Over time, the sails became weathered and torn, and were replaced.
Later, the planks and decks warped and also had to be swapped out for new ones.
Soon it was the masts which rotted, and they too were upgraded.
The question then became, is it still the same ship?
If not, when exactly did it stop being the old one and became something else?
If not, when did it stop being one?
And that is the luxury of an insignificant loss.
For the better part of 20 years, any game they lost was Footballmaggedon.
They were so rare that any time it happened, it was the biggest story in the league.
And their opponents' Super Bowl, sometimes complete with Gatorade showers.
They meant potentially losing homefield advantage in the playoffs or even a bye week.
So every loss was The Gridpocalypse.
I laugh now when I look back at how I used to complain about it.
How agonizing these close games would be because there was so much riding on every one.
Yesterday’s game was the first time I can remember feeling no stress at all.
Which is … a plus?
There’s only so much humilation you’re able to focus on.
–For the record, I mean no disrespect toward the Commanders.
But going in, I considered them to be just what the Patriots needed.
A derelict, depressed, demoralized franchise that’s an easy lay when you need one.
And yet Washington is the one that came out of this with its dignity intact.
They won this game for no other reason then they are the better team.
Let that sink in.
The whole world making it be known no one cares about this one except the gamblers.
Everyone just mailing it in.
Everything about these Pats games now is generic.
We’re living a knock-off, discount dollar store NFL existence.
If were were cereal, we’d beMarshmallow Magic, Crispy Hexagons and Bunch O' Cinnamon Squares.
We are the poors the rest of the country hoped we’d be.
–I’ll use Vilma as a jumping off point to get into the game itself.
Which is apparently not where you want it to be.
And by no means should we be singling out Juju.
He’s just the latest to join the Patriots Butterfingers Avengers Initiative.
But because it was a perfect play design.
Jones liked what he saw presnap so he checked out of the original call with “Uncle Drew!”
Jones had a clean pocket to step up into and delivered a laser strike.
Though this receiver depth chart has shown a genius for doing exactly that.
–The damnedest thing about that is Reagor has been contributing in his own way.
Watch Tyquan Thornton here.
This is a timing route.
What I’d like to have seen covered on that play is Troy Brown’s eyes.
Mr. Patriot should never be subjected to such a display.
Especially since it came after the lengthy time out between the 3rd & 4th quarters.
Meaning the Pats had time to think about their best options.
Once I’ve experienced that, even if I’m in a coma, I can die happy.
Sam Howell was working to the flats all game.
–Consider the Brian Robinson touchdown.
Ju’Whaun Bentley went unblocked by simply couldn’t get there in time.
Listening to old music.
Watching TV I loved as a kid.
Talking with my friends about good times from our youth.
Daydreaming about the times the Patriots could make a stop on 3rd & long.
That an inexperienced quarterback would force a throw sooner or later and they’d make him pay for it.
Which is precisely what Kyle Dugger’s interception was.
He didn’t pull off some coverage to get into the throwing lane or bait Howell into that throw.
He was simply there.
And benefited from a wet brainshart by a guy with 10 career starts.
But sadly, those mistakes aren’t fatal the way they used to be.
This isn’t the Patriots team I keep reminiscing about.
JC Jackson didn’t see the field for the first two Washington possessions.
But Bryant was behind only Jonathan Jones in cornerback snaps.
Losing Christian Gonzalez hurt like a son of a gun.
Marcus Jones being out smarts.
Jack Jones missing time earlier left a mark.
But how Bryant continues to have the coaches' trust way out of proportion to his effectiveness is unfathomable.
As an act of mercy, if nothing else.
You’re just exposing the kid to bullying at this point.
Reagor and Thornton were targeted 10 times between them, and caught one ball apiece.
I still hope and expect to see lots of Boutte (yeah, I hear myself).
And Kendrick Bourne will always have a place here as long as I have anything to say about it.
(I never will.)
Holds on fair catches.
Deciding to field a punt inside the 10 and running backwards with it.
An offsides on punt coverage that gives the Commanders a 1st down.
Then we’ll know we’ve heard from Joe Judge, deflecting blame away from him.
–This Week’s Applicable Movie Quote: “Doston!
We’ve got Dotson here!
Try as I might.
I’ll take that embarrassment to the grave.
