We're coming to the part of the season where every game feels like "the" game. You know, the one that could keep you out of the playoffs. It could be a bad beat, or starting the wrong player, or running into a heroic performance at the worst possible time. But it's that loss (maybe by fractions of a point) that costs you a shot at money and glory. You'll remember it all offseason.
You'll remember it if you're trying to sabotage yourself, that is. Smart players will forget that loss before Monday Night Football has signed off. It's on to the next week for them. And if you find yourself taking a tough L, you should do the same.
In most leagues there are four or five games left in the regular season. There's just enough time for teams to sneak into the playoffs, but no time to obsess over weeks 1-9. Some players might need to be replaced, bye weeks need to be addressed, and there could be a few gaps to fill on your roster. You shouldn't pretend those earlier games didn't happen, or act like you can't learn from them. In fact, you'll need to learn from them.
But aside from that, you're better off forgetting about your record and forgetting how you got there. "What If?" was an interesting series for Marvel Comics (and will be a new television series for Disney +, FYI) , but it's a complete waste of time in fantasy football. The plays were the plays. The points were the points. The results were the results. You have no control over the past, but you do have some control over what happens over the next month.
Besides, it's too easy to blame a poor season on one game, or a loss on one play. A couple weeks ago, I lost a game because Aaron Jones dropped an easy touchdown on Monday Night Football. But is that really why I lost? What about all my other decisions? What about a dozen other plays that weekend that I didn't even see? What about the quirky plays that went my way instead?
How many losses does it take to miss the playoffs, anyway? More than one game, for sure. They all count the same, so there's no one game or one play that can really cost you anything. And none of it matters now. You can still go on a winning streak and try to secure a spot in the postseason.
Or you can consider yourself snake bit, replay the past in your head and over-analyze every decision you make going forward. Does any of that sound like a recipe for success? Do you think Bill Belichick is doing that after losing to Baltimore?
Of course not. He's already moved on to their next game, which is still two weeks away. You can bet that his team will be prepared for their next opponent, who beat them in a pretty important game not too long ago. But you know what? Belichick isn't thinking about lost Super Bowls, either. He's thinking ahead, and so should you.
Now, you already know all of this. And I know it's easier than it sounds. Tough losses can stick with you. But nothing good will come of dwelling on outcomes you can't reverse. Every minute you think about what could have been is a minute you aren't preparing for what will happen. Winning games is hard enough. Don't make it harder when you already have little room for error. Week 9 is gone, and week 10 isn't that far away. Make the most of it, and the rest of the season might fall into place for you.
How do you move on after a tough loss? How long does it take you to start focusing on the upcoming week? Share your thoughts below.