In an ideal world everyone would play to their best and we’d be left with nothing but praise to give to players.
This isn’t an ideal world.
For whatever reason guys don’t always play well in the National Football League. It may be that they lack talent, that they suffer from inexperience, or they may just be having one of those days. Regardless, we’re here to hold them to account whether it be an undrafted free agent starting his first game, or a 10-time All Pro at the peak of his powers.
Let’s see who made the Had a Bad Day Team for Week 12.
(Note: Team will be updated after Monday Night Football games are analyzed and on Wednesday when All-22 footage helps us study plays in even more detail where needed with a * noting a change)
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Cam Newton, CAR (-5.4)
It was a fine victory in the end, but what proceeded it was the bad version of Cam Newton we hadn’t seen in a long time, completing just 50% of passes and throwing a pick.
Dishonorable Mention: Geno Smith (NYJ)
Running Back: Ray Rice, BAL (-1.9)
So it seems like last week was the exception and not the rule. With little help from his blockers, Rice picked up 1.9 yards per carry with a longest run of just 7 yards.
Dishonorable Mention: Chris Johnson (TEN)
Full Back: Tommy Bohanon, NYJ (-2.8)
Another outing where Bohanon struggled with his lead blocking.
Dishonorable Mention: Will Ta’ufo’ou (JAX)
Tight End: Jordan Cameron, CLE (-4.4)
A tough day with his run blocking and just three catches against two drops. After his fantastic start to the year, Cameron is finding the going tougher now.
Dishonorable Mention: Virgil Green (DEN)
Wide Receivers: Greg Little, CLE (-3.3) and DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (-2.2)
Another day, another drop for Little who continues to disappoint. Hopkins turned his four targets into just 8 yards and a drop. He’ll have better days.
Dishonorable Mention: Nate Burleson (DET) and Danny Amendola (NE)
Tackles: Jermon Bushrod, CHI (-11.1) and Jeremy Trueblood, ATL (-6.1)
Bushrod won’t have many worse days than the one Quinn gave him, getting beat for a sack and seven hurries in a horrid showing. Trueblood himself allowed seven quarterback disruptions and was also flagged for a penalty.
Dishonorable Mention: Cameron Bradfield (JAX) and Jordan Mills (CHI)
Guards: Jamon Meredith, TB (-6.7) and Davin Joseph, TB (-4.2)
These won’t be the last pair of guards that get their backsides handed to them by the Detroit duo of Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh.
Dishonorable Mention: Brian Winters (NYJ) and Nate Chandler (CAR)
Center: Gino Gradkowski, BAL (-5.4)
After a fine outing against the Bears, Gradkowski was no match for the Jets' rampant defensive line.
Dishonorable Mention: Samson Satele (IND)
DEFENSE
Each week we put forward a hybrid defense that features two edge rushers (4-3 defensive ends or 3-4 outside linebackers), three players on the “interior” of the defensive line (3-4 defensive ends or defensive tackles and two linebackers (all inside linebackers and 4-3 outside linebackers).
Defensive Interior – Ends: Chris Jones, NE (-4.0) and Nick Hayden, DAL (-2.7)
Jones made some plays but all too often couldn’t get any push or shed the blocks of the Denver offensive linemen, while Hayden endured another quiet day
Dishonorable Mention: Shariff Floyd (MIN) and Michael Brockers (SL)
Defensive Interior – Nose: Joe Vellano, NE (-5.9)
The Broncos' offensive interior was tough sledding for Vellano who found himself manhandled throughout Sunday Night Football.
Dishonorable Mention: Akeem Spence (TB)
Edge Rushers: Dezman Moses, KC (-4.2) and Mathias Kiwanuka, NYG (-4.6)
To say the drop off from Tamba Hali to his backup is steep is something of an understatement, as Moses showed. Meanwhile, Kiwanuka might have picked up a sack but struggled to generate consistent pressure while earning a negative grade against the run.
Dishonorable Mention: Jarvis Jones (PIT) and Bjoern Werner (IND)
Linebackers: Jon Bostic, CHI (-5.0) and Chad Greenway, MIN (-4.5)
Greenway would miss four tackles as he found Eddie Lacy hard to get a grip of. In St Louis, Bostic didn’t miss any tackles but had plenty of problems in coverage and with the Rams' offensive line.
Dishonorable Mention: Jon Beason (NYG) and Sean Weatherspoon (ATL)
Cornerbacks: Brandon McGee, SL (-4.9) and Sean Smith, KC (-3.7)
With three penalties nobody is saying that McGee wasn’t playing physical on Sunday. Smith is a top talent at the cornerback spot but every once in a while he has a game that he’d like to forget about.
Dishonorable Mention: Josh Wilson (WAS) and Tracy Porter (OAK)
Safeties: Morgan Burnett, GB (-3.4) and Tashaun Gipson, CLE (-3.0)
Even if you doubt the nature of one of the penalties Burnett was flagged for, you won’t doubt he didn’t have his best game on Sunday. Gipson earned his spot with four missed tackles.
Dishonorable Mention: Marcus Gilchrist (SD) and Antoine Bethea (IND)
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