Success

People always say "I'm not even going to watch the Super Bowl," and I've never really understood it. I've always been such a big fan of the game as a whole that it never occurred to me. It's still over a week away - but I'm fairly certain I won't be tuning in. I'm looking forward to football just being over for this season so it's not even talked about much on the national shows & podcasts.

I thought you were talking about me.

My take on "outcoached": Reid is better than McDermott, but it's not a landslide. McDermott is a good coach, capable of making it to a SB and winning it. But he is being outcoached in these game, imo, because it's McD against TWO excellent coaches - Reid & Spags. Spags might be the best DC out there. I really don't know how much of our defense is Babich and how much is McDermott, but I'd guess a lot of it is the latter. Feels like too much of a one-man show here.

I can't even take criticism of him seriously. He was amped on the 1st drive and played poorly. Then, he was either really good, or great. Once again, he had a miraculous pass that his receiver could have caught, and likely would have changed the outcome. Kind of a tough catch, but one Kincaid should be expected to make. If you look at the stats, once again, he was as even w/ Mahomes as you can get. Allen has been one of the best playoff performers in memory. He pretty much always shows up. He's just a great QB.

I didn't see this game as controversial. There were some borderline calls. But you have to knock out the champ - you can't leave it to the judges. On that 4th down, we're responsible for that being a judgment call. I thought he made it, but it was too hard to tell. We could have had that game, but we made too many mistakes. The failed tush pushes were a microcosm of the whole game - opportunities that were there, but we just didn't seize.

It's so close - but they're just a little bit better. I like McD, but he's not Reid, and he's certainly not Reid & Spags combined. It's really not a huge gap, which shows in the games. They almost always come down to a play or 2. But they're better by just enough. Just enough where we need breaks to come out on top. We're good enough to have been dominant during certain periods of time, but we're just not good enough in this era. Maybe that will change. I'm not gonna hold my breath, though.

I posted after the game - almost incessantly - that I was done, done, done. Done being dedicated so much to this team & sport. It was a self-pity party, for sure. I apologize to all who encountered me in a thread that night. I was like a lunatic. But it was good for me. I felt embarrassed that a game should mean so much to me as an older dude. It's kind of pathetic. I'm not as extreme about being "done," but there is a change going on for sure. I think I'm making - finally - the transition to being a much more casual fan. Not caring about draft weekend, catching games when I can in the regular, and not consuming so much sports commentary & news. I'll enjoy it if the Bills have success, but won't care if they come up short again. I'll never be a fan at the level that I was. I've watched since wide right, and it's really too much. Like, why am I putting so much emotion into it? It seems crazy. Life is too short, as they say.

I kind of agree. We're just not gonna get there.

Thanks, man. I'm glad I have a place where I can be pretty raw. pretty irrational - and people still understand.

I've always been the optimist. I'm so pessimistic tonight. Too much emotion. I feel like we'll never, ever get there.

Sorry for all of the "pity me" posts, my brothers. I'm really struggling right now. Really struggling.

I appreciate it, man. You're a good dude, and a good contributor here. I'm talking to my son right now. I just don't think I can continue. This is TOTALLY unexpected - I've been through it all, since the 80's. But I thing the best think for my health is to step away from this sport.

I'm leaving this sport. Maybe sports altogether. It's too much, man. I can't keep doing this.

This sums it up for me. I never go full pessimism - but I am now. We can't do it. We just can't do it. I'm out.

Good post. I'm quitting. I'm a quitter. I literally cannot do this anymore.

What's the answer? Can someone give me any reason not to walk away? Why should we have hope for next year, or any year? I'm an eternal optimist - but this is TOO MUCH. It is way too much.

Once in awhile - you have to make those tough catches. He hasn't grabbed one of those yet. He could have won this game tonight.

Who gives a flying *****.

That's it. I'm totally done believing we will. We will NOT win a Super Bowl. Ever. It sucks.

Josh was Josh tonight. He couldn't have done much more. I'm so sick. I just feel very, very sick.

It's too hard. It'a actually TOO HARD. i'm so sick to my stomach. I genuinely don't want to feel this way again.

I hate football. I really, really hate it.

So, so sick of this. I don't care how much I get downvoted - I'm going to try to quit football. I've put up w/ this since the Harmon drop. I thought I was tough - I'm not. I'm a wimp. This hurts way, way too much. Gotta step away.

I'm all "next year" too. But man - will we be as healthy? I can't believe this happened. I'm close to done.

I kind of want to die.