Based on the principle that water always finds it's level, there was a reasonable expectation that last season's magic would not be duplicated in the last slate
But to already have this many gut-punches would be hard to predict for even the most pessimistic fan. With the bounces that San Diego got today, the torment portion of the Purple's season could be over beginning at Adam Thielen next Sunday
Or the future Ring of Honor member could scorch his childhood team for 120 & 2
It's a game of such narrow margins but the most consequential ones are all going against the Pillagers. It would be nice if skill & scheme could overcome the improbabilities but such has not been the case and today might have been the worst of these early-season examples.
From an interception to a touchdown
The steal of Hockenson's catch
The double-tipped interception to end the game
It's always taken fortitude to continue riding with this club but those are some donkey kicks!
They still might be too good to finish the season around the five-win plateau but if the equalizing isn't over yet then 0-5 is a very real possibility. If they reach that point, with fellow cellar-dwellers from Chicago as the sixth game, will they make some strategic moves to enhance the long-term outlook. It's the kind of strategic thinking that Zimmer refused during his worst season but KA-M & KO are on much firmer ground than the former coach was at that point in his tenure so that adds to the possibility.
Even from that point they would have one of the three-best quarterbacks in the Conference so those who would want them to make a run for Caleb Williams could be disappointed.
It all boils down that no matter how you look at it, because they couldn't make enough of the right plays - couldn't maintain possession of the ball often enough - that more disappointment lies ahead for us.
Not a new lesson for the four-time losers but a stinging reminder of the fact.
There were two positives to be gleaned which we hadn't yet seen by the team
1) Alexander Mattison showed a pulse as the team's primary ball carrier
2) Jordan Hicks got the first turnover FOR the team
They're small notes in the grand scheme but it's those sorts of plays that will be needed to overcome the three to five percent gap the team continues to find itself behind by.
Until then, if it comes, breaking glass bottles into recycling receptacles can be quite cathartic!
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