Feel election overload? Bengals can help your mental health.
The Cincinnati Bengals can take your mind off of politics, believe it or not. (Mike Bass Photo)
By Mike Bass
mbass@mikebasscoaching.com
The leadup to the presidential election was getting to me. The anxiety. The divisiveness. The anger. The vitriol. The importance. The consequences. I am not alone. No matter which side you favor, you can feel it.
I needed a break.
A timeout is healthy. As much as the reporter in me craves information and insight about a defining moment in our society, the coach in me understands that my mental muscles were overloaded. It was like lifting weights without resting between sets.
I wanted a temporary escape, and I was downplaying an obvious one. Sports. Football. The Bengals. Cincinnati will play at Baltimore on Thursday night, and I wasn’t that into it. My expectations for that game were so low that they hijacked my enthusiasm. It felt like another tease, like one more time the Bengals would lose to a winning team, especially after the way they had lost to the Eagles.
What was I doing to myself?
Had I forgotten history?
I thought back to 2020 and the pandemic and how much we missed sports. We wanted an escape, and we lost a favorite one just when we needed it. The higher the stress, the more self-care matters.
A break helps us breathe, center, reset. We walk away to return stronger, to feel better about ourselves and our lives, to see choices hidden by stress, to find perspective. We feel powerless until we focus on what we can control. It doesn’t change what happens, but it can change us. We can see opportunities. We can feel gratitude.
And they were right there with Bengals-Ravens, but I couldn’t see them.
What if I could?
* * *
Lowering expectations can be thereapeutic. They can help you brace yourself, protect you from taking defeat too hard, recalibrate you when you are ignoring reality. But go too low, and you can lose your passion. You still want to be present in the moment and excited about the game.
I was not.
Winning big Sunday for the first time was nice, but Bengals 41, Raiders 24 wasn’t convincing. That first Paycor W was a relief, but Las Vegas is so bad that it fired three assistant coaches after the game. My expectations had cratered after seeing the Philadelphia debacle.
I was curious about your expectations entering the Ravens game, so I asked you in our day-after-game X session Monday before I left to vote.
The first response: A GIF from @Cynthia37995838 of a grimacing Steve Carell as Michael Scott in “The Office.”
I feel you.
Then again, didn’t he make that face after announcing the Scranton branch was closing? No way that would happen. Too early in the season. Are the Bengals really done this early in the season? Or does it just feel that way?
They are 4-5 with an asterisk, considering their schedule. They are 4-1 playing from the Senior tees. They haven’t beaten a team with a winning record. They could have beaten Kansas City, Washington and Baltimore.
“We don't have the Defense to beat the good teams,” @triskaggie wrote. “We lose. 🤷 Just being honest.”
But what is another way to look at it?
They are 4-5 with an opportunity.
I could be excited about the chance to reach .500 and beat a team above it – and go 2-1 in the division.
It would be an upset, but those can be the most fulfilling. Why not enjoy the anticipation instead of dreading another letdown? No matter what happens, I will at least have these few days to savor the possibility of winning.
And you know what? They could win.
The Ravens lost to Vegas early in in the season, and they lost at Cleveland two weeks ago, so they can lose to anyone. Baltimore has Lamar Jackson, but the Bengals have Joe Burrow.
“We only lost by 3 in OT at our last matchup,” @JNJournalist wrote, an outcome that might have reversed if not for a botched hold. “If we have yesterday’s team on the field, [or better/perfect by Burrow standards] I’m very confident in a W. Who Dey!”
Burrow threw five touchdown passes Sunday, but another late interception. He was openly frustrated during and after the game, personally and with the team. The Bengals should be better, and he knows it. You don’t always see him Hulk out. You might like him when he’s angry.
“We've seen athlete’s that are just different,” @bengalralph wrote, “Joe Burrow is different. I think he will be laser focused. You know he remembers the game there last yr.”
Don’t we all? Burrow hurt his wrist in that Thursday night game at Baltimore and was done for 2023. He is back now. And he might have Tee Higgins back, too. Maybe this Thursday night will be different.
“I’m confident in the offense,” @KevinHi24896518 wrote. “Concerned with the defense. Hopefully they make a couple trades and get some help.”
They made one, which is shocking, because the Bengals trade for players at midseason. Khalil Herbert can help compensate for losing Zach Moss. He was an effective runner until the Bears sentenced him to third string and inactivity. It only cost a seventh-round pick.
The Bengals reportedly tried to do more. They didn’t do as much as Pittsburgh or Baltimore, and I could wallow in that, or I could appreciate they did something and made the day more interesting. Which sounds better?
How do you choose to look at the Bengals?
* * *
@Thebookerman: “Aren’t we historically bad on the road in division on Thursday night football? I expect to lose. You don’t bet against the trend. I’d love to win and certainly hope we do, but I absolutely expect the trend to continue.”
@JNJournalist: “Another trend is Joe winning in November.”
@Thebookerman: “You’re not wrong. And if we’re on the road to either Steelers or Browns I’d maybe lean that way. But stacking up Joe winning in November [with a better roster] against previous performance on short week road game in division [with a better team] … on top of the Ravens rn? Nope.”
@JNJournalist: “I respect that. But… agree to disagree. 😉”
@Thebookerman: “Holy crap, is this a cordial exchange of opinion on Twitter? 😱 We have peaked. 🤝”
* * *
The coach and the journalist in me loved that exchange.
One team, two views, no venom.
I am feeling better already.
I am trying to look at the Bengals in a way that serves me.
I am trying to appreciate the Bengals’ easy win over the Raiders. After a season-opening loss to New England, and a scramble back from 0-3 and 1-4, every win is welcome. And this one gives more pop to Bengals-Ravens.
“One down, one to go and we back in this thing,” @JeffATrennepohl wrote, “Who Dey for life!!!!”
Is that what you expect?
@TylerMeinerding posted a “Mighty Ducks” GIF that included the words, “WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN!”
I am not saying I expect it, but I am enjoying thinking about it, and now I am looking forward to seeing it.
I needed this.
And now, back to the election.