Rationality is unfamiliar real estate for most
sports fans. This despite the fact that hope so rarely
triumphs over reason. Perhaps that’s why, when the underdog wins, it creates an
indelible memory. The unexpected moments in life, the unpredictable moments
that cause us joy or pain; they stay with us.
When you measure success in championships then
anything that falls short of that expectation is failure. As they put Rob
Gronkowski on the cart the forks came out. The Patriots were done. No Super
Bowl for you. The defense, minus Wilfork, Mayo and Kelly and with Aqib Talib’s
balky hip limiting his impact, has been unable to stop even below average NFL
offenses. With Gronkowski the Patriots had a chance to outscore opponents but
without him their most important offensive weapon became kicker Stephen
Gostkowski.
They stumbled in Miami, unable to finish drives
with touchdowns. Following the loss we heard the chorus of pigskin pundits and
bobbleheads say, “I told you so.”
Smug bastards.
They travel this week without five Week 1 starters
(and Gronk) to face perhaps their most bitter conference rival, the Baltimore
Ravens. While the Patriots have been breaking down, the Ravens appear to be
hitting their stride. New England will need to play their best game of the
season – at a time when this seems most unlikely – if they are to win today.
Normally, “as long as they have Brady” would be enough but Tom has not been
terrific when facing the Baltimore defense.
When your inner child is starting sentences with “Even
if they lose this week…” you know it’s time to make a fort with your couch
cushions and throw pillows but even if the Patriots lose today, they still
could secure the #2 seed (granted, with some help) with a win at home against
the Bills next Sunday.
There’s a subtext to “even if they lose,” of
course. There’s still a glimmer of hope, a faint expectation of success; if they lose, not when they lose. Still, I hear myself
whistling and I notice I’m walking past a graveyard as I’m rationalizing a
long winter’s night of potential pigskin agony.
Crouching in my pillow fort I realize that being
rational is a major bummer. It’s also hard to eat pizza and drink beer in here.
I think I’m coming out.
This could be, after all, one of the most
memorable games of the year.
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