When thrown under the Bus...Fight or Flight?

I had a bad day at work today. In my position I am placed in a catch 22 ALL THE TIME! But my business sense tends to drive me to follow process which in many cases can be unfriendly to clients and especially sales people. Well in my effort to be helpful (uh-oh), to be kind, to be flexible, to be willing to drive the business forward as they (corporate executives) say. My team was put in a position to provision a HUGE trial client, but was given horrible data (which was suppose to be validated) which we executed against because Sales set an expectation and need my team to save their butts. Needless to say what we implemented didn't work (due to bad data), we were blamed, emails were sent out about me and "comments" I made - Yet I NEVER had these conversations with these people- WOW! I defended my team, I provided facts and data, and was still thrown under the bus.

I have extremely thick skin and I know I can throw blows with the best, but I really have a problem. I question myself? Am I losing my EDGE and not going for the jugular for what was done to my team and I? In the past I have made my mark for burying my competition and others who tried to bury me, one leg on their body and me beating my chest. But now I am torn. I don't want to be a jerk and I don't want to seem weak, yet on the other hand I want to be justified and not looked upon as someone who can be walked on and will take being thrown under the bus. WWJD? Pray for me.