HomecolumnThanks For The Fumble, Dreessen!

Thanks For The Fumble, Dreessen!

Editor’s Remark: Past Sunday, the Buffalo Bills witnessed a pivotal moment as running back Bryce Brown fell victim to a fumble just inches away from crossing the goal line during the crucial second-half clash against the Kansas City Chiefs, leading to a touchback.

The ramifications of those squandered points cast a long shadow, ultimately contributing to the Bills’ ultimate defeat, with a final score of 17-13.

Brown’s unfortunate mishap isn’t an isolated incident in the annals of the NFL.

Countless times, professional players have found themselves in situations where their untimely mistakes have turned the tide against their team.

The memory of former NFL tight end Joel Dreessen comes to mind as he recalls his narrative of grappling with the anguish of a game-changing blunder…

AP Image. Buffalo Bills running back Bryce Brown fumbles near the goal line in his team’s 17-13 loss to Kansas City on Sunday.

“When the game hangs in the balance, one’s performance must be flawless!”

Head Coach Gary Kubiak locked eyes with the Houston Texans team in the visitor’s locker room at EverBank Field moments after their heart-wrenching 31-24 defeat against the Jaguars in November 2010.

The devastating loss could be attributed, in part, to the pair of costly errors the player had committed during the two-minute drill at the end of regulation.

Out of the 120 regular season contests in which the player participated throughout their career, this game still stirs profound emotions of regret, responsibility, and humiliation.

The match stood tied at 24, with just 1:34 left on the clock. A mere 37 yards separated them from the opportunity to attempt a game-deciding field goal.

NFL teams across the nation routinely practiced this exact scenario during their Friday drills, with the upper hand resting with the offense.

This occasion was no exception.

In four plays, quarterback Matt Schaub orchestrated a remarkable offensive drive to advance to the Jaguars’ 40-yard line, halting the clock at 22 seconds with a spike.

The subsequent offensive play seemed perfect: a swift delivery to Kevin Walter on a slant route, as he surpassed the 30-yard line benchmark, positioning the team well within kicker Neil Rackers’ field goal range for the potential game-winner.

But alas, a penalty flag interrupted the proceedings!

While stationed in a three-point stance during Walter’s play, a slight twitch occurred.

The raucous crowd’s noise prompted an inadvertent movement during their silent cadence. Unaware that the referee had taken notice, the player continued their route, confident that such minor actions had gone unnoticed in the past.

Their confidence proved unfounded.

A five-yard penalty ensued, erasing the play that had taken them to field goal range. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

However, no time remained for self-pity; with 22 seconds left and no timeouts, the task grew more challenging.

The subsequent play was incomplete, halting the clock at 16 seconds. With a final chance to gain the necessary yardage and get out of bounds, the play’s call was “Y option.”

The player’s heart raced, fully aware of their role as the primary target.

They outmaneuvered the defender covering them and found themselves wide open.

Schaub delivered a pass they could run with, but in their haste to sprint to the sideline, they failed to secure the ball as they typically would. A defender’s swipe at their elbow sent the ball tumbling to the ground.

Jacksonville recovered the fumble. An annoying turn of events!

AP Image

Kneeling on the turf, the player’s gaze remained fixed on the ground. In the crucible of crunch time, they had committed a cardinal sin for a ball carrier.

As they walked toward their team’s bench, a sea of 62,340 jubilant fans reveled in their misfortune, and they kept their head bowed.

They harbored no illusions of being met with comforting words or glances from teammates or coaches, nor did they expect any.

As they made their way to the bench, anger and determination washed over them.

The belief that they could still play a pivotal role in securing an overtime victory ignited within them. Recollections of Gary Kubiak’s cliche-filled wisdom echoed in their mind:

“You gotta have thick skin to last in this business.”
“Tough times don’t last; tough people do.”
“Keep working hard, and good things will happen.”

In a mere eight seconds, they remained in regulation. All they needed was one more chance to atone for the penalty and fumble. They were determined to seize it.

However, the joke was on them once more. The 2010 Houston Texans boasted the ignominious distinction of having the worst pass defense in NFL history.

After allowing an 11-yard completion and committing an offside penalty, they were undone by a 50-yard Hail Mary pass.

The Jaguars emerged victorious, and in the player’s mind, they bore the weight of the entire loss.

Seated on the bench, they watched as the two teams convened at midfield for the customary handshakes.

The fans in the stands behind them didn’t hold back their taunts:

“Thanks for the fumble, Dreessen!”
“Take your ass back to Houston!”
After Coach Kubiak’s post-game address, the players moved through the motions in slow motion, removing their gear, taking a sad shower, and donning their suits, all while hoping to awaken from the nightmarish reality they found themselves in.

The media descended, forcing them to relive the painful moments once more. They bore the weight of their performance and unflinchingly admitted that they had lost the game due to their penalty and fumble in the two-minute drill. They believed they were the sole reason.

On the plane ride home, their self-pity reached its zenith. As they boarded the plane, they couldn’t help but feel the intense collective scrutiny from teammates, coaches, and support staff, as if their gaze bore into their souls, silently cursing them.

Collapsing into the window seat, they pressed their forehead against the glass and shed a few tears.

While the players understood that games were not won or lost by a single play or player, they had never experienced a situation where their mistakes were so glaring and magnified at the game’s conclusion.

They felt the weight of letting down everyone on that plane, negating every practice rep and hour spent in meetings by failing to secure the football.

Coaches, who pored over hours of film and crafted a meticulous game plan, seemed to have their efforts in vain because of a false start penalty.

The general manager and scouting department that had chosen them likely questioned the wisdom of their decision. The entire city of Houston, along with every Texans fan, associated their play with the negative outcome.

The player was genuinely hurting.

Their anguish was exacerbated by the stark reality of their team’s downward spiral.

Despite starting the season 4-2, the loss to the Jaguars marked their third consecutive defeat, dragging their record down to 4-5 and squandering games that had seemed impossible to lose.

Not a single teammate or coach looked at or spoke to me. Nor did I expect them to.

The recurring theme was the tendency to find ways to lose rather than ways to win when the game hung in the balance. Season after season, Gary Kubiak found himself fielding inquiries about his job security and the perpetual state of mediocrity that seemed to envelop his teams.

What stung the most was the realization that their performance in this game would only add fuel to the ongoing scrutiny.

They harbored a deep love for the game of football and wished nothing but success for all those who had played a role in helping them live out their dream.

A few prayers and sage advice from teammates who had traversed this path before gradually lifted their spirits during the flight back to Houston.

Monday mornings were never enjoyable after a loss, but this one felt particularly grim. A sleepless night and the front-page sports section of the Houston Chronicle, featuring an image of their fumble, made it incredibly “special.”

The team meeting on Monday proved to be grueling. Coach Kubiak conducted a thorough review, showcasing a reel of 20 pivotal plays from the game.

He meticulously highlighted minor details, missed assignments, and a lack of effort by various players, all contributing to the ultimately disappointing outcome.

Their false start penalty was inevitably featured on the reel, and as the coach discussed it, they felt their cheeks flush with embarrassment.

They knew that their fellow teammates likely shared in their sentiments, but the timing of their errors intensified their humiliation.

In true Kubiak fashion, he wrapped up the meeting with a compassionate tone, acknowledging that they all exposed themselves to judgment week after week. However, he also issued a challenge—to aspire to a higher standard and reach for greatness.

This deepened their regret over their mistakes while fueling their determination to prepare and perform at a higher level.

People had suggested that they were too hard on themselves in this situation, reminding them that football was merely a game—a form of entertainment.

It couldn’t be compared to the gravity of war or the devastating impact of cancer.

Yet, it did matter.

It mattered because it fostered relationships grounded in an exceptionally high standard of accountability.

The National Football League was the pinnacle of competitive sports and business worldwide.

Individuals invested extraordinary effort and staked their livelihoods on the line each week. Through these experiences, they learned firsthand that playing one’s part was pivotal to a group’s and a team’s success.

The enduring lesson in accountability would remain with them for a lifetime.

Anna
Anna
A dedicated individual currently in fourth year of pursuing a BBA degree. Love to spend my free time painting, drawing, and reading books.
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