The lessons learned will prove gainful in the future

[Renohawk]

We've all pained through the recent struggles of our dear Hawks. When I think of Champions and the road it takes to get to the final pinnacle, I think a team has to be both great and have some luck on their side. Seeing this team and how they have overcome so many injuries and IMO across the front line where it counts the most and still coming away with victories is a testament of change. Teams from the past would have folded, but not this team. Where I think we make it all work is how we've won in so many different fashions. Blow outs, overtime, on the road, rallying from 21 pts down and holding a team on the goal line. These may not have been pretty, but the players will sure be able to benefit from knowing they have won in all those situations before.

 

[seabowl]

I agree that it allows a team to believe they can come back in any situation and this is a good thing. The bad part though is the trend of very close games against some not so good opponents. Injuries have been a big part of the reason but every team gets injuries. The second half of last year allowed the Hawks to get a swagger about them. At this moment that swagger is at best a swag. If they can put together a few strong performances back to back they can regain the swagger and play confident football yet again.

 

[SalishHawkFan]

We beat the Saints the Beastquake game. We were not the better team, we were just the better team that day. What we've seen is a Rams team who's strength - DE - matched up hideously well with our glaring weakness - tackle. And a Bucs team that was playing its superbowl. We're the team that everyone gets pumped and brings their best game for.

Remember what the pundits were all saying about the Hawks-Saints game that year? That we'd come in fired up, maybe even have an early lead, but then the talent of the Saints would prevail? Well, we were a better team than we were given credit for, but that's not my point. The Bucs are NOT a better team than they were given credit for, they came in fired up, got a bad call by Carey to keep a drive going, got a lucky break by Kearse and emotion carried them to a 21-0 lead. But talent prevailed.

 

[Lords of Scythia]

These grinding bloodbaths are better for the Hawks than blowouts. They're making us a tougher team. We get home games at near-full strength in the playoffs, it'll seem easy. Just keep getting the wins and stay at the #1 seed.