It was about halfway through the year after that first wildcard game, the one our current kicker won for us by losing, when I realized this team wasn't going to be a serious contender again.
I think we have the horses for it, but we are content to try to keep games close and let the defense win it for us.
We have shown in games along the way, notably vs the Steelers, that we have the ability to win with offense. But, while we have the players for it - we don't have the coaching staff.
It is going to take a few years for Seattle fans to realize the window shut a while ago. I figured that a while ago.
But the thing is, you don't have to go to the SB every year to enjoy watching your team.
The problem for me, this is crappy football. Even when the defense was great, the other half of the team didn't even look like it cared about doing anything but moving up/down the field and milking clock.
Earlier this year, the start of the football season was the Green Bay game. Normally I would move heaven and earth to make sure I was there for a home game and at the TV from start to finish in an away game. But the GF wanted to go to Friday Harbor that weekend and, if didn't want to get up early the ferry back was going to make sure I was not home until halftime.
Normally? I am going to get up at the crack of dawn to beeline back. But, I've learned we don't really do anything for a full half anyway unless the other team manages to take a lead. I figured I would come back to a halftime score of a few FGs back and forth and that was about it. Sure enough, very little happened in that game the first half.
And so it goes, I would rather watch a good game and lose occasionally than a boring, punt and move, move & punt game with some FGs wedged in there.
I still post on here, so I obviously care. But I don't get upset when we lose anymore. I pretty much expect it because we only play football for 1/4 to 1/2 a game. The first half is usually meaningless jockeying for field position with some FGs sprinkled in.
It's worse than playing not to lose. It's playing just to take space until the 4th quarter rolls around. And I figure, if they don't bother to care about the first 3 quarters...why should I?
This season was lost before our defense went down. A potential bright spot might be that the offense will be forced to actually to try score because they know the defense won't just constantly be able to keep us in games anymore. Maybe we will get real football back again.