books, however, New England could have been in line for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. New England won the head-to-head matchup with the Denver Broncos, who currently sit in control of the No. 1 seed.

Three of New England's losses—to the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins—were sealed by a Tom Brady interception in or near the end zone.

Brady certainly cannot be blamed for costing the Patriots these games, particularly the controversial one in Carolina. However, these are definitely plays that the Patriots wish they could have back, as one interception-turned-score would likely mean the AFC playoffs would run through Foxborough. 

Miami Dolphins

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Losing to Baltimore at Home

If the Miami Dolphins take care of the New York Jets in Week 17, they will be in the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.

If the Dolphins sat at 9-6 instead of 8-7, they could already have their playoff berth in the bag.

Miami missed a golden opportunity to pick up a win in Week 5, when it lost to the Baltimore Ravens at home. The Dolphins tied that game late in the fourth quarter, but the Ravens managed to take the lead on a 44-yard Justin Tucker field goal. Miami kicker Caleb Sturgis then missed a 57-yarder near the end of regulation.

Baltimore is currently tied with Miami at 8-7 and can slip into the playoffs with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals combined with a Dolphins loss in the final week of the regular season.

Had the Dolphins found a way to defeat the Ravens, this scenario would not be a concern.

New York Jets

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Ignoring David Garrard

Rookie quarterback Geno Smith has started the first 15 games of the season for the New York Jets with mixed results.

He has looked like a capable, dynamic quarterback at times and downright dreadful at others. Save for a mid-game benching during a 23-3 loss against the Miami Dolphins, the Jets have allowed Smith to battle and learn through the down times.

Not once did the Jets turn to veteran quarterback David Garrard, not even against Miami (fellow rookie Matt Simms got the call). 

Garrard, who missed part of the season but returned in late October, has provided a mentor presence for Smith. Unfortunately, he was never given a chance to allow Smith to learn from the sidelines.

Allowing Smith to flounder under the spotlight may have negative effects on his psyche moving forward; throwing 21 interceptions to go along with a 65.3 passer rating might just do that.

It also may have cost the Jets, who once sat at 5-4, a chance at the postseason.

Buffalo Bills

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Allowing Opposing Receivers to Run Wild

At 6-9, the Buffalo Bills are out of the playoff race, but they have shown promise. This is especially true when you consider that the team has started three quarterbacks over the course of the season, two of them rookies and one with just one prior start on his resume.

Had the defense not shown a propensity to give up big games to opposing wideouts, the Bills might have even found a way to sneak into the playoff conversation.

In six of its nine losses, Buffalo has allowed a single receiver to top the 100-yard mark. An opposing receiver had gained at least 75 yards in eight of the nine Bills defeats.

This has been in spite of the fact that Buffalo ranks fifth in the league in pass defense and has allowed an average of just 210.4 passing yards per game.

This means that in six of Buffalo's losses it has allowed nearly half the opposing team's passing yards to go to one individual. 

Cincinnati Bengals

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Losing to the Browns

The Cincinnati Bengals have already locked up the AFC North title. At 10-5, they can also earn a first-round bye with a victory and a New England loss in Week 17.

If the Bengals shared New England's 11-4 record, they would only need to beat the Baltimore Ravens to enter the postseason with the AFC's No. 2 seed.

A win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 would have gotten them there.

The Bengals played arguably their worst game of the season in the 17-6 loss. Quarterback Andy Dalton passed for just 206 yards and an interception, and the Bengals failed on a fourth-down conversion attempt during the enigmatic loss.

Cleveland has won just three other games on the season. 

Baltimore Ravens

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Not Adding a Running Back

The Baltimore Ravens enter Week 17 needing to beat the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in order to even have a chance at the playoffs this year.

The defending Super Bowl champions have struggled just to reach their current 8-7 record. A woeful running game has helped create these struggles.

The Ravens rank just 28th in rushing offense (85.4 yards per game) and have gotten minimal production out of one-time star Ray Rice. Rice has averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. His backup, Bernard Pierce, has been even less productive, with a 2.8 yards-per-carry average.

Had the Ravens turned to the free agent or trade markets early in the season, they might have been able to scoop up a more capable runner (like former Raven Bobby Rainey, who will be discussed later). If they had done so, the team might have been able to squeak out another close win or two and might already be in control of a playoff spot. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Sticking with Jarvis Jones

The former Georgia standout was supposed to be one of the biggest rookie playmakers and a pass-rushing force in 2013.

He hasn't been.

Jones was handed the starting outside linebacker job in Week 2, where he stayed before being benched by head coach Mike Tomlin at the end of October. 

Jones has started seven games in all, and he has received significant playing time, particularly before the final month of the season. However, he has produced a not-so-impressive 31 tackles and one sack on the season.

By comparison, his replacement, Jason Worilds, has produced 63 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles on the year. 

Cleveland Browns

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Giving Up on Bobby Rainey

Second-year running back Bobby Rainey has burst onto the scene this season, rushing for 497 yards, five touchdowns and a respectable 3.9 yards-per-carry average in eight games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Did you know that Rainey spent the first six weeks of the season with the Cleveland Browns? The Browns do, and they might just be kicking themselves.

Cleveland was left with few viable backfield options after trading away Trent Richardson. The Browns settled on the committee of aging veteran Willis McGahee, fullback Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whitaker and Edwin Baker. Rainey received a whole 13 carries in Cleveland this season.

The 497 yards Rainey gained with Tampa are more than any Browns rusher has produced for the year. His five rushing touchdowns are more than Cleveland has amassed as a team. 

Indianapolis Colts

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Trading for Trent Richardson

This is a move that the Indianapolis Colts might not actually regret until Draft Day 2014, but giving up a first-round pick for Trent Richardson was certainly a questionable decision.

The problem for Indianapolis is an issue of high cost and low production. Richardson has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and has scored a mere two touchdowns with the Colts since the trade.

He was eventually benched in favor of Donald Brown, who has averaged 5.6 yards per carry this year and has scored five times on the ground. Brown has been with Indianapolis since 2009.

Considering the Colts are headed to the playoffs anyway, there isn't a lot of reason to regret the Richardson trade quite yet. Plus, there is always the possibility that he finds a way to turn things around after a full offseason with his new team.

Still, when the Colts spend the first day of the 2014 draft as spectators, there might be a little buyer's remorse. 

Tennessee Titans

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Not Trading Kenny Britt

Former first-round pick Kenny Britt has not quite lived up to expectations, which is why the Tennessee Titans are highly unlikely to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent next offseason.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, however, several teams were interested in trading for Britt before the deadline passed. Tennessee sat at 3-4 at the trade deadline.

Had the Titans been able to move their troublesome wideout, they would at least have gotten something in return. Even a late-round pick would have been of value in retrospect.

What they have gotten from Britt this season instead is three starts, 11 receptions and 96 yards.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Ever Giving Blaine Gabbert an Opportunity

Third-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert was allowed to start three separate games this season. The Jacksonville Jaguars are probably asking themselves why.

Journeyman Chad Henne is clearly the better quarterback, though Gabbert did not present much of an argument. The former Missouri star completed just 48.8 percent of his passes for 481 yards with one touchdown and seven interceptions in his three appearances this year.

His passer rating of 36.0 is less than half of the 76.5 rating obtained by Henne.

Though the 4-11 Jaguars have played better over the last half of the season, there have been a lot of missteps along the way. Allowing Gabbert to open the season as the starter was one of them. 

Houston Texans

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Just About Everything

It is hard to imagine an NFL season going more poorly than the one the Houston Texans have been forced to endure in 2013 (though the one in Atlanta has been pretty rough, too).

Houston entered the year as a supposed Super Bowl contender, but it has not won a single game since Week 2. Quarterback Matt Schaub has been injured, benched and then reinserted into the lineup during the season, much to the dismay of a disgruntled fanbase.

Houston also lost its top running back, Arian Foster, to a season-ending back injury. The Ed Reed experiment was a disaster, and the Texans defense as a whole (ranked 26th, allowing 27.5 points per game) has been an utter disappointment.

A glimpse at defensive end J.J. Watt's bloodied nose pretty much sums up the Texans in 2013—bruised, beaten, barely recognizable and in need of a makeover.

On the bright side, if the Texans fall to 2-14 in Week 17, they will be able to grab any player they want at the top of the 2014 draft. 

Denver Broncos

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Not Putting Away the Patriots

With the best record in the AFC at 12-3, it is difficult to imagine the Denver Broncos having a lot of regrets this time of year. That is, of course, before one realizes just how big of a lead the Broncos squandered in Week 12 against the New England Patriots.

Denver, who averages 38.1 points per game, led 24-0 at halftime. Yet the Broncos somehow managed just seven points in the second half and allowed New England to force overtime. 

Actually, Denver's biggest regret may be the muffed punt with just three minutes remaining that allowed the Patriots to win on a 31-yard field goal.

Had the Broncos won that game, they would already own the AFC's No. 1 seed and would have the confidence that comes from beating a talented team in rough conditions on the road. 

Kansas City Chiefs

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A Defensive Meltdown Against the Chargers

Despite holding an impressive 11-4 record, the Kansas City Chiefs are locked into the AFC's fifth seed with no chance to earn an AFC West title and a first-round bye.

Had the Chiefs not uncharacteristically broken down defensively against the San Diego Chargers in Week 12, a division title would still be in play (with a win and a Denver Broncos loss in Week 17).

Unfortunately, the Chiefs did melt defensively against the Chargers in Week 12, allowing Philip Rivers to pass for 392 yards while surrendering 41 points. Kansas City has allowed an average of just 249.5 passing yards and 18.5 points all season.

The Chargers and Chiefs traded scores throughout the second half, with San Diego getting the final touchdown with less than a minute remaining. 

One more defensive stop in that game, and the Chiefs would have something to play for in Week 17.

San Diego Chargers

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Losing to the Dolphins in Week 11

The 8-7 San Diego Chargers are still technically in play for the AFC's sixth seed. However, they need the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins both to lose on Sunday.

Had the Chargers not suffered a 20-16 loss against the Dolphins in Week 11, they would only need to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 to make the postseason. San Diego defeated the Chiefs in Week 12.

In Week 11, however, the Chargers pulled to within a point in the fourth quarter against Miami before allowing another field goal and falling short on their final drive. 

The Chargers, who have averaged 24.6 points per game this season, did not score a touchdown after the first quarter. 

Oakland Raiders

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Turning to Matt Flynn in Week 4

Third-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor was given the starting job at the beginning of the 2013 season.

After Pryor suffered a concussion, however, the Raiders turned to offseason acquisition Matt Flynn to start against the Washington Redskins in Week 4. Oakland lost the game 24-14.

Flynn did not play exceptionally bad against Washington (21-of-32 for 227 yards with a touchdown and a pick). The regret for Oakland is that it had an opportunity to take a look at undrafted rookie Matt McGloin early in the season and passed on it.

McGloin eventually got a chance to start in Week 11 against the Houston Texans, a game Oakland won. However, he has gone just 1-5 as a starter with a passer rating of 76.1 and does not appear to be a long-term answer.

Had the Raiders gotten a look at McGloin prior to the trade deadline, they might have been able to make a season-saving move.

They did not and instead brought in Flynn, who was subsequently released. 

Philadelphia Eagles

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Allowing Michael Vick to Start the Season

Veteran quarterback Michael Vick was handed the starting job by new head coach Chip Kelly prior to the start of the season.

He started the first five games of the year, and six in total, posting a 2-4 record as a starter. When backup Nick Foles took over, however, the Eagles got hot and never looked back.

Foles started in Weeks 6 and 7 before taking over again in Week 9. He has gone 7-2 as a starter and has thrown for 2,528 yards with 25 touchdowns and just two interceptions on the season.

Philadelphia heads into Week 17 needing to beat the Dallas Cowboys in order to win the NFC East and earn a playoff berth. Had Foles been allowed to start the season, the Eagles might already have the extra win they need to be division champions. 

Dallas Cowboys

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Romo's No-No

The Dallas Cowboys still have an opportunity to win the NFC East with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17.

This opportunity comes despite a disastrous Week 15 collapse that saw the Cowboys squander a 26-3 lead against the Green Bay Packers. The worst part is that quarterback Tony Romo threw an interception with the lead and just over three minutes left to play. 

While his mistake might not ultimately cost the Cowboys a postseason berth, it does add to the looming offseason drama in Dallas.

After the game, head coach Jason Garrett blamed Romo for checking from a run to a pass on the interception. A strained coach/quarterback relationship probably won't do much to help Garrett secure a future in Dallas.

Barring an unexpected Super Bowl run, the Cowboys are probably in store for major changes in the offseason. Thanks to this ill-fated call and an even worse call-out, the circus may be even bigger than usual this offseason. 

New York Giants

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Not Trading Hakeem Nicks

It has been a lost season for the 6-9 New York Giants.

The team likely realized that a playoff berth was not in the future when the team opened the season 0-6. However New York decided not to move one of its most valuable commodities when it had the chance.

Fifth-year receiver Hakeem Nicks will become a free agent in 2014. He might have been able to bring the Giants a mid-to-high level draft pick in a trade, depending upon whether or not a team trading from him could negotiate a new long-term contract.

Nicks is currently second on the team with 54 receptions and 846 receiving yards. However, he has not been enough to help New York overcome its rocky start. 

Washington Redskins

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Allowing Robert Griffin to Start the Season

A couple of weeks ago, Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan made the announcement that star quarterback Robert Griffin III would be shut down for the final three weeks of the season.

In retrospect, he should have kept Griffin off the field for the first three weeks of the season.

The start of the season came less than nine months after Griffin underwent knee surgery. The Redskins had a viable second option in Kirk Cousins, who took over for the remainder of the season after Griffin was benched.

Griffin has not played at the same level he did a season ago (his passer rating has dropped to 82.2 from 102.4), which many attribute to his limited mobility.  

Thankfully, Griffin did not suffer another serious injury as a result of his quick return to the playing field, but the decision to rush him back for a season that has seen Washington go 3-12 is a regrettable one. 

Chicago Bears

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The Second-Down Overtime Field Goal

Despite experiencing a number of setbacks this season, the 8-7 Chicago Bears have an opportunity to clinch the NFC North title in Week 17. To do so, they will need to defeat the 7-7-1 Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Were the Bears 9-6, they would already have the title locked up.

That extra victory most likely should have come in Week 13 against the struggling Minnesota Vikings. Chicago allowed Minnesota to come back late in the game and force overtime.

The Vikings eventually won on a field-goal, but that was only after Chicago kicker Robbie Gould missed a 47-yard field goal attempt of his own. 

It was a kick that head coach Marc Trestman decided to attempt on second down. This means that Chicago had two more tries to at least get closer for a shorter attempt but chose not to do so.

It is an opportunity, and a game, that the Bears would certainly like to have back.

Green Bay Packers

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Not Bringing Back Matt Flynn Sooner

When quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone against the Chicago Bears in Week 9, it appeared that the Green Bay Packer's playoff hopes were done.

Thanks to the return of one-time backup Matt Flynn, however, the Packers still have an opportunity to win the NFC North with a win over the Chicago Bears in Week 17.

If the Packers had re-signed and started Flynn before the team's Week 10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay might be in much better position to reach the postseason. 

Backup Scott Tolzien led the Packers to two straight losses in Weeks 10 and 11, and he had his team down 23-7 before being pulled in favor of Flynn in Week 12 against the Vikings.

Flynn managed to deliver a tie in that game and a 2-2 record since, putting the Packers one more win away from a division title. 

Detroit Lions

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Dropping a Close One to Baltimore

It was their Week 16 loss to the New York Giants that actually eliminated the Detroit Lions from playoff contention. However, the Lions probably regret losing to the Baltimore Ravens in front of a national audience on Monday night the week before even more.

Detroit was in position to take home the victory when quarterback Matthew Stafford engineered a go-ahead touchdown drive that ended with less than two minutes remaining.

A failed two-point conversion attempt left the Lions with just a one-point lead. The Ravens then capitalized with a drive that ended with a 61-yard field goal by kicker Justin Tucker. It was Tucker's sixth field goal of the day.

The game breathed new life into Baltimore's playoff hopes, and it essentially ended them for Detroit. 

Minnesota Vikings

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Signing Josh Freeman

The 4-10-1 Minnesota Vikings appear to be heading into 2014 still in search of a franchise quarterback.

This is why the team made the shocking move to sign quarterback Josh Freeman following his release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early on in the season. The Vikings are probably now wishing they hadn't. 

Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel are probably not the answer to Minnesota's long-term quarterback situation, though Cassel (82.7 passer rating this season) has at least played respectably enough to warrant a role in 2014.

The regrettable fact is that Minnesota never really gave Freeman a fair shot at proving he could be the answer.

Freeman appeared in one game for the Vikings, starting against the New York Giants a little more than two weeks after being signed. He completed just 20-of-53 pass attempts for 190 yards and an interception.

Apparently, that was the only look the Vikings needed from Freeman to determine his future. The one-game look cost Minnesota $3 million.

Carolina Panthers

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Losing to Seattle in Week 1

The Carolina Panthers are currently 11-4 and in possession of the NFC's No. 2 seed. In fact, the Panthers can earn the No. 1 seed with a win, a loss by the Seattle Seahawks and a win by the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17. 

Had the Panthers taken care of business against the Seahawks at home in Week 1, they would only need to defeat the lowly Atlanta Falcons to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

It was a 12-7 game that Carolina had plenty of chances to win. It could have gone the other way if the Panthers had just stopped Russell Wilson from tossing a 43-yard fourth-quarter pass to Jermaine Kearse to take the lead. 

Had Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams not fumbled on the Seattle 8-yard line with just five minutes left to play, Carolina would have had 1st-and-goal and an opportunity to take a late lead.

Due to these missed opportunities, however, the Panthers will need to hope for a little luck in the final week of the regular season. 

New Orleans Saints

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Not Stopping the Panthers in Week 16

The New Orleans Saints currently sit at 10-5 and can clinch a playoff berth with a win in Week 17. A win and a loss by the Carolina Panthers would earn the Saints a division title and a first-round bye.

Had New Orleans prevented the Panthers from scoring a touchdown with less than 30 seconds remaining in their Week 16 matchup, they would only need a win to secure both.

The win would have given the Saints a one-game lead in the NFC South and a 2-0 record over Carolina.

Now, the Saints face the possibility of missing the playoffs altogether. Should the Saints lose in Week 17 and the Arizona Cardinals win, Arizona will get the final wild-card spot in the NFC.

Atlanta Falcons

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Not Getting Tony Gonzalez to the Super Bowl

The Atlanta Falcons were expected to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2013, which is a big reason why future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez decided to put off his retirement for one more season.

At 4-11, the playoff hopes for the Falcons have long since dispersed.

It is an unfitting ending to one of the most memorable careers in league history. To date, Gonzalez has hauled in a remarkable 1,321 passes for 15,071 yards and 111 touchdowns.

Gonzalez will have one final game to add to his impressive total, but you can bet the Falcons regret not giving him one final shot at a championship. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Allowing Josh Freeman to Start the Season

Rookie quarterback Mike Glennon (2,389 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and an 84.8 passer rating) has not been perfect, but he has shown promise in his 12 starts this season. 

He has certainly performed better than Josh Freeman, who started the first three games of 2013 for the Buccaneers  and had a passer rating of 59.3 in that span.

He has also managed to do it without the drama. 

The bizarre situation surrounding Freeman included a missed team photo, a controversial captaincy vote and a leak to the media about Freeman's participation in the league's substance abuse program. 

Freeman was eventually granted his outright release.

Had the Buccaneers turned to their rookie signal-caller to start the season, it would have saved the team a lot of headaches and might have helped to paint Greg Schiano's second season as head coach in a better light.

Seattle Seahawks

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Allowing Percy Harvin to Play Against Minnesota

During the offseason, the Seattle Seahawks traded away a package of draft picks, including a first-rounder, to acquire Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings.

However, Harvin underwent hip surgery shortly thereafter, landing him on the short-term injured reserve list. 

Harvin was moved to the active roster in November and was given the go-ahead to play against his former team in Week 11.

It was the only game Harvin has appeared in this season, and per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, it now it appears that he may be headed to injured reserve for the rest of the year after experiencing further complications with the hip.

Had the Seahawks simply kept Harvin on the sidelines until the postseason began, they might have had an opportunity to utilize the dynamic playmaker in some games that really matter. At the very least, they could have left their playoff opponents guessing about his availability. 

San Francisco 49ers

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A One-Point Loss to Carolina

The 11-4 San Francisco 49ers have locked up a playoff spot and can even earn a division title and a first-round bye with a win and a Seattle loss in Week 17.

Had San Francisco not stumbled against the Carolina Panthers in Week 10, the 49ers wouldn't have to rely upon the Seahawks losing at home to the St. Louis Rams to win the NFC West.

The 49ers, who have averaged 25.5 points per game this season, managed just three Phil Dawson field goals against the Panthers and did not score after halftime.

Ironically, the Panthers are still in play for the NFC's No. 1 seed. A 49ers victory in Week 10 would mean San Francisco would currently be in control of it. 

Arizona Cardinals

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Falling Short in Week 1

The Arizona Cardinals are currently 10-5 and can earn a playoff spot with a win and a New Orleans loss in Week 17.

A couple of missed opportunities have kept the Cardinals from having a much better chance at the postseason. No missed opportunity now looms larger than their 27-24 loss to the St. Louis Rams in Week 1.

The Cardinals had an 11-point lead entering the fourth quarter of that game. The Rams scored a touchdown, a two-point conversion and two field goals in the final period to earn the win.

Had Arizona held onto the large lead in Week 1, it would be 11-4 and would only need a win over the San Francisco 49ers to secure a playoff berth.

Even better, the Cardinals would have had an opportunity to bounce the 49ers from the playoffs altogether (a Saints victory would give New Orleans a better conference record than San Francisco).

As it stands, the Cardinals need the Saints, who play the wildly inconsistent Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, to lose. 

St. Louis Rams

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Not Giving Zac Stacy an Earlier Opportunity

Considering how well backup quarterback Kellen Clemens has played over half the season, the St. Louis Rams must be considered one of the league's more quiet surprises at 7-8.

The surprising emergence of running back Zac Stacy hasn't quite been so quiet. In just 11 starts, he has rushed for 958 yards, seven touchdowns and a steady 4.1 yards-per-carry average.

He had just one rushing attempt over the first four weeks of the season.

Had he been given an earlier opportunity, the Rams, who went 1-3 during that stretch, might have been able to maneuver their way into the playoff race.

In fact, the Rams might simply regret giving three of the first four starts to Daryl Richardson, who has averaged just 3.1 yards per carry this season. He has clearly been outperformed by Stacy and by backup Benny Cunningham, who has averaged 5.6 yards per carry on the year.