I have started and deleted, restarted and re-deleted this column about six times. I don’t know how to start this. I feel like it’s impossible to convey the words I want to right now.
I feel anger, disappointment, remorse and blah. Can anyone guess why I might be feeling this awful? If you guessed it’s because the Ravens lost on Sunday, you would be correct.
I had to miss all of the third quarter and most of the fourth quarter of that game. I was tracking it on my phone, and I thought for sure the Ravens could have pulled that game off.
I got home just in time to see the final field goal of that game. I sprinted inside (wearing 3-inch high heels) and sat down exasperated, just as the teams were lining up to take the kick.
I was sitting back in my chair because I thought, Oh Cundiff has got this, and we are going into OT, no big. Geez Louise, was I wrong.
Cundiff’s kick was wide to the left. He wasn’t even close. Not even a little bit. He missed the most important kick of his life, the kick to tie the game, to take it to overtime and at least have a second chance at the win.
After the kick, I did not believe that he had missed it. I sat in my chair for five whole minutes, not saying anything. I don’t even think that I moved.
It’s unfortunate that Cundiff had a perfect game up until that point. He scored points with ease when he was called upon to do so. It was not entirely Cundiff’s fault. Although it is nice to blame Cundiff for the loss rather than the NFL conspiracy theories.
Everyone went into that game thinking that it was going to be a repeat of the Bronco’s game, and the Ravens were going to get creamed. Reality check, that did not happen. Also, everyone seriously underestimated Joe Flacco’s abilities.
Flacco played a heck of a game. Flacco and Tom Brady actually had the exact same completion percentage that game, 61.1 percent. Flacco threw for 306 yards with two touchdowns. He only threw one interception. Brady had 239 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Everyone said that Ray Rice had to get the ball 20-25 times for the Ravens to win. Well, that prediction was accurate because Rice carried the ball 21 times for a mere 67 yards.
Anquan Boldin also had a great game, catching 6 passes for 101 yards. The Ravens played a solid game. I did not have any doubts whatsoever that the Ravens would win that game. I knew they could do it, but they didn’t.
There was a lot that did happen in that game, and there was a lot that did not happen. The touchdown that got called back should have been a touchdown. If that would have counted, we would have won.
I am still angry, disappointed and depressed. It’s still an open wound. People have asked me these last few days what happened in that game, and I don’t think I have answered without swearing or crying. I am in a state of utter disbelief. I don’t know if I want to watch the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think it’s going to be a good game. It will probably be boring.
Eventually, the wounds that game have given me will heal, and I can ready myself for the next season, but for now please just let me grieve.
You can follow Corie on Twitter @CHolmes25.