That ship sailed double digit losses ago.
And even then it was semi-demeaning to a once-proud franchise with standards as high as this one has had.
In the possibly futile hopes we can salvage the good parts and use them to rebuild.
–This team lost in Buffalo for the same reason they’ve lost the other 11.
They lost because they lack talent.
Without a doubt, injuries have been a factor.
But my null hypothesis states that they’re not enough to explain this cataclysmic Won-Loss record.
Even with Christian Gonzalez, Matt Judon or Rhamondre Stevenson, we’d still be in this mess.
They lost the turnover battle 4-to-1 yesterday for the same reason they’re -10 on the season.
–But I think they’re not that far off.
I truly believe that.
But the two have split the season series, home and home, with both games close.
Which is what divisional rivals tend to do.
Again, I’m not moral victorizing here.
I’m saying there is a talent gap, but it’s not an athletic Grand Canyon.
It can be bridged with a good draft and a great free agency period.
–I’m going to stay with the defense for a while because what they’re doing is remarkable.
That alone deserves a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Defense.
I hope they put Tavai on an IV drip and put a medal on his chest.
As it is, their performances are being wasted by the offense.
It’s the football equivalent of one of those celebrity couples that make no sense.
“Julia Roberts announced she’s divorcing husband Lyle Lovett.
The reason, is that she’s Julia Roberts.
And he’s Lyle Lovett.”
Come to think of it, can we skip the rest of this and just do Norm MacDonald bits?
Let’s get through this.
–I honestly never noticed Alex Austin landing on the roster.
And once in a while one of these roster bubble guys gets into the lineup and makes an impact.
Austin took 74% of the defensive snaps yesterday and made the play that could’ve changed the tide.
Or an offense that could sustain drives.
And with good reason.
–I’ve put this off as long as I can.
But I can’t go all of 2024 without discussing the Bailey Zappe problem.
We can forgive him the Pick-6, I suppose.
But the first two were on the first plays of drives.
And each was a force job.
This precision drone strike to Reagor was perfect.
As was his touchdown run.
Bailey Zappe throws a beautiful interception.
But after an entire year of trying, they at least slightly resemble a professional O-line.
Albeit one with the serial number filed off.
–I can deal with reboots of Hawaii 5-0, Frasier, MacGyver and whatever else.
Because we all realized a long time ago the world is out of new ideas.
But what I can’t tolerate is Andy Reid doing the “Who are the ‘Chefs’?”
That commercial was a national treasure 25 years ago.
And he’s just doing the same exact thing, right down to the “Googily moogily.”
It’s an outrage.
It’s not an homage.
It’s pure joke thievery.
–This Week’s Applicable Movie Quote:
Crowd: “Happy New Year!!!”
Michael: “You broke my heart.
You broke my heart.”
-Godfather, Part II
–I’ve already gone on way longer than I intended.
But since 2023 sucked so much, why not kick off the New Year wrong?
Happy New Year, I guess?
