Dear Diary,
Here we are again. Another hate week. After escaping Norfolk, our focus was squarely on the Chicago Blues. We really wanted to even the season series. I hate them almost as much as I hate Michigan when we’d play them at Ohio State. Fuck Michigan. For real. But seriously, this game was something the team was ready for. We practiced as well as we ever had that week and we had another killer game plan figured out and ready to go.
We walked into Chicago and just started putting a hurting on them. It was all going to plan, except for one thing. Our drives kept stalling deep in Chicago territory. We had to settle for field goals of 19, 25, and 43 yards. Our defense was on fire at least, and we went into the half up 9-0, and feeling really confident we had them right where we wanted them. Surely, they couldn’t keep stopping us, and we’d eventually break through. And, someone did break through finally. Sadly, it was Chicago as the Blues scored early in the third to make it 9-7. Undeterred, we answered, but only with another field goal. Up 12-7, Chicago would wind up scoring another TD, to take a 14-12 lead. After that, we just fell apart offensively. I don’t quite know how it happened, but it was almost like the Blues were in our huddle or something. We got shut down and played too tight. Chicago would add a field goal and send us home with our third loss of the season to the Blues, 17-12. That makes us 7-3, and all of our losses have been to Chicago. This really grinds my gears. They just have our number, for whatever reason. I had an 8 catch, 71 yard day, but it didn’t matter at all.
Still smarting from our loss the week before, Norfolk came to Portland the next week. We remembered how we almost blew the game against them last time, and we wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again. So we did what all teams do there, and we played too tight in the beginning. Norfolk went up 3-0 in the first, but that woke us up. On the ensuing drive, I would end up scoring on a 2 yard catch that gave us the 7-3 lead. The Nuge would get us two more field goals and a 13-3 lead. A third quarter TD by Norfolk made it 13-10. We’d get a field goal to go up 16-10. Norfolk would lead another late drive deep into our zone again. They got all the way to the 15 yard line before our defense finally stopped them and caused them to turn the ball over on downs. Another victory for Portland.
It's a fun time to be in the locker room, as it always is when you’re winning. We’re 8-3, and there’s some tough games on the horizon with our return matchups against San Antonio and Tijuana, two teams that have been playing really great football. As for me, I had 6 catches for 31 yards and touchdown. I’m really starting to feel my groove and how I fit into this team, and they’re starting to use me a lot better than ever.
I had an interesting question by a young fan at a meet and greet during the week. He asked me where I wanted to go play in the NSFL. I hadn’t even thought of that until he asked. I’ve paid a bit of attention to the league, guys are always talking about it. At this point I don’t think I want to go to Colorado or Las Vegas. They just look like they don’t have a much going on and I think it’d be more fun to be on a team that needs me to be the missing piece for a title run like San Jose or Orange County perhaps. I definitely want to beat Arizona though, that’s for sure. It should be interesting.
GRADED
Here we are again. Another hate week. After escaping Norfolk, our focus was squarely on the Chicago Blues. We really wanted to even the season series. I hate them almost as much as I hate Michigan when we’d play them at Ohio State. Fuck Michigan. For real. But seriously, this game was something the team was ready for. We practiced as well as we ever had that week and we had another killer game plan figured out and ready to go.
We walked into Chicago and just started putting a hurting on them. It was all going to plan, except for one thing. Our drives kept stalling deep in Chicago territory. We had to settle for field goals of 19, 25, and 43 yards. Our defense was on fire at least, and we went into the half up 9-0, and feeling really confident we had them right where we wanted them. Surely, they couldn’t keep stopping us, and we’d eventually break through. And, someone did break through finally. Sadly, it was Chicago as the Blues scored early in the third to make it 9-7. Undeterred, we answered, but only with another field goal. Up 12-7, Chicago would wind up scoring another TD, to take a 14-12 lead. After that, we just fell apart offensively. I don’t quite know how it happened, but it was almost like the Blues were in our huddle or something. We got shut down and played too tight. Chicago would add a field goal and send us home with our third loss of the season to the Blues, 17-12. That makes us 7-3, and all of our losses have been to Chicago. This really grinds my gears. They just have our number, for whatever reason. I had an 8 catch, 71 yard day, but it didn’t matter at all.
Still smarting from our loss the week before, Norfolk came to Portland the next week. We remembered how we almost blew the game against them last time, and we wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again. So we did what all teams do there, and we played too tight in the beginning. Norfolk went up 3-0 in the first, but that woke us up. On the ensuing drive, I would end up scoring on a 2 yard catch that gave us the 7-3 lead. The Nuge would get us two more field goals and a 13-3 lead. A third quarter TD by Norfolk made it 13-10. We’d get a field goal to go up 16-10. Norfolk would lead another late drive deep into our zone again. They got all the way to the 15 yard line before our defense finally stopped them and caused them to turn the ball over on downs. Another victory for Portland.
It's a fun time to be in the locker room, as it always is when you’re winning. We’re 8-3, and there’s some tough games on the horizon with our return matchups against San Antonio and Tijuana, two teams that have been playing really great football. As for me, I had 6 catches for 31 yards and touchdown. I’m really starting to feel my groove and how I fit into this team, and they’re starting to use me a lot better than ever.
I had an interesting question by a young fan at a meet and greet during the week. He asked me where I wanted to go play in the NSFL. I hadn’t even thought of that until he asked. I’ve paid a bit of attention to the league, guys are always talking about it. At this point I don’t think I want to go to Colorado or Las Vegas. They just look like they don’t have a much going on and I think it’d be more fun to be on a team that needs me to be the missing piece for a title run like San Jose or Orange County perhaps. I definitely want to beat Arizona though, that’s for sure. It should be interesting.
Code:
Ready for Grading - 668 WordsGRADED
![[Image: tTMB4jP.jpg]](https://imgur.com/tTMB4jP.jpg)
