A season that began with abundant uncertainty & optimism could still yield more than any since the days of the great Bud Grant. One result does not spell doom for the whole season, it's important to keep that in mind even after a bad loss to start the year.
Although maybe it's not actually a bad loss
We won't know whether Tampa can compete in the South, let alone the entire conference, for a month or more. What we do know is that their journeyman quarterback improved with each quarter of play so perhaps he will be successful as the successor to the highest-achieving football player of all time.
This isn't the BCS or some poll by voters so perception points don't mean diddly but in the totality of the season, it could be a better loss than it seems right now.
That's part of the challenge that comes with week 1 of a 17-game slate.
As for the losing quarterback, he was battered again like we were still watching the 2022 season. He was dealing with a swagger like they were already on the celebratory flight back home. And he was involved in all the turnovers by the home team. It was sort of performance you expect from someone on their fourth team in three years, not a long-time starter who supposedly is extra comfortable in the offense.
Few, if any, quarterbacks will do better when they have to pay attention for a bulldozer coming at them but for this outing Cousins wasn't able to tap into the same sort of juice that got the team to 13 wins in his coach's inaugural season. With Bradbury & Darrisaw each suffering nicks, the extent of which we don't know for the center as he exited early & for good. Ed Ingram also had some issues along the way so running-it-back may prove costly as we advance in the season.
Heartless people who think of it in binary and just want a high selection next May could love what happened to Cousins. If that's you, please leave.
For those who are thinking about the possibilities that still remain, it stinks that Cousins is going to get run over so many times again.
There is also the little thing of the defense under the dutiful eyes of Brian Flores. Despite Marcus Davenport being inactive today (really want to hear why) they looked far more competent than most of last season. That only yielded one sack & two more hits on Mayfield officially. But if they are able to improve week by week then all three phases will be above the level of 'liability.'
It's baby steps but to be able to learn that from just four quarters of competition is a terrific development!
The positives of that and what Jefferson, Addison, Mattison, The Norseman, et al did could be obscured quicker than a car in a blizzard with the defending Conference Champs on the docket for Thursday. Have to just wait and see about that since it is tomorrow's problem but does add to the weight of loss #1.
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