Throughout the course of NFL history, plenty of players have put their teams on their backs and led them to glory. From Joe Montana to Joe Flacco, we've seen heroic performances throughout history. We've also seen the opposite, performances that have cost teams games, playoff spots and even Super Bowls. These mistakes have made these players scapegoats, and alter the history of the sport. These athletes will never be seen as champions or the best players to play the sport, instead they will be forever known as goats. We're counting down the top 10 players who became scapegoats for their teams.
Honorable Mention: Marion Barber, Chicago Bears
As someone from the Chicagoland area, this one is very clear in my memory. On December 11, 2011, the Bears, under the lack-of-leadership of Caleb Hanie, who is also a goat for this season, went to Denver to play the Broncos. The team was 7-3 and on a when Jay Cutler got injured, and immediately dropped two games against very bad teams in the Raiders and Chiefs. Against Tim Tebow and the Broncos, however, the team was in a spot to win, which would keep them very much afloat in the playoff race at 8-5. But late in the game, Barber took a hand-off and went out of bounds, stopping the clock. This gave the ball back to Tebow, who picked apart the Bears' prevent defense to set up a game-tying field goal by Matt Prater. Were that all, he wouldn't be on this list. But in the overtime period, Barber fumbled, giving the Broncos the ball and the win. Thanks to this game, the Broncos made the playoffs and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a wild, overtime game, and the Bears finished 8-8, and missed out on a playoff berth.
Honorable Mention: Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks
In 2003, the Seahawks visited the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round. The Seahawks won the coin toss in overtime. Hasselbeck, a team captain, told the referee, "We want the ball, and we're gonna score." Unfortunately for the team, Hasselbeck threw a comeback route to the sideline near midfield, which was intercepted by Al Harris and returned for a touchdown. He wouldn't be on the list if he didn't make the bold statement, but I give him a pass since he made a Super Bowl just a few years later with the organization.
10. Leon Lett, Dallas Cowboys
Leon Lett gets a really bad wrap. It is all well-deserved. Lett is known for two major mishaps, but only one of them cost his team a game. While his Super Bowl mistake was awful, his Thanksgiving Day error cost his team the game. Lett didn't know that a ball blocked on a field goal attempt can not be advanced by the kicking team. Lett slid right in the middle of a giant group of Miami Dolphin players, touching the ball and giving the Dolphins another chance at an even easier field goal, which was made, giving the Dolphins the gifted win.
9. Matt Dodge, New York Giants
In the 2012 NFC Championship Game, two weeks before Welker's drop against the Giants, the 49ers had a great chance to win the NFC. On a fourth quarter punt, second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams accidentally touched a punt that the Giants recovered. On the ensuing drive, they scored the go-ahead touchdown. Luckily for Williams, his team picked him up and tied the game. The defense forced a punt in overtime, and Williams cleaned this kick cleanly. Unfortunately for Williams, he had the ball knocked out of his hands, leading to Tynes making history and winning a second Conference Championship game with a field goal in overtime, the first at the expense of Favre, the second on Williams.
1. Scott Norwood, Buffalo Bills
Norwood will always be remembered for his missed field goal in Super Bowl XXV. Norwood missed the 47-yard field goal wide right, despite coach Marv Levy knowing of Norwood's inability to kick field goals on grass. Norwood was 1-of-5 on 40+ yard field goals on grass in his career. Norwood got the distance, but sent it wide and gave the Super Bowl to the Giants, who must be considered the luckiest team in the league based on the list.
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