I guess.
One big difference between my “childhood” Houston Oiler years, and my current life as an adult and fan of the Houston Texans, is that I’m able to get over bad losses much faster than I used to.
When I was a young teenager and a fervent follower of the Oilers, losses would cloud my brain all week until the chance for redemption came on a Sunday. I remember Alan (Allen?) Pinkett standing alone in the end zone in Los Angeles against the Rams on 4th down at the end of a game, but Warren Moon didn’t see him until the last second… the pass was batted away - Oilers lose a big road game. I was crushed. I had to go run around the block to blow off steam. (That’s just one example of dozens, of course.)
Think of pretty much any tough loss during the Warren Moon-era Oilers, and I was just a sunshiny bundle of love and kisses all week long.
These days, I’m an adult. I have a life, I have responsibilities, stress, worries, etc. I’ve gotten to a point that, even though the team means just as much to me as the Oilers did - I’m just able to be over it by say, late Sunday night.
Last year, Rosencopter put me right back in that old Oiler mentality… and I have to say, I’m still moping a bit about Monday night. That just seems silly to me, but I’m just being honest. Sure, I’m enjoying the holidays with family as much as I’m sure most of you are… but when I have a free minute, I’m still thinking about it.
So let this post be the end of my internalized whining, and let it be the end for those of you who haven’t yet gotten over it as well. There’s still a bit of a scar there, but the bleeding has stopped.
Now, back in the old Oiler days, my first thought about the follow-up game to a crushing defeat would be that my team is about to get their heads kicked in… but I’m feeling oddly optimistic about Sunday’s big game against the Colts. Am I alone in that? I feel like I’m alone in that.
For all the reasons on paper why this should be yet another Colts victory, I still can’t shake the fact that the last several games these teams have played have either been close, or literally right down to the wire. The game means infinitely more to the Texans than it does to the Colts, and we all know the Texans have finished strong the last few years.
So for now, let’s just kind of vent one more time and get Monday out of our systems, and start thinking about how the team can beat the Colts. I’m sure the players (and especially Gary Kubiak) are just DYING to get on the field so they can get the taste from Monday’s loss out of their mouths.
For now, back to overeating. I’m still away from home base but I’ll have something more for you again before the game Sunday.
I’d also like to take a minute to thank everyone who takes any time to read this blog or make comments. I really appreciate it, and I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I’ll be back to regular posting soon.
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Nov 27, 2009 at 22:24:52
Happy Thanksgiving everybody. I have to say, I’m extremely worried about this game Sunday and that is due to two big injuries. The first being O.D. I don’t think people have made as big of a deal about it as I think it warrants. There is no denying that the offense hasn’t been the same since he got hurt. I really hope James Casey can somehow fill part of the void left by O.D. The other injury is Eugene Wilson. I know he’s not great, but he is WAY better in coverage than any other safety on the roster. It honestly scares the crap out of me having to face Peyton the first week after Eugene’s injury.
Steve Slaton, if you happen to be reading this, please feel free to show up whenever you’re ready.
Chris Meyers and Kasey Studdard, please don’t be afraid to throw down a block every now and then. I would also prefer if you guys didn’t do it 3 yards behind the L.O.S.
Pay Me Rick, you have gone from my favorite player on the team hands down to a effing joke. It’s a sad day when I would prefer GQ and Reeves as our starting CB’s with D-Rob still on the roster.
Nov 27, 2009 at 22:48:20
I have zero confidence in the Texans against the Colts, or against any other team with a winning record. I don’t know if that’s a knee jerk reaction to what’s happened this season plus the injuries, but I don’t really care.
Nov 27, 2009 at 22:48:38
I wish I shared your optimism about the game Sunday. Quite frankly, Monday night killed any expectations I had of this team. Meh.
Nov 28, 2009 at 04:21:09
@PS84
Just when you think you’re out, they’ll suck you back in.
Nov 28, 2009 at 10:55:00
Yes, I would agree that the players want to get on the field to get the Mon. loss out of their system, but that is also what I thought about after the Ind. loss. I mean, let’s face it, after the Ind. loss, if you have 2 wks. to prepare for a team that is coming to your house & on MNF and lose pretty much like you lost to the Colts, why should I think they are going to win? Lets look @ the facts. You’re playing a team you just lost to, on a short week, our kicking game is in the toilet & has lost us 2 games and on top of that we are playing @ home where we obviously don’t play our best ball. IMO if we could have won the MNF game I really think we would have a shot @ the Colts this week, I don’t think that way anymore. I think what will happen is we will lose another close game to them, the Dolphins and the Pats. We will finish 8-8 again. I just really hope they prove me wrong! GO TEXANS!!!!
Nov 28, 2009 at 11:35:01
I feeel exactly the way you do about the Oilers, but I share none of your optimism about the Colts game.
Nov 28, 2009 at 12:17:22
This game means more for the Texans to win than it does for the Colts to not lose. Hopefully the team will realize they cant afford to make all the little mistakes they made during the game, since they really cant depend on their kicker anymore. They have to realize they cant afford to let the game come down to the last second and Kris Brown’s foot.
Nov 28, 2009 at 18:44:52
No Dwight Freeney Tomorrow! http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/11/28/colts-freeney-does-not-make-trip-to-houston/