2011 NFL Playoffs: Biggest Fails So Far This Postseason
2011 NFL playoffs have been as exciting as ever, and with that excitement comes some head-scratching and head-shaking plays and decisions.
That's part of the game, but on this stage, it's always a bigger deal. With that in mind, we have 15 moments that were major head-scratchers and major fails by these players and coaches.
Which play or decision do you think was the worst? Are there any I missed? Make sure to leave it in the comments.
No. 15: James Jones Dropping a Sure Touchdown
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Late in the first half of the Wild Card matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers aired it out deep.
He was looking for James Jones, who was streaking down the right sideline and had beaten his defender. The ball was threaded perfectly between two Eagles, hitting Jones square in the hands. The only problem was that the ball bounced away from Jones, blowing a golden opportunity.
The Packers didn't lose, so while it was embarrassing, it's no harm, no foul.
No. 14: Matt Cassel's First Playoff Game
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Matt Cassel played his first career playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, and boy was it a disaster.
Cassel was 9-of-18 for 70 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He was also sacked three times. He had a quarterback rating of 20.8, the worst of any starting quarterback in the playoffs this season.
It's a game everyone, especially Cassel, would love to forget.
No. 13: The Saints Running on 4th-and-1
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Who has ever thought of the New Orleans Saints as a running team? Anyone? Okay, no one.
It was even worse with the Saints being reduced to using Julius Jones after countless running backs found themselves out for the year. However, on 4th-and-1 in a playoff game, Sean Payton decided to run it right up the middle.
Jones got tripped up by his own man and fell short of the marker, giving the Seahawks the ball. It's not like the Super Bowl MVP was under center or anything. Smooth move Sean. We're not done with you yet though.
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No. 12: Indy's Kickoff Coverage Late
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Indianapolis takes the lead on an Adam Vinatieri field goal with less than a minute to go.
All the Colts have to do is pin the Jets back and play solid defense, and the game is in the bag for Indianapolis. Too bad the Colts totally mess up the kick coverage, and Antonio Cromartie gave New York amazing field position near midfield.
From there, the Jets got the game-winning field goal as time expired.
No. 11: New Orleans Pooch Kicking It
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Sean Payton called one of the most famous onside kicks in NFL history in last year's Super Bowl, but this special teams decision wasn't as successful.
In trying to avoid kicking it to Leon Washington, New Orleans kept kicking it short to try and avoid the returner. First off, I'd like to ask if he's Devin Hester or Dante Hall back in his prime? He's not? Then there's no point in avoiding him.
It gave Seattle great field position and the Seahawks made the Saints pay.
No. 10: Michael Vick Forcing It Deep
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Late in the game between the Eagles and Packers, Michael Vick looked like he was going to get the Eagles into the next round.
He was driving down the field and all of the momentum was in Philadelphia's favor. Vick had the ball in Green Bay territory and decided to go for it all by hitting Riley Cooper in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
Vick underthrew the ball, and it was picked off by Tramon Williams, ending the game. It was a foolish decision and a throw the quarterback would love to have back.
No. 9: Seattle Kicking a Field Goal Down Four Touchdowns
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Down 28-0 to the Chicago Bears, Pete Carroll kicked a field goal when the ball was at the 13-yard line.
Seriously Pete? You kick a 30-yard field goal down four touchdowns? How in the world does that get you back in the game? It didn't, and even though Seattle lost by 11, it might have been a little more interesting than it ended up being.
It was a moronic decision to say the least.
No. 8: Kansas City's Fourth Down Call
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During the course of Kansas City's game against Baltimore, the Chiefs decided to go for it on 4th-and-1.
The only problem was that Kansas City ran a sweep to Jamaal Charles against the Baltimore Ravens defense. Think about how stupid that is for a second. It was an awful call and Charles lost multiple yards on the play.
Baltimore took the momentum and ran away with the game.
No. 7: David Akers Misses Two Field Goals
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David Akers has been one of the best kickers in football for his entire career.
Akers missed two field goals in Philadelphia's Wild Card matchup against the Green Bay Packers, one of them being a field goal that he nails 99 times out of 100. Those missed points would have won the game for the Eagles.
It was a stunning performance from one of the league's best kickers.
No. 6: T.J. Houshmandzadeh's Dropped First Down Catch
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T.J. Houshmandzadeh is one of the more reliable receivers in the league, which is what makes this so stunning.
On fourth down with the game on the line late against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joe Flacco found Houshmandzadeh along the right sideline and fired a total bullet to him. It hit him right in the chest, and the wideout dropped the pass.
That was the game and the season for Baltimore.
No. 5: New England's Fake Punt
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In a 7-3 game in the second quarter, it's not exactly time for a fake punt.
That's what New England did and it blew up in the Patriots' faces. Patrick Chung took responsibility for the fake punt's failure, but that doesn't make it any better. The Jets took the ball and the momentum, and never really looked back.
It was a foolish, foolish play and a gamechanger.
No. 4: Anquan Boldin's Dropped Touchdown
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Anquan Boldin, let me just tell you something.
The Baltimore Ravens brought you in because they thought you could put them over the top. You have been to a Super Bowl and you've been one of the best wideouts in football for years, and it looked like a great pickup.
So on one of the most important plays of the game, you drop a sure touchdown? Just smooth Anquan, way to go.
No. 3: Matt Ryan's First-Half Pick Six
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At the end of the first half in the NFC Divisional round, Matt Ryan was trying to get one last-ditch score for the Falcons to try and chip away at a 21-14 Packers lead.
Oops.
Ryan threw an interception that went back for a touchdown, giving Green Bay a two-touchdown lead and all of the momentum. The Packers came out in the second half and scored two consecutive touchdowns, putting the game out of reach.
That pick changed the entire game.
No. 2: New Orleans Trying To Tackle Marshawn Lynch
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Marshawn Lynch had an okay season.
He wasn't bad, but he wasn't great either. Then on one play, he changed how everyone looked at him. Lynch ran over the entire New Orleans defense and threw Tracy Porter to the turf in a run that caused the ground to shake in Seattle.
It was a great effort, but it was poor form by the Saints as well.
No. 1: Jim Caldwell's Timeout
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Jim Caldwell did something so blatantly stupid that Peyton Manning threw his arms up with a look of disgust on his face.
With the Jets driving down the field late in the game, looking for the winning field goal, New York was set to try a long field goal with Nick Folk, who is shaky from long range. Then Caldwell called a timeout and allowed the Jets to think it over.
New York decided to run the offense back out there and hit Braylon Edwards for a big gain. Folk got a much shorter attempt and the rest is history. I think Caldwell should be getting his thank you card in the mail any day now.
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