05-03-2023, 04:30 PM
My only thought about this is that the environment is slightly more conducive to success. Last year they were defending AFC Champs. Skeptics wondered if they were a one-hit wonder, etc. That's pressure you have to learn to deal with and it isn't always welcome. This year, it's understood that they're a contender. They don't have to measure up to last year so much as reach a new level. They're looking forward instead of being anchored to questions about the past. I don't know if it was ever a problem but they're less distracted now. That's invigorating. I'm excited to see where it leads.
