If you weren't a fan of either team; if you didn't care who won (or if you were a Maryland fan), yesterday's football game against Maryland was a great game. It was a classic matchup between two evenly-matched teams. Neither team was the best in the country. They both wanted to win badly. Maryland won.

As the game entered its final minutes, it was clear that this was going to be a game to be remembered. By the winning team.

So we lost, and here we are at 4-5, needing to win at home against Duke and on the road against Virginia Tech.

How is it that we kept getting beat deep? Maryland exploited the injury to Jacoby Watkins, and simply went over the top. Those touchdowns came out of nowhere.

Good thing - pass protection. I don't remember the Heels giving up a sack.

Bad thing - run protection. Hardly any yards on the ground (maybe in the high 60s by the running backs).

Good thing - the pass rush

Bad thing - the secondary

Last year, the Tar Heels needed to win 3 out of 4 to get to a bowl. They won at home against Miami, lost a close one to Virginia Tech, and beat Wake and Duke on the road.
This year, the Heels needed to do the same thing. They won at home against BC, lost a close one at home to Maryland, and now have Duke and Virginia Tech.
Last year, they got to 6-5 improbably.
This year, the same feat would be even more improbable.