Sort of Kind of Okay

I can't remember the last time I felt happy after a Patriots loss. Okay, happy probably isn't the right word but I don't feel down, dismayed, disheartened. All right, yes, like most human beings I'm an overseasoned, overcooked stew of emotions. So, yeah, a tablespoon or two of sadness, to taste (it's salty). Maybe I should let Happy Me and Sad Me explain New England's 17-16 loss to Miami.

HAPPY ME: Mac Jones! Am I right? 29 of 39 (74%) for 281, a TD and NO INTERCEPTIONS.

SAD ME: What was with that bizarre fumble he "threw" to David Andrews, though?

HAPPY ME: Ouch. Yes. Rookie mistake. Did you see some of those throws, though? That perfect parabola to James White. The heater to Agholor for the TD? 

SAD ME: I'll agree Jones looked pretty good but let's not forget, it's a team sport. And this team just got flagged 8 times for 84 yards -

HAPPY ME: Fixable.

SAD ME: And fumbled 4 times.

HAPPY ME: You know the Patriots outgained the Dolphins by almost 150 yards? And won time of possession by 13 minutes!

SAD ME: And lost.

HAPPY ME: My point is they'll win more games than they lose when they fix those fixable problems.

SAD ME: That's what hurts, though. They should've won that game.

HAPPY ME: Yes. They beat themselves. There's work to be done, sure, but the penalties and ball control issues are things they can control.

SAD ME: Still a loss.

HAPPY ME: Just one game.

SAD ME: A divisional loss at home is like losing two games.

HAPPY ME: I'm not sure where you learned math but yes, they will need to take care of business in Miami.

SAD ME: Not exactly something they've been famous for.

HAPPY ME: We're on to New York!

SAD ME: You're not going to play that tired old card, are you?

HAPPY ME: We're on to New York!

SAD ME: They're going to fix all of the problems we saw Sunday in just one week?

HAPPY ME: Do you know what it smells like in Bill's Doghouse? It smells like sulfur and brimstone! Nobody wants to be there, and they'll do anything they can to get out of it. It's a kind of self-correcting mechanism. Also, we're on to New York!

SAD ME (sighs): Like we have a choice? But okay.

HAPPY ME/SAD ME (together): We're on to New York!

Sure, this game could be what gives the Dolphins the tiebreaker and knocks the Patriots out of the playoffs but that's a pigskin lifetime away. A loss is a loss but nobody is harshing my Mac Jones buzz today. 

Go Pats!