Last week, six NFL games were decided by three points or less. Five of them were actually two points or less. On the other hand, all the other games (except the Monday night contest) were decided by double digits. Four games were decided by three touchdowns or more.
Ask any professional player or coach, and they'll tell you that the margin doesn't really matter. A win is a win and a loss is a loss. Losing by 20 is the same as losing by two.
But in fantasy football, we all know that's not the case.
Would you rather lose by a single point, or get blown out by 30? Every time I've asked someone that question, the answer is the same: They'll take the blowout and avoid the second-guessing. Sure, it's exciting when a garbage-time drive in the fourth quarter determines a game. Its memorable when a late turnover sets up a bonus field goal that secures a playoff spot. Or a tipped pass results in an extra reception that crowns a Super Bowl winner. Play the game long enough and you'll see it happen, and experience it yourself plenty of times.
But you'll definitely get blown out, too. Maybe you had Julius Thomas this week, but your opponent had Demaryius Thomas. Or you started Alshon Jeffery at the flex and they threw in Shane Vereen. Your quarterback was named Cutler; theirs was named Luck. And it only got worse from there.
If you're going to lose, I say it's better to lose by a bundle. Because while losing hurts, losing while you had people on your bench going nuts hurts even worse. This week I lost by a few points in one league, and I started Steve Smith over Michael Floyd. That difference made the difference. That margin was the margin. I know I had a good reason to choose Smith. I just can't remember what it was right now.
In another league I lost by more than 30. I'm not sure who my opponent started, and I'm not about to look it up. No matter who I had put in the lineup, it wasn't going to be enough. The better team won.
Now, which game am I still thinking about a couple days later? It's bad enough that my record took a hit. Do I really need to be running SportsCenter-type highlights in my head, breaking down exactly where I went wrong? Some losses are worse than others. The NFL players and coaches are wrong.
Except they're not. In reality, they're absolutely right. We choose to beat ourselves up over one decision or another. It serves no purpose except to mess with our decision-making later in the year. You made what you thought was the best decision at the time. And a catch here or goal-line carry there would've made you look like a genius. But that's not how it worked out. It's not like you can go back and change things, so best to treat it like a blowout and just let it go.
Right now you probably can't afford too many more losses. Unless you're sitting at 7-0 or 6-1, you have a team or two fighting for your spot. Or you might be that team fighting for a spot, and every loss costs you a chance at slipping into the playoffs. You don't need any more frustrating Sundays.
But you know what else you don't need? Stressful Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays while you obsess over your lineups because you don't want to lose another nail-biter. That's how a tough loss can hurt you weeks later. Don't let it carry over into week 8 and beyond. If a close loss cost you this past weekend, make sure it doesn't cost you next weekend as well. Don't be hesitant to bench someone who isn't producing and put in a player you feel better about this week. If you felt the heat last week, don't let it burn your judgment going forward.
A loss is a loss, just like the NFL guys say. The only way it keeps you out of the playoffs is if you relive it from here on out. So put it away today, and start fresh. Make the same bold moves based on your gut and your research as you would if you had won that close game. And maybe this time, you will. Good luck this week.
Would you rather lose a close one, or get blown out? How do you get the tough defeats out of your mind? Share your thoughts below.