The Absolutely Worst of the NFL, Week 3 Edition

Whether it’s ESPN, Fox, CBS or NBC, the television media tends to heap far more praise than criticism on players, coaches and teams.

How often do we hear about the greatness of Tom Brady, the brilliance of Peyton Manning, the speed of Mike Wallace, etc., etc., etc.?

But the downright embarrassing shouldn’t be overlooked. Today’s media needs more of that “Come on, man!” spirit that ESPN gives us on each Monday Night.

So here is some of the best of the worst we saw Sunday. 

Worst Dropped Pass: Roddy White

Against: Tampa Bay

When: Late fourth quarter

Last season, no one caught more passes in the NFL than the Atlanta Falcons' Roddy White. And today he added another nine (along with 140 yards) to his 2011 season total: a great day for stats. 

But he sure fell short when the Falcons needed him most. At the end of the second quarter, he bobbled a pass that was picked off by Ronde Barber, blowing a chance to get some points before halftime. 

Still it was the pass he dropped on the Falcons' last offensive snap that most stood out. 

On 3rd-and-15, with the Falcons trailing 16-10 inside the Bucs' red zone and less than five minutes remaining, he flat-out dropped a Matt Ryan pass and Atlanta had to settle for a field goal. 

The Falcons never got the ball back and lost 16-13. 

Worst Fumble: Anotonio Cromartie

Against: Oakland

When: Late third quarter

Antonio Cromartie did not have a good day against the Raiders. Sure he had nine tackles, six of which were solos. But corners are usually making tackles when they've given up a reception.  

He was penalized four separate times in the Jets' first loss of the season.  But it was his play on special teams, not defense, that earns a spot on this list.

After Denarius Moore's touchdown run past both Cromartie and Darrelle Revis, Cromartie muffed the kickoff, then kicked it forward before it was picked up by the Raiders' Taiwan Jones. Two plays later, the Raiders scored their second touchdown in under a half minute and took a commanding 31-17 lead. 

Worst Tackling: Philadelphia Eagles

Against: New York Giants (to Victor Cruz)

When: Late first quarter

All that talent (and money spent) in the secondary didn't help the Dream Team on this play. 

Cruz—who isn't exactly the Giants' primary receiving threat—caught a 10-yard pass from Eli Manning and headed up field. 

Eagles safety Kurt Coleman played patty-cake with Cruz, then the top free agent pickup of the offseason, Nnamdi Asomugha, whiffed...with Coleman again coming up short.

And if that wasn't enough, I'm not so sure that Asante Samuel gave the greatest effort at the tail end of that play, a 74-yard touchdown that helped put the Eagles in a 14-point hole. 

Worst Coaching: Mike Tomlin

Against: Indianapolis 

When: The entire game

I really want to specify this choice by pointing the finger at Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, but ultimately, Tomlin is responsible.

The repeated injuries to offensive lineman haven't helped, but at some point that can no longer be an excuse.

More importantly, considering how decimated the line is, how can they repeatedly put Ben Roethlisberger in the shotgun with four or five receivers going out? Even with a back or tight end staying to block, he had virtually no chance.

Is there not a max-protect, two- or three-receiver combination not in the playbook? If Mike Wallace is that fast and that much of a threat, then Wallace, Hines Ward and Heath Miller or Wallace, Ward and Antonio Brown should have been enough against a pretty mediocre Colts pass defense. 

And given how hard Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney were rushing upfield, how about mixing in a few screens (to the backs) and draws? 

Worst Pass: Matt Cassel

Against: San Diego

When: Late fourth quarter

Credit Cassel and the Chiefs for putting those two horrible losses behind them and hanging tough against the Chargers despite not having their one of their best players on offense (Jamaal Charles) and defense (Eric Berry).

Behind 20-10 late in the game, Cassel drove the Chiefs' depleted offense 80 yards for a touchdown that cut the deficit to three. Then, with a minute remaining, the defense got the ball back and following a 23-yard completion to Leonard Pope, the Chiefs were in Charger territory. 

But Cassel's attempted a screen pass (a screen pass!!!!) that wasn't anywhere near Dexter McCluster and went right into the hands of the Chargers' Eric Weddle. Game over. 

Even if there was pressure, he's got to do better than that. 

Worst Run: Lance Kendricks

Against: Baltimore

When: Early first quarter

I suppose you have to put most of the blame for this on the Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Why in the world would you run an end-around with your rookie tight end, especially on the game's third play?

Still, considering the fact that Kendricks was the one caught for the eight-yard loss that ensued, he is the one who gets the blame in the record books. 

Worst Game: San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals

Just as good, as Super Bowl XXIII, right?!

Nope. 

Super Bowl XVI?

Nope. 

It wasn't necessarily a sloppy performance filled turnovers and miscues, although the two teams did combine for 18 penalties. 

Instead, it was the lack of any offensive excitement. Through three quarters there were two field goals and no touchdowns of any kind from the offense, defense or special teams. 

That made the two field goals, one touchdown and a meaningless safety scored in the fourth quarter seem by comparison a points bonanza. 

Maybe this is a better way to look at it. Together, the Bengals and 49ers racked up 454 yards of total offense, or the same amount that the Saints put up today...and they were actually outgained in that game by the Texans! 

Worst Announcing: Cris Collinsworth

For the most part, a viewer's hatred or love of an announcer is a matter of taste. 

Having said that, I'll give this week's "worst announcing" title to Al Michaels' lesser half. 

For one, Collinsworth said that Peyton Manning was (arguably) the greatest player in NFL history. That's a stretch to say the least. 

And he's so prone to hyperbole—on that Curtis Painter miss to Pierre Garcon, he said there was "no one left on the planet" to cover catch him and that it was the "chance of a lifetime"—that it's hard to take anything he says seriously.  

Plus, at one point he said that a Colts defender "unleveled" Ben Roethlisberger; presumably he meant either "unloaded" or "leveled." Oh, and he followed that up with an Olga Korbut reference.