The 20 Biggest Fails of the 2011 NFL Regular Season (Video)

For a season that seemed like it wouldn't even happen six months ago, 2011 was definitely one of the most memorable in recent NFL history. Sure, there was the success of teams like the defending champion Packers going 15-1 and sleepers like the 49ers and Lions making the playoffs for the first time in several years, but what about the underachievers? Squads like the "Dream Team" Eagles and the Super Bowl-destined Jets that failed to live up to expectations.

And although football is a team sport, we're taking a look at the individual players and coaches whose gaffes made for some hilariously entertaining moments. We've included everything from ridiculous acting jobs (we see you, Deon Grant) to the coach who iced his own kicker and cost his team a chance at the playoffs (hint: he may or may not look something like the guy in the photo above). So, as you get ready for the upcoming Wild Card round this weekend, take a look back at The 20 Biggest Fails of the 2011 NFL Season...

Week: 13, 12/5/2011
Normally, Gabbert left fans with dazed and confused looks because of his overthrown passes or sub-100-yard passing games, but he decided to get a little creative with this one. As he scrambles to his right and looks down field, he simply drops and accidentally kicks the ball, luckily saved by the sideline. Moral of the story? The Jaguars picking him at No. 10 overall might be the ultimate fail.

Week: 12, 11/27/2011
When Tyler Palko is your quarterback, you're not gonna catch a ton of passes. But you're sure as shit not gonna catch any without using either of your arms.

Week: 10, 11/13/11
Generally speaking, we want to encourage coaches to go for it on fourth down. Far too many coaches are—what's the word? Right, "chickenshit"—when it comes to punting on fourth down, particularly late in games. One spot you definitely don't want to be going for it on fourth though? From your own 29. In overtime. If you're afraid of Drew Brees & Co. beating you...then why bother even playing the friggin' game?!? If you kick to them and they score, tough. If you give them the ball on your own 29? Don't be surprised if your defense showers you in something other than Gatorade.

Week: 11, 11/24/2011
Ndamukong Suh must have really been in a zone for this, because there's no possible way people weren't going to see what he was doing. He only made it more apparent by repeatedly shoving Evan Dietrich-Smith's head into the turf before stomping him. The Lions lost that game, lost the next game without Suh, and it ultimately cost the Lions a higher seed in the playoffs. He only made it worse when he tried to convince people that he didn't do it intentionally. Right, FOH.

Week: 3, 9/25/2011
It was one of Devin Hester's coolest returns, and he never even touched the ball. It also didn't count. While the entire Packers team surrounds Hester, Johnny Knox quietly fielded the punt and took it to the house. So, where's the fail you ask? Corey Graham was called for holding, and the return didn't count. The call was odd considering there were no players in Knox's vicinity to be held. Thanks for ruining one of the coolest plays of the season, refs.

Week: 12, 11/37/2011
In alleys? On sidewalks? In store fronts? On trees? We've all had those nights where we couldn't find a conventional restroom and had to use our drunken creativity and make a urinal out of just about anything. But on the field of a stadium, packed with tens of thousands, and being televised to millions more at home? Well, do you Nick Novak. Do you. For those wondering, after all that he still missed the field goal.

Week: 2, 9/19/2011
In an effort to stop the Rams offensive attack, the Giants had to implement the rarely used "faking an injury" play. Unfortunately, both Deon Grant and Jacquian Williams thought it was their time to show off those acting chops and the secret was revealed. Just a suggestion, but maybe Osi Umenyiora should've been the one to execute the play since he's been successfully fooling the entire organization about his "injuries" for the last couple years now. #justsayin'

Week: 2, 9/19/2011
What's more of a fail here? Boley's disregard for interns or the intern just standing there and taking a ball to the face? Michael Boley pointed at him and chucked it at his dome like it was target practice. Not even an apology, we're pretty sure homie cried himself to sleep that night.

Week: 11, 11/20/2011
DeSean Jackson is what your Pop Warner football coach would call a "punk." He has a ton of talent and some badass moments, but makes showboating his main priority. Just by a simple ball flip and brushing off of the uni, DeSean wipes out a 50-yard play that could've cost the Eagles the game. That's no way to get paid.

Week: 10, 11/13/2011
Oh, the irony. After years of popping off at the mouth, Rex Ryan finally got a taste of his own medicine from a Patriots fan after New England whooped the Jets 37-16. His eloquent response? "Shut the fuck up!" He was fined $75,000 for the outburst. Hmm...something tells us Rex actually likes putting a foot in his mouth. Just a thought.

Week: 6, 10/16/2011
Two teams that haven't seen success in several years become contenders and this type of fuckery happens. Jim Harbaugh's Niners got the victory and the SF head coach decided to put a little extra enthusiasm into the post-game handshake. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz didn't take kindly to this and was ready to settle things right then and there on the field. Fellas, everybody knows that handjobs shakes are nothing to get this excited about. Lord only knows what will happen if they meet again in the playoffs.

Week: 15, 12/18/2011
Tim Tebow isn't your typical quarterback. He doesn't throw well. He's not the fastest QB in the league. But when it comes down to it, Timmy is already in the record books. Yeah, it's for longest sack in NFL history. If God don't like ugly, he probably stopped watching Tebow's games right around week 15.

Week: 12, 11/27/2011
The audacity of Jerome to take a dive like that right after dragging Scott Fujita out of the pile by the foot. This was a flop that would make Vlade Divac cringe. For the grand finale, the onlooking zebra throws a flag, to make this an all-around failure.

Week: 14, 12/8/2011
In recent years, the NFL has made a significant effort to protect players from head injuries and their potential long-term effects. For the most part, each team has done its job to protect players. But what the Cleveland Browns trainers did, or failed to do, after Colt McCoy was laid out by James Harrison was inexplicable. Rather than check McCoy for concussion symptoms after the helmet-to-helmet blow, trainers put their focus on the QB's hand which was possibly hurt on the play. SMH, now you can see why this squad finished 4-12. Poor performance isn't just limited to those on the field, fam.

Week: 14, 12/11/2011
The man upstairs sure loves him some Tim Tebow. Because there is honestly no other way to explain what would make Marion Barber step out of bounds on purpose and prevent the Bears from practically sealing the victory. And just to add insult to injury, Barber followed up his initial gaffe with an even more costly fumble to help the Broncos win the game. Somewhere, Steve Bartman is happy to not be the most hated person in Chicago for just a little while. Emphasis on "a little while."

Week: 13, 12/4/2011
There's no real reason why the Cowboys' playoff hopes should've come down to the final game of the season against their hated rivals, the New York Giants. But it did. And every irrational fan and analyst can put all the blame on a disappointing season on this epic fail. The effectiveness of icing your opponent's kicker is up for debate but icing your own was never really proven until now. What would've been a 49-yard field goal to win the game was not counted as Jason Garrett called a timeout just before the snap. The second attempt was missed and the game was eventually won by the Cardinals in overtime. Garrett's explanation afterward made about as much sense as the timeout itself. Jerry jones says your job is save but we'd still keep that LinkedIn profile updated with plenty of contacts on hand, homie.

Week: 12, 11/27/11
Dan Marino once stole a game for the Dolphins against the Jets with a fake spike and touchdown pass. Caleb Hanie got the fake spike part right, he just failed to follow it up with the touchdown toss.

Week: 16, 12/24/2011
When your teammate is the best wide receiver in the game, and his dad rips you apart on Twitter, you know you've done something pretty terrible. Without a defender anywhere near him, Doucet had the chance to be the hero with a game-tying touchdown catch. Instead, he tripped and fell while he was backpedaling and essentially lost the game for the Cardinals. See what happens when you get excited too early, guys?

Week: 4, 10/2/2011
TD celebrations (and sports celebrations in general) can be badass, disrespectful, or just flat-out embarrassing. This clip falls into the latter category. Marion Barber didn't expect to be eating pay dirt after he found some space to perform his signature TD flip. He has yet to attempt another back-flip this year. That kind of thing happens when you get your TD celebration from a classic Internet meme.

Week: 14, 11/11/11
The dreaded kicker fail. Have you ever tried kicking a football that's laying on its side? Chances are you looked like a dipshit doing it. Kansas City's Ryan Succop learned that lesson the hard way, in front of 60,000 people in Week 14. He even scores bonus dipshit points for bringing the kicking tee he wasn't going to use onto the field with him. Dipshit.