December 2, 2018

[ChaosTheory]

If you like to delude yourself with optimism like I do... This might be interesting to you, too. I was browsing a little and I noticed some parallels between 2018 and 2021.

Today is the anniversary of the 6-0 skunking we received at the hands of the Jaguars in 2018. A baffling game. Truly WTF-caliber.

Before that game, we started 1-5. Luck had missed 2017 and had to come back physically on top of a new coach, new system, year of rust, etc. with basically no training camp. If you remember, he hadn't even thrown a ball in training camp into August. We were also missing guys like Castonzo and Hilton for significant chunks early in the season.

All that contributed to 1-5. Aside from New England, we weren't really outclassed. But we weren't coming out with wins in some competitive games.

Luck gets healthier, comfortable and we get guys back and start gelling. We go on a little run and win 5 straight. From 1-5 to 6-5, averaging 35pts./gm. Then Jacksonville happens. It doesn't make sense. Most frustrating game of the season. Hope for the season is going down the drain.

The sentiment somehow seemed to me to be worse at 6-6 than at 1-5.
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You can see the parallels.

-Wentz has condensed camp with a new team/system due to surgery.

-Weeks into the season before our line starts working together. Not to mention Hilton, Leonard, Blackmon, Willis, Campbell dealing with or succumbing to injuries.

-Bad start losing several competitive games. But QB settles in, we start putting out a more consistent (albeit not ideal) roster and we get on a little roll. From 1-4 to 6-5.

-Tampa Bay is the most frustrating loss of the year. Sentiment around the team is pretty awful. Hopes going down the drain. 6-6 again.
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In 2018, the Colts dusted off after Jacksonville, got back on a 5-game winning streak including an elimination game at Tennessee and road playoff win at Houston.

It's not apples-to-apples, but we've seen how good this team can play. I don't think it's fool's gold like 2019. Anyway, after such a negative week, maybe a little optimism?