It’s a tough pill to swallow. The Baltimore Ravens’ 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game still stings and I’m sure the Ravens faithful all around the country are feeling the residual effects. Our entire season culminated into those last fateful minutes in Foxboro, where it seemed as though we could pull out a last second upset to claim a Super Bowl berth, only to have those hopes shattered not once, but twice.
In the end, the Ravens didn’t execute when it mattered most. As hard as it is and will be to let go of such a wonderful season, no amount of analysis, ‘what ifs’ or finger pointing will bring back what is already done. Billy Cundiff has taken his criticism in stride and Ravens LB Ray Lewis summed it up best by saying: "We win as a team, we lose as a team."
Football isn’t all about wins and losses, or even Championships. This game we all love provides us with a multitude of emotions and memories that we’ll remember forever. Every season is a journey full of moments. Little snapshots in time that will be forever ingrained in us. I urge all of you, as Ravens fans, to take a few moments at some point to look back on some of your favorite memories from this season before letting go. For some it will be our opening game when the Ravens dismantled the defending AFC Champions and hated rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the tune of 35-7. Maybe your favorite memory will be Torrey Smith’s breakout game against the St. Louis Rams when he tallied up 152 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 5 receptions.
Whether you decide to let go and move on today, next week or several months from now, keep these memories with you. When you look back on these flashes in time, try to remember the sights, the sounds, the tastes. Remember who you were with. Most of all, remember how these memories make you feel. That’s what this journey we call a "season" is all about.
Please share with me what your favorite moment of the year was in the comments section. Thank you!