Pigskin Balm for the Soul

 "The Patriots scored a touchdown!"

-me, to my wife, 8:30 pm EST Thursday night because it was kind of amazing to see the Patriots just march down the field and score a touchdown and yes, that's an indictment of the 2023 New England Patriots and a sad commentary on my pigskin life

Okay, I thought they were going to figure out a way to lose the game as the offense seemed to return to their self-destructive Mr. Hyde persona in the second half. I'm still not sure how that didn't happen.

I was also wrong about Bailey Zappe's second half doing anything to quell the "Hey! Looks like we have a QB! The Pats should draft Marvin Harrison, Jr. with that first round pick!" But apparently, it didn't. Maybe I just feel snakebitten at this point but the idea of rolling into 2024 with Bailey Zappe as my QB1 isn't sending me to the Google machine to find out where SB LIX is being played.

Still, it feels good when your pigskin heroes win and especially when that win comes against a long-time rival and you can at least hurt their playoff chances. Schadenfreude. Why does it feel so good? And with a controversial call by the officials? That's just jimmies on the hot fudge sundae of life.

I get that some of my fellow citizens of Patriots Nation are upset with the Steelers this morning. Pittsburgh is clearly the better team (you are what your record says you are) and they were playing at home and if they'd done their job it could've helped New England lock up at least the #2 pick in the draft. 

I do get that.

But winning feels so much better than losing.

Not to worry, though. There's probably just one more win left on the Patriots remaining schedule (I see you, New York Jets).

Although…

What if that guy with the baseball cap on backwards is right and Bailey Zappe continues to light up NFL defenses for 25 to 35 minutes a game? That might be good enough for two wins out of their remaining four games!

Yeah. Probably not.

Go Pats!