I honestly don’t understand threads like this. Most of us on here believed the Super Bowl talent sales pitch going into this season. At 3-0 it was fantastic but I’m sure more people had that nagging feeling of wanting to beat a team with a win to confirm what we wanted to believe.
Now we have 10 games to look at and we are still waiting for a win against a quality team. I personally want to feel confident that this team is a solid contender. Week after week we see the same problems. I love what Dak is doing but honestly what else is there to be excited for? They have shown nothing to inspire confidence that this season has potential. The defense seems to get worse every week, the O-line looks to be severely overrated and Zeke has shown no life in weeks.
A win next week and all that changes. But another loss to a winning team just adds to the list confirming this season is fools gold. Some say this team is inconsistent but it seems to me they are following a very predictable pattern. It is unreasonable to expect fans ignore the pattern and be happy with hopes and optimism. Every game from here on out until week 17 is against potential playoff teams and until the pattern changes, we have seen zero evidence that we can make a playoff push.
What else is there to be excited for? Hmm.....
If the only thing that matters is the team's W-L record, then yes, we have 4 losses that are very disappointing and have put us in sort of a middling position. While I understand that it's our record that determines our potential entry into the post-season, I've seen the season play out differently than some folks here:
- We lose by 2 to the Saints on the road. No shame in that. Prior to beating us, the Saints had beaten the Texans at home and the Seahawks on the road. They're a good team. It happens
- We spot the Packers 24 points and make it a game in the end. Had we made a missed FG earlier in the game, a score on our last drive into the red zone would've been to tie the game.
- We go down 21-3 to the Jets and end up making it a game as well. A missed 2 point conversion keeps us from tying the game.
- A missed FG earlier in the game means we're trying to score a TD to win it late instead of kicking a FG for the win. That was after spotting them 21 points.
Our offense is fine. Zeke is fine. The opposition's formula to key on Zeke and make Dak win the game is or will be over soon. After that, expect the running game to open up and Zeke will prove his value, though he already is by making team's over-commit to stopping the run and allowing Dak to have a stellar year throwing the ball.
Our defense? I don't know. I don't see the massive regression of 54 that so many see. In fact, Smith is having a decent year. I have no idea why they start so slowly. It has to be corrected, though. Quinn and Williams have been balling, and Lawrence is playing fine despite what some posters here believe.
What I'm saying is this: This team has been entertaining. Our offense is capable of roasting any team in the league, though don't expect it to happen every week. That isn't how the NFL works. If our defense gets it together, we'll become a tough out in the playoffs (if we make it there).
Keep the faith, brothers!