Coming into this weekend my team was flying high on the adrenaline ride that is an undefeated season. It was 8 pm and I headed to the club for my Friday night novice league curling game.

The season had begun promisingly with a three game winning streak and just a week earlier we had pasted a team 12-0 in six ends without ever having the hammer. Yes, tonight was another test and we were ready to take on all comers, no matter how slick or glamorous. 

Maybe we were cocky. Overly so, even for a recreational curling outfit. Usually stealing 12 is a mighty feat, however, the lead for that team had fallen on her face on every single throw so maybe we overestimated the quality of our own play. 

Hit with a four-ender in the first, our team was shocked with the spectre of a foe who could bite back. 

Indeed, we met our match on sheet 3 that warm autumn night. The rocks didn’t curl just so, the brooms didn’t seem to have the same effect. We lost our bearings a bit and, despite throwing their share of hogged rocks and missed houses, we couldn’t take advantage when it mattered. Though Leslie did just fine in a losing cause, our luck with the club waitresses was less than ideal. Those gals want winners with a capital L.

Which brings us to the Monday night game, a clash of division rivals (despite the recent 10-1 Seattle run) with excellent records – one was even unblemished, in case you hadn’t heard – playing in prime time. The game very nearly mirrored my own game on Friday, only lacking the phones that go directly to the bar from the playing surface. Something to remedy in the newer stadia, if that crowd in the league office had a clue what they were doing. 

The difference, perhaps, was in the entertainment value. Which, for the Monday nighter, was exceptionally high. A defensive battle, to be sure, with seven turnovers between the competitors and several more that could have been if most defensive backs didn’t have hands like roast hams.

A huge game by Clowney really made the difference and he was Seattle’s best player on the night. His five tackles, one sack, five QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a touchdown only told part of the tale as he was abusing the newly-returned tackles for the 49ers and was right in Garoppolo’s kitchen all night long, turning him into a panicked schoolchild from Dazed and Confused late in the game.

New guys Gordon and Diggs also played well. Diggs with some nice hits in the open field and a long interception return, Gordon with two catches for third down conversions.

Deebo Samuel played the best game of his career, picking up 112 yards on eight catches and seemingly channeling a young Steve Smith all night. I haven’t seen him play much at all so maybe that’s normal but it sure bodes well for him and the Niners.

Eventually, the game came down to who had Russell Wilson, as usual. And while Jimmy was jitterbugging and neck-snapping his way through a series of bad decisions under pressure, Russ (after throwing a pick that I thought was going to be the end of it and two (!) punts between the teams) went down and get his team in position for a Jason Myers redemption kick to win it at the end of OT. Impressive play yet again and definitely worthy of an MVP trophy at the end of the year.

I hope many of you got to see that game as it was one of the best of the year.

Thursday I watched the Raiders beat the Chargers, of course, because the Chargers will always hurt you as soon as you believe in them. I believe in Gruden. I liked playing for coaches like him. They were perfectionists and annoying sometimes but they respect tough and fearless play and they could see it, too. You didn’t have to worry about getting chewed out in film as long as you played hard and aggressive. Then they’d have your back. Those coaches win because their players would rather risk their bodies selling out than disappoint them. 

And Sunday I dedicated to some pretty damn good CFL playoff action. If you get a chance, make sure you watch those West and East finals next week. There’s nothing like playoff football to get the blood boiling when the temperature gets low. I’ll leave that to the Beat, though.

Enjoy the short week and keep your broom on the ice.