Each week it seems to get said more and more, and it in turn concerns me more and more.

 

"We lost but it was a close game!" 

 

"We were in it until the end!" 

 

"We're sooo close to turning the corner!"

 

Are we?

 

 

Think about the reality of what we've faced this season.  Think about the team on the other side of the field.  What condition were they in? 

 

Week 1 - Lost 20-9 vs Carolina.

 

This one wasn't terrible, despite putting up a whopping 9 points and losing to a Pick 6, but it's not really the narrative.  Carolina struggled a bit to start the season, got the win, and has since rattled off an 8-0 start.

 

 

Week 2 - Won 23-20 vs Miami.

 

Yes.  A win in a close game.  Against a team that was in such a mess that they fired their Head Coach a week later.  It's ok to be happy to get a win.. but to barely squeak out a win against a team in such disarray? 

 

 

Week 3 - Lost 51 - 17 vs New England.

 

They're obviously not a struggling team.

 

 

Week 4 - Lost 16 - 13 vs Indy.

 

Indy... with Matt Hasselbeck at QB.  We're supposed to feel good even though we lost because it was close?  It was close... against their backup, 40 year old QB... and we lost.  That's not a good thing.

 

 

Week 5 - Lost 38 - 31 vs Tampa Bay.

 

Tampa Bay... who just the week prior watched Winston and Co. turn the ball over 5 times.  Arguably thought at the time to be one of, if not the worst, teams in the league.  Again, "But we were in it until the end!"

 

 

Week 6 - Lost 31 - 20 vs Houston.

 

Brian Hoyer.  Just saying.  This one wasn't even as close as the score tries to make it look.  Being down 31 - 14 earlier in the affair.  Again... Brian Hoyer.

 

 

Week 7 - Win 34 - 31 vs Buffalo.

 

Again, backup quarterback, this time it's Manuel.  Also, no Watkins.  Also, no Harvin.  Also, a 27 - 3 lead that evaporated into a 31 - 27 deficit as the game went on.  We managed to pull this one out, but without 3 of their top offensive players, and a 27 point second quarter.. we again BARELY won.

 

 

Week 8 - Can't lose during the bye!

 

 

Week 9 - Lost 28 - 23 vs NY Jets.

 

A 1 handed QB.  Down 2 of their best O Linemen.  Lost multiple members of their starting secondary during the game. 

 

 

 

Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm not trying to be a complete Debby Downer here.  I do see improvement.  My concern is how much of it LOOKS better because the overall quality of opponent we've faced this season has been... well... not at all good.  With the exception of New England, we've been basically facing teams at, or near their worst, and basically just kind of hanging in with them in a close game.

 

My concern is, when faced with an opponent who is not in disarray, rocking a backup QB, about to FIRE their coach, or sitting on an injury report littered with critical players... what then?

 

My instinct is to throw out the New England beating because #patriots... but they're pretty much the only team we've faced since week 2 that wasn't in shambles.

 

We're not losing close games against good teams at their best.  We're losing close games against teams that are either only slightly smaller dumpster fires, or are teams that are basically taking the field on crutches.

 

 

I'm legitimately concerned as we go down the stretch here, it's going to get ugly.  The Titans LOOK like a better team.  I'm no believer in Mularkey... we saw what he was here... but the Titans could very well make us look foolish.

 

Baltimore and San Diego are both having their issues this year, but I'm honestly concerned we end up looking BAD against them.

 

Indy and Houston are likely to face us at close to full strength, and if we couldn't beat Hasselbeck, I don't like our chances vs Luck if he starts putting it together again.

 

ATL and New Orleans?  Yikes. 

 

 

This is one of those times that I'm REALLY hoping that I am wrong. 

 

I actively WANT to be wrong.

 

I just look at the first half of the season, and all of the "close" games and realize just how disheveled  our opponents were in those games and wonder how far removed we are from last seasons repeated blowouts if we were facing teams that were anywhere near "full" strength (as much as any team is "full" strength in the NFL lol).

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