Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Mack Hollins is one of the players on the current roster that has some championship pedigree as a member of a Super Bowl-winning squad. Having gone all the way as a part of a team that won the whole thing, Hollins brings a different perspective on things. He sees the big picture, or at least that’s what it sounded like when he spoke to the press via video conference recently.
Raiders WR Mack Hollins is in it for the long haul after an 0-2 start
“I’ve been fortunate enough to win a Super Bowl and know how it feels to make it to the end. And kind of know a glimpse of what it might feel like to lose that. So, for us to have more opportunities if you’re trying to find the good in it, we have more opportunities to play. This wasn’t a playoff game. This wasn’t a Super Bowl where that opportunity is done, you don’t have a way to correct it. We’re at least fortunate to have that,” said Hollins. When you read into what Hollins was trying to put forth with this statement, the more it makes sense. Yes, it was a crushing loss on Sunday but it’s only two games into a very long season.
When you look back at the film, there was a bevy of missed opportunities. The same thing could be said about Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers as well. If fans will recall last season, the team was considered dead in the water, only to string together a few wins and punch their way into the playoffs. An 0-2 start is less than desirable, but when you’ve won the whole thing (as Hollins has), you understand that the season isn’t defined by a pair of losses.
It’s onto Tennessee
It’s rather a cliche to say these days, but it holds true for these Raiders; it’s onto next week. At the same time, it’s not about simply forgetting about your failure. No, rather, you take it in, examine it, learn from it, and make the most of the following game. In fact, Hollins echoed that same sentiment, “By no means would I ever say that I’ll take a loss just because we have another game next week. That’s ridiculous. You want to win every game. But if I’m trying to find the good in it, it would be that at least we have another opportunity to go out there as a team and put up something better on tape.”
Hollins is certainly the voice of reason in a time like this. It’s a voice that’s been there, done that. Fans, social media, and analysts will tell you that the world is ending following Week 2’s collapse. However, you have someone in that locker room telling you that this loss will be used as a learning experience. Sure, it’ll provide some motivation too, but in the end, it’s onto Tennessee.
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*Top Photo: Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal