Minnesota won 15-10. It's the fourth loss in a row, and the first one that left me hopeful.
I asked for one thing last week. A game that was still a game late. I got it, and now I have to live with what I asked for, because a close loss hurts in a completely different place than a blowout does.
15-10. Five points. I'm not a coach and I won't pretend to break it down like one. I'm a fan with a couch and a loud voice, and what I saw from that couch was a team that was still in it at the end. After the last two weeks, I'd forgotten what that felt like. My heart rate hadn't. I was on my feet for the finish and I don't remember deciding to stand up.
0-4, said out loud
Zero and four. There, I typed it. It doesn't look any better written down. The group chat on Sunday night was mostly one-word messages and a picture of somebody's dog in a Dolphins bandana, looking as tired as the rest of us. Nobody said they were out. A couple of people said see you Sunday. Those are my people.
A blowout makes you numb. A five-point loss makes you want next Sunday to hurry up.
Why this one is different
Because close means there's something to fix, and you can't fix what isn't there. We've lost by a lot this year and now we've lost by a little, and the little ones are the ones that turn. Not always. But when a season does turn, this is what the week before it looks like.
I'm not telling you to be happy. I'm not happy. I'm telling you I went to bed Sunday thinking about next week and not about last week, and that hasn't happened since August.
Cincinnati comes to Hard Rock on Sunday at 1:00. We're home, and the bye is right after. I can't think of a better time to get the first one. I'll be in the lot early, and I'm bringing extra.