Editor’s note: Rookie cornerback Domonique Foxworth, whom the Broncos drafted in the third round this year, will share his thoughts and experiences with readers in a weekly journal throughout the season. Foxworth was a three-year starter at Maryland, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies and graduated in 3 1/2 years.
My first NFL regular-season game is rapidly approaching. I already have played in four preseason games, so this game is no different. It’s just the next one. At least that is what I have been trying to convince myself in order to temper my anxiousness.
I have had little success taming my excitement, even though I know there are no concrete differences among the four games I have played and the one I’m preparing for Sunday in Miami. The rules are the same, as is the game’s length. The dimensions of the field will remain the same, and each team will have four downs to gain 10 yards.
So what’s the big deal? Why does this week feel so different? There is only one change: The stakes are much higher. And I can only imagine the excitement that surrounds postseason games.
I liken the hierarchy of NFL games to tightrope walking. In the preseason, we practice our techniques and hone our skills on a rope 3 feet off the ground. If we make a mistake, we can just hop back on and keep practicing. During the regular season, the rope is raised to a height that is more dangerous. A mistake at this level could render an injury, but we still climb back up to the rope and continue the walk. In the postseason, the rope is raised to its maximum height. If there is a misstep at this height, there is no climbing back up.
Our preseason went well because each player did his part to keep the team balanced on the rope. When individual players made mistakes, the rest of the team compensated. But the true test for our team is to perform the same walk starting Sunday, when the rope is raised and the stakes are higher.
