FanPost

Losing: A Champion Is Not Forged By Wins Alone.

A friend and I were having a conversation and she said that a champion is not forged by wins alone. And she was right. Any team who is trying to become a champion will face adversity. You have to deal with short comings. Trying to over come your mistakes, the other team, the referees, and losing. Sometimes those losses come when the whole world is watching you.

You did not play your best. Your plan did not succeed. Some unforeseen circumstance took place. The other team did more than you did to secure the victory. In some cases the other team was vastly superior to what you were trying to do. And they just embarrassed you in every aspect. Or in some cases, all of those things formed a perfect storm.

But how a team responds to such a moment is part of the mental toughness that comes with something not working out in your favor.

The loser often bears a tougher burden than the winner does. Most of the time a winning team gets the benefit of the doubt because they won. Yes, there were some things that could have been better. But you still won, so it's okay.

But for the loser, it doesn't matter that you did A, B, and C well if the outcome does not match what your hope was. And for some odd reason, there are Patriots fans who treat losing as a dying relative. Not as a learning experience. There are tough losses to endure. But I have found it odd that so many have such a difficult time with losing.

The team needs to be blown up. Bill is a horrible GM. The defense is atrocious. So many swings of emotions based on one game. And there are some who still have not forgiven Bill for the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles.

Bill has won 7 Super Bowls. 5 as a head coach. 2 as a defensive coordinator. The Patriots have played in 8 Super Bowls under his guidance. There is a lot of trial and error in all of those seasons. Yet one loss is all it takes for some fans to sound like the grumbling Hebrews in the desert after Moses led them out of Egypt.

I'm not saying that fans don't have a right to question what they see. And ask if it was the best possible plan to win. Because they do have that right. They risk their hearts every time the team takes the field. What I am saying or critiquing is the level of patience that comes with that same critique. And the apparent lack of faith.

It takes time for the team to come together, figure things out, and get the timing and rhythm down to what they need. The synchronicity of the clock can't just be so easily applied without problem. It must be properly cultivated. This team is still an infant that is learning to walk.

In 2003 the Patriots were here in Maryland. Playing the Washington Redskins and lost that game. At midfield Bill shook hands with Redskins' coach Steve Spurrier. The most significant aspect of that scene for me wasn't the handshake. It was the look on Coach Belichick's face.

The start of the 2003 season saw Lawyer Milloy cut. He then joined the Buffalo Bills, who was also the Patriots first opponent that season. The Patriots were pounded 31-0 in Buffalo. Two wins followed that game with NE defeating the Eagles and Jets. Before appearing in Landover and not playing their best football.

Tom Brady threw 3 bad interceptions in that game. The team had a chance to win with the last drive. But that drive fell short. The look on Bill's face was that he had had enough. His team were going to get their act together whether they liked it or not. And that was all there was to it.

The following week they defeated the Tennessee Titans. Ty Law sealed the game on a pick six. And it began a 21 game winning streak that would encompass a Super Bowl win at the end of the 2003 season. And stretch into the next season. The streak would end in Pittsburgh. But the Patriots would go on and win another Super Bowl at the end of the 2004 season.

In 2014, the infamous Monday Night game in Kansas City had ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer saying that the Patriots were done as a dynasty. He also said that the Patriots have not done enough to complement Tom Brady. However, at the end of the game, Jon Gruden stated that if anyone could fix what was wrong, Bill Belichick could.

The team moved on to Cincinnati and then went on to win Super Bowl XLIX at the end of the season.

Last season I started listening to Matt Chatham's podcasts. It's called the Real Thing Patriots Podcast. And it is refreshing to listen to someone who played for the Patriots to comment on what he sees. He often posts pieces of things on his Twitter page where you can see the good and the bad.

If you are still struggling to get over the loss, I recommend Matt's podcast HIGHLY!!! You may change your thinking on what happened this past Sunday.

www.blogtalkradio.com/fooballbyfootball/2018/09/17/jaguars-game-review-the-film-dont-lie#.W5_I_cIOUWY.twitter is the link. If it does not work, try to pick it off of his Twitter page Matt Chatham @chatham58.

And even though the Patriots have traded to get Josh Gordon, I feel that it will take about a month for him to get up to speed with the team. That isn't to say that he won't play. But that it will take some time for him to get into football like he needs to. Especially after so much time has passed since he has endured a full season.

It will also be necessary for someone else to step up against the Lions. James White, Gronk, Tom Brady, and Stephon Gilmore cannot do everything by themselves.

And finally, this blog isn't so much for the fans who still have faith. This is for those fans who are still trying to make heads or tails of the loss. Or who are completely upset with the team.

If you have thoughts, questions, comments, or tasteful critiques, I invite you to share your mind with me.

The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SB Nation.