Losing enthusiasm for football

[galept]

1 hour ago, Governor said:

It’s a highly overrated roster. Having a good QB causes people to just fixate on that position and nothing else.

 

It's only when I recently accepted that we probably aren't going to deliver on expectations this year that I finally was able to let go of said expectations.

 

Now if we go on a tear then I'm back on the hype train, but for now it's parked back at the station.

[Orlando Tim]

On 11/7/2021 at 4:48 PM, Warcodered said:

Combination of bad play and terrible officiating I do think made this practically unwatchable, and that's with the commentary just being an annoying buzzing in my ear.

This game was the worst because of the 8 most important plays 6 of them were all by the officials. The One interception and the one long pass are the only exception. I think those officials were simply in over their heads.

[Rock-A-Bye Beasley]

I previously posted about my waning interest in sports in an earlier reply to this thread.
 

Since then, I learned that Terry Pegula got a CARES Act stimulus check last year. I believe that’s what many would call a last straw. 

[LABILLBACKER]

All 3 first half unsportsmanlike conduct calls on Tre, Williams and Klein are confirmed phantom. 

[Mike in Horseheads]

On 11/7/2021 at 4:41 PM, The Red King said:

Yeah, call it a potential overreaction to today, but even before the game started, watching felt like a chore, not a boon.

 

Football meant everything to me.  It was quality time with my dad, who taught me all about it.  One of my best memories of my dad was being together at the stadium for The Comeback.  It was in my blood.

 

But now it seems the wins feel good, but the losses feel so much worse.  I'm watching the games on my own now, my kids aren't into football.

 

My stress levels are through the roof on close games.  Today was miserable.  A loss, bad coaching, bad playing, abyssmal officiating (for the first time I am seriously wondering if the NFL is fixed/scripted).  And it's not over.  This loss is going to stay with me and haunt me.

 

I'm wondering if it's worth it anymore.  If the good feelings are worth the bad feelings and time commited.  Yes, a Super Bowl win would be euphoric.  But the odds are against that.  Would anything else, even a season ending in a Super Bowl loss, be worth the time and torment invested?  It's like buying an expensive emotional lottery ticket.

 

I'm...kinda starting to think not, that this just isn't worth it.  Anyone else feel the same, or at least understand?

See ya on the baseball board

[Buffalo716]

2 hours ago, Saint Doug said:

I’ve been feeling this as well. Never when I was younger though. The loses just seem to sting much more than they used too and the wins are giving me as much joy. Not sure why this is, but it has me questioning my time spent on Sundays. Could have a lot to do with having a lot of stress in my life now though. 

Really? When I was young I took every loss so hard.. literally had problems sleeping

 

Now I can just shake it off because I know the NFL is any given week... I literally was over the jaguars loss by 8:00 p.m. Sunday

[Governor]

8 hours ago, galept said:

 

It's only when I recently accepted that we probably aren't going to deliver on expectations this year that I finally was able to let go of said expectations.

 

Now if we go on a tear then I'm back on the hype train, but for now it's parked back at the station.

My expectations at the beginning of the season were getting to the SB but getting slaughtered in that game. This team doesn’t feel finished to me and unless 2 or 3 of our young guys become superstars, it won’t get it done.

 

6 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Really? When I was young I took every loss so hard.. literally had problems sleeping

 

Now I can just shake it off because I know the NFL is any given week... I literally was over the jaguars loss by 8:00 p.m. Sunday

The Kyle Orton year was extremely exciting yet painful for me. I invested too much into that season.

[Xwnyer]

On 11/7/2021 at 4:43 PM, Big Blitz said:

No it's because the officiating is atrocious that's why you feel like that.  

It is making watching games impossible .  Not just Bills games but many games I have watched this year have poor officiating going on.  The NFL needs to take a serious look officiating is ruing the entertainment value of the product on the field.

[JMF2006]

I am watching more and enjoying it less

 

J/K

 

OP you need to lighten up its entertainment meant to give you an emotional release.

 

Buy a sponge brick to throw at the TV when you don't like a call  

 

I always try to remember not to get too wound up over things I have no control over like football games and elections

[wvbillsfan]

I think I’m somewhat the same. But I figure it’s because of the schedule this year and we seem like we are playoff bound. So I’m just kinda waiting for playoff football, as spoiled as that sounds. 

[Metal Man]

The emotional investment we put into our teams rarely pays off in the long run.

 

Every single year every fan base, except for one, has their season end with disappointment.

 

The question is why with the odds so stacked against do people continue to love/follow their teams? I guess that would be an interesting study for human psychology.

[JohnNord]

10 hours ago, Saint Doug said:

I’ve been feeling this as well. Never when I was younger though. The loses just seem to sting much more than they used too and the wins are giving me as much joy. Not sure why this is, but it has me questioning my time spent on Sundays. Could have a lot to do with having a lot of stress in my life now though. 

So crazy…. I feel the same exact way

[Niagara Bill]

On 11/7/2021 at 4:41 PM, The Red King said:

Yeah, call it a potential overreaction to today, but even before the game started, watching felt like a chore, not a boon.

 

Football meant everything to me.  It was quality time with my dad, who taught me all about it.  One of my best memories of my dad was being together at the stadium for The Comeback.  It was in my blood.

 

But now it seems the wins feel good, but the losses feel so much worse.  I'm watching the games on my own now, my kids aren't into football.

 

My stress levels are through the roof on close games.  Today was miserable.  A loss, bad coaching, bad playing, abyssmal officiating (for the first time I am seriously wondering if the NFL is fixed/scripted).  And it's not over.  This loss is going to stay with me and haunt me.

 

I'm wondering if it's worth it anymore.  If the good feelings are worth the bad feelings and time commited.  Yes, a Super Bowl win would be euphoric.  But the odds are against that.  Would anything else, even a season ending in a Super Bowl loss, be worth the time and torment invested?  It's like buying an expensive emotional lottery ticket.

 

I'm...kinda starting to think not, that this just isn't worth it.  Anyone else feel the same, or at least understand?

You are not alone. 

Some yrs ago I walked out at the end of a game after watching Jauron act like a wimp and after 17 yrs as a season ticket holder gave them up. I had more emotion invested than many Bills seemed to.

I watch from a distance now, at times pvr or taping the game for later if in the middle of it I get too stressed I can walk away. If reports show they recover I watch if not I sometimes just hit delete.

I still hold a tailgate in my yard game mornings with neighbors. I enjoy the talk and debate. 

[teef]

you people need to get your ***** together.  

[Back2Buff]

In order to get through watching Bills games, I had to buy a secondary TV to watch the Red Zone, while the Bills game is on main TV.

 

I can't sit through an NFL game anymore.  The penalties, challenges, commercials, boring play, etc, is just too boring for me to pay attention to.  If they ever got rid of Red Zone, I would completely stop watching football.  Goodell has ruined the game with greed.  

[cwater10]

I can appreciate your journey, OP.  In 50+ years of watching this story unfold, I've been all over the map with the extent that I let my Bills habit form my emotions.  In the end, I think that I finally arrived at a place of serenity and renewed enjoyment with it all, once I learned to view it as just that...  watching a story unfold.  

 

Like you, and really like so many of us, I have great memories of watching and going to games with my Dad.  We had season tickets for many years.  I laugh and remember that for a long while, the only question of relevance on most games was "How many yards did O.J. get?".  Because really, that WAS the story of interest in those teams.  But, of course the storyline eventually and ALWAYS changes.  I remember being disillusioned at different times; O.J. got traded, #1 overall draft picks flipped us off and went elsewhere, the string of Super Bowl hell and of course the drought etc...

 

As we move through life, hopefully priorities also change.  And I had to come to terms with the reality that I'll never get those good times with my Dad back, but I finally embraced that I do get to keep the memories.  Chasing new memories is an acquired taste I guess.  For me, learning how to keep and value those old memories without a need to duplicate them was not easy, but eventually it arrived.  It's rational to feel differently about the the things that we once valued so highly.  

 

I still laugh and smile when I think about my old high school and college friends.  But I have limited interest in hanging out with them much any more.  I'm good with it.    So why are The Bills so different?  They clearly are for almost all of us.  Because when they win, it is a rush.  It's brain chemistry and psychology 101.  Endorphin storm = Good!  When we let our fear of losing get out of balance, it can limit and overshadow that potential rush.  So we start to lose interest out of fear of being disappointed, fear of not getting that rush...  it's a puzzle that we either solve or just lose interest in.

 

For me, maybe out of coincidence, the final piece of that puzzle came the year I retired, which by lucky coincidence was the year the drought ended.  It happened that I had just moved into a brand new house on the west coast of Florida in the first week of Sept 2017.  I was more preoccupied with real life stuff like moving in, learning a new city, and then learning what in the hell to do in the face of an incoming Category 5 hurricane as Hurricane Irma was beating a path it appeared, directly at said new house.  This was the early morning hours of the 2017 opener vs the Jets.  Somehow, I learned all the proper prep, no doubt going overboard with it, but hunkered down for the storm, expecting power and satellite reception to go out some time during the game.  Somehow both stayed on throughout the game, and The Bills won a very vanilla, boring game.  It was a nice diversion and gave me something to smile about.  Of course... the power went out later that evening and stayed out for a miserable week.  

 

But The Bills had once again given me something to smile about and played a nice role in a memorable, yet otherwise miserable time.  That season (and life) unfolded in typical roller coaster fashion, as we know and in the end, I was at a delayed Christmas family celebration on New Years Eve what Tyler Boyd scored that TD.  I lost my S**t in a spectacular way that literally frightened half of my family and myself with my way over the top reaction.  I didn't know that little kid was still in me.  Since that time,  I've enjoyed the he** out of letting that little kid breath again.  It's been fun.  When they win, and fortunately that is a lot right now, it's high times in my head again.  And when they don't, I just turn the page and see where the story goes next.  I wish you well on your journey Red King!  It's just a story.  Let's see where it goes next.  Back in 2017, Hurricane Irma took a last minute turn and spared me and my house too much grief.  Nobody knows right now what the next turn in this season is going to be.

[Saint Doug]

10 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Really? When I was young I took every loss so hard.. literally had problems sleeping

 

Now I can just shake it off because I know the NFL is any given week... I literally was over the jaguars loss by 8:00 p.m. Sunday

Maybe it’s not the losses. To be honest, I shake them off pretty quickly. It’s the anxiety of watching the game slip away and you just know how it’s going to end. 

[Albwan]

   Lot about the NFL is starting to bore me, the thing that bugs me the most is the thought that all these

games may be controlled by the main office in conjunction with odds makers. I'm not saying I flat out believe it,

but I am starting to feel very suspicious of odd and biased officiating and the glut of very weird

game outcomes.

  When I was a kid I believed wrestling was real and was stunned to find out it was all phony. It isn't a stretch to think that 

at least on a small scale there's shenanigans going on with the NFL.

Edited November 10, 2021 by Albwan

[Not at the table Karlos]

Once it became clear as day that the NFL is influencing games(when goodell straight up said more games have to be more interesting and then almost every game had a BS call that caused it to be closer than it should be and go down to the wire) I stopped caring about the rest of the league. I still get excited and worked up over the bills but the rest of league is nothing more than WWE. 

Edited November 10, 2021 by Not at the table Karlos

[Jrb1979]

On 11/7/2021 at 4:42 PM, Bangarang said:

Go watch the Sabres. That should make you feel better.

Its fun watching the young kids play. They never quit in each game. 

[wagon127]

A regular season loss, doesn't sting nearly as bad as a playoff loss would. I went through the last 10 years of super bowl champions, and found at least one bad loss in alot of those seasons. I really will forget about the emotional aspect of the Jaguars loss, if we win the next couple of weeks. Hopefully on February 14th, we will look back on that game and just laugh, at how irrelevant it was. You only need to go undefeated in the playoff games.

[machine gun kelly]

Guys, the team has been a let down recently, and I’m normally mister glass half full, then there is everything else and honestly the negativity has caused me to take a pause from tbd.  Just a few days.  Let’s hope the jests game is a get right game.

 

im not thinking about the bills until Sunday.

[Heels20X6]

4 hours ago, Albwan said:

   Lot about the NFL is starting to bore me, the thing that bugs me the most is the thought that all these

games may be controlled by the main office in conjunction with odds makers. I'm not saying I flat out believe it,

but I am starting to feel very suspicious of odd and biased officiating and the glut of very weird

game outcomes.

  When I was a kid I believed wrestling was real and was stunned to find out it was all phony. It isn't a stretch to think that 

at least on a small scale there's shenanigans going on with the NFL.

This is what is starting to worry me.  This isn't an "the NFL is against the Bills/small market teams" rant...it's more of a "there are some really, REALLY questionable calls that are happening in games that really change the outcome and it really can't all be chalked up to referee incompetence." belief.

 

Once the NFL started partnering with bookies, I got nervous.  Adding the legalized element of gambling, and having the NFL have a vested interest in its success just reeks afoul...

 

That call in the Bears game for "Taunting" stunk to high heaven.  Especially the way Corrente leaned into Cassius so as to have a reason to call it.

[Saint Doug]

What about the “holding” penalty called on a DT during a running play? Seems fishy. 

[Heels20X6]

Just now, Saint Doug said:

What about the “holding” penalty called on a DT during a running play? Seems fishy. 

That's what I'm talking about...there's now a series of calls that happen where the tv coverage doesn't even bother to replay the penalty. Like we just have to take the ref's word on the call.

 

Just don't be surprised that we find out some time in the future that there was some rigging going on.  It happened in the NBA, it sure can easily happen with part time referees who don't get paid very well to begin with in the NFL.

 

All three games I watched had some horrible, game-changing calls (the Bills "offside" that wasn't called on 4th down, the "roughing" the passer on Aaron Donald, and the "taunting" call in the Bears game).  I can't physically watch that many football games, but I'm sure there were other examples.

[Saint Doug]

5 minutes ago, Heels20X6 said:

That's what I'm talking about...there's now a series of calls that happen where the tv coverage doesn't even bother to replay the penalty. Like we just have to take the ref's word on the call.

 

Just don't be surprised that we find out some time in the future that there was some rigging going on.  It happened in the NBA, it sure can easily happen with part time referees who don't get paid very well to begin with in the NFL.

 

All three games I watched had some horrible, game-changing calls (the Bills "offside" that wasn't called on 4th down, the "roughing" the passer on Aaron Donald, and the "taunting" call in the Bears game).  I can't physically watch that many football games, but I'm sure there were other examples.

To add to your list, the penalties called on 2 field goal misses. I guess it would’ve been too ambitious to call one on the 3rd FG miss. 

[BillsPride12]

20 minutes ago, Heels20X6 said:

This isd partnering with bookies, I got nervous.  Adding the legalized element of gambling, and having the NFL have a vested interest in its success just reeks afoul...

 

That call in the Bears game for "Taunting" stunk to high heaven.  Especially the way Corrente leaned into Cassius so as to have a reason to call it.

The officiating was so bad in the Bears Steelers game that on Twitter even Steelers fans and media were universally saying the Bears were getting screwed by the calls.  That's when you know the officiating has reached a new low.  

[boater]

I quit drinking during the 1 PM games. I find it has helped my mood considerably. I don't throw my rocks glass across the room anymore in reaction to a bad call.

 

I drink during the prime time games, but I avoid getting sauced up too hard.

[Barnaby Wilde]

Hang in there, Sir.  Look at the overall big picture instead of fluctuating up and down emotionally with each game.  I understand how difficult that is to do because longsuffering Bills fans want it BAD.  So bad.  You've been let down and disappointed by 4 straight Superbowl losses which further deflates your faith and belief but Jim Kelly was one thing.  He was great and he went to 4 straight.  In itself an accomplishment.  It's hard to win Superbowl games.  Even Tom Brady can tell you that going to one with a perfect season on the line.  But this Josh Allen kid out of nowhere is something special.  Jim Kelly would be the first to tell you he can't do the things Josh Allen can and Jim has been to 4 SBs.  If Jim Kelly accomplished this much with less talent what's the ceiling on Josh Allen?  I was a Leaf fan all my life and when they lost again in the first round to Montreal, I was in the same boat you are in questioning the value of my emotional investment and decided not to watch them anymore.  I still watch them out of boredom but I don't find myself caring anymore because they're a fraud of an organization who've never won anything.  But the Bills are starting to deliver.  Pregnancy is a painful physical journey with pangs and contractions and tears.  Nothing worth achieving ever is painless but finally when the birth finally happens there is joy throughout the house and much relief from pain for the woman who bore him.  I think the baby is about to stick it's head out.  Don't leave the delivery room just yet.  They're just a couple pieces away.  I'm going to lean on McDermott and give him the benefit of the doubt right now.  They're too good to give up on now...  

[reddogblitz]

11 hours ago, Governor said:

My expectations at the beginning of the season were getting to the SB but getting slaughtered in that game. This team doesn’t feel finished to me and unless 2 or 3 of our young guys become superstars, it won’t get it done.

 

The Kyle Orton year was extremely exciting yet painful for me. I invested too much into that season.

 

Beating Green Bay at home and then losing the following week to the 3-13 Raiders still makes me curse Coach Marrone to this day.

[Logic]

On 11/7/2021 at 1:41 PM, The Red King said:

 

But now it seems the wins feel good, but the losses feel so much worse. 

Just wanted to chime in and say that this is exactly the way it is for me.

I always say "the losses hurt much worse than the wins feel good".

When we win, it's like I EXPECTED it to happen. That's what's SUPPOSED to happen. Rather than being super happy, I basically just breathe a sigh of relief. I'll re-watch highlights throughout the week, read articles about the game, etc, but it's not as if I'm on cloud nine after regular season wins. I'm happy we won, sure, but it's just a brief feeling of relief, followed by a look ahead to next week.

When we lose, on the other hand, it hurts like hell. It often gives me a physically sick feeling in my stomach. If the loss is bad enough, it affects my mood on Monday and Tuesday.

I don't know why it is this way for me. Is it this way for everybody? Is it this way for the players? It brings to mind the many Hall of Fame level players over the years who I've heard say that they rarely think back on their moments of success, but often dwell for YEARS on their losses or biggest moments of failure. An interesting phenomenon, to be sure.

 

[KCNC]

I get it.  I paid a ton for tickets to see Jax game and was so psyched and then to witness one of the most poorly played and officiated games I have ever seen was a true downer.  The drive home to NC sucked.

 

But we can't/won't give up on your team!  Cheer up, bucko!

[Governor]

1 hour ago, reddogblitz said:

 

Beating Green Bay at home and then losing the following week to the 3-13 Raiders still makes me curse Coach Marrone to this day.

And blowing that Thursday night Dolphins game.

[Alphadawg7]

Not sure who all needs this...but putting here just in case.

 

https://didihirsch.org/services/suicide-prevention/

 

Or call:  800-273-8255

 

 

Edited November 11, 2021 by Alphadawg7

[Eastport bills]

On 11/7/2021 at 4:41 PM, The Red King said:

Yeah, call it a potential overreaction to today, but even before the game started, watching felt like a chore, not a boon.

 

Football meant everything to me.  It was quality time with my dad, who taught me all about it.  One of my best memories of my dad was being together at the stadium for The Comeback.  It was in my blood.

 

But now it seems the wins feel good, but the losses feel so much worse.  I'm watching the games on my own now, my kids aren't into football.

 

My stress levels are through the roof on close games.  Today was miserable.  A loss, bad coaching, bad playing, abyssmal officiating (for the first time I am seriously wondering if the NFL is fixed/scripted).  And it's not over.  This loss is going to stay with me and haunt me.

 

I'm wondering if it's worth it anymore.  If the good feelings are worth the bad feelings and time commited.  Yes, a Super Bowl win would be euphoric.  But the odds are against that.  Would anything else, even a season ending in a Super Bowl loss, be worth the time and torment invested?  It's like buying an expensive emotional lottery ticket.

 

I'm...kinda starting to think not, that this just isn't worth it.  Anyone else feel the same, or at least understand?

That was really an impressive, heartfelt account of what a lot of fans go through with a team as they live and die with success and losses. My son is almost inconsolable after a game like Sunday's.  I tell him that when you're passionate about a team, this Rollercoaster of emotions is part of the experience that you sign up for. It's entertainment and you move on to the next game. Somehow, the pain seems more profound than the victory which fans of good teams expect. Hopefully there's  more good than bad, because for us, there's no turning back.

 

[reddogblitz]

7 hours ago, wagon127 said:

A regular season loss, doesn't sting nearly as bad as a playoff loss would. I went through the last 10 years of super bowl champions, and found at least one bad loss in alot of those seasons. I really will forget about the emotional aspect of the Jaguars loss, if we win the next couple of weeks. Hopefully on February 14th, we will look back on that game and just laugh, at how irrelevant it was. You only need to go undefeated in the playoff games.

 

Thank you. Was thinking of doing that.  This happens to good teams every year.  I grew up as a Tom Landry era Cowboy fan and they would lose a game or 2 like this every year. And we made it to 5 SBs winning 2. Doesn't mean the season's over although it feels like it is.

 

I think fans feel this way cuz we're not used to being good yet.

Edited November 11, 2021 by reddogblitz

[BillsfaninSB]

It was a garbage product Sunday.

 

The refs were trash.  The broadcast was bad.  Lofton is terrible.   Makes me appreciate Collingsworth.   The Bills played bad.  They looked like trash with those loser blue pant suits.