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The next time went by faster than expected, which was also due to the fact that a kind of everyday life crept in for Elle. The Bengals won their two games against the Steelers and the Jaguars and Elle's panic decreased over time, which was partly due to her very regular conversations with Nick. After talking to him, she usually felt really good again, drawing new strength.

The fact that Joe now had a private chef made evenings even more relaxing for the two of them. Although Elle had always enjoyed cooking with Joe and also missed it a bit, it was simply a luxury to go to the gym after work and then usually just warm up dinner.

She was now back in very good shape and almost at the level of fitness she was at before training camp, which was probably due to the fact that she was following an NFL diet in the evenings after all.

By now it was normal for them to stay at each other's houses every night, depending on who they had just spent the evening at, and although they hadn't really talked about it, they had actually become a typical couple.

They got up together, even if Elle always had to go to the facility earlier than Joe, which was no problem, because they drove with two cars anyway, since still no one knew it except Nick and Ja'Marr from the organization, ate breakfast, whereby Joe always ate his specially prepared food, while Elle was usually satisfied with an apple or porridge and then it was already time for Elle to go.

In the last week, it had even become a habit for Joe not to leave her apartment at the same time as her, but to just stay in her apartment until it was time for him to leave. He would lock the apartment door and bring the key back to Elle at some "coincidental" meeting where they usually decided at whose place they would spend the evening.

Elle just enjoyed not being alone in the morning. She liked having Joe around all the time and even though they were alone together so often, they always found topics to talk about. While they didn't always agree, even discussing things with Joe was fun.

Sunday's Week 5 game against the Packers at home felt like it had been cursed for Joe. Although Chiddo managed to intercept a throw from Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter and they took the lead one drive later with a touchdown from Samaje, the Packers caught up to 6-7 in the final drive as they missed the field goal.

In the second quarter Joe was pretty knocked down and had to be checked for a concussion during the Packers drive just to be on the safe side after two Packers defense players took him down at once and he came up pretty hard with his head first. But everything seemed to be ok and his knee was not damaged by the collision with the helmet of the opponent, so he could continue.

In that drive, however, the Packers took the lead for the first time with a field goal and scored their second touchdown in their next drive. This time the field goal sat as well, extending their lead to 16-7.

The Bengals answered in a short drive of 31 seconds and two plays with a touchdown by Ja'Marr for 70 yards, after an outstanding pass by Joe. But they still trailed by two points, making the halftime score 16-14.

Joe's first drive of the third quarter ended with an interception after just three plays and a minute and a half. The Packers got the ball and converted the field goal to make the score 19-14.

The Bengals had no answer this time and had to punt the ball back to the Packers after a scoreless drive, which brought the ensuing drive back to a field goal.

Trailing 22-14, the Bengals entered the final quarter, but on the very first drive, 13 plays in nearly 8 minutes, Joe Mixon scored the touchdown and Tee evened the score with the two-point conversion.

Then things really got going. After the Packers missed the lead on the ensuing drive with a missed field goal, the Bengals had a chance to take the lead for the first time since their first touchdown, but Evan also missed his 57 yard field goal attempt.

So the Packers regained possession with just 21 seconds on the clock and decided to kick a field goal from 51 yards. If they scored, the game would have been over and the Bengals would have lost, but as mentioned before, somehow there was a curse on this game, because this field goal was also missed.

It went into overtime, the Bengals had a chance to win, but Joe's first throw ended up as an interception after only 13 seconds.

That should have been it, right? Joe was pissed. Two interceptions and so much bad luck, the loss would definitely be partly his fault. But again the curse seemed to strike, as the Packers were also unable to convert the ensuing field goal.

Joe had another chance to lead his team to victory. They got down to the Packers' 49 yard and Evan got another chance at the field goal for the win.

The kick didn't look bad at all, Evan and the rest of the special teams cheered, but again it just seemed to be cursed, as the ball didn't go through the posts, but grazed the flag hanging on the outside of the left goal post. The game wasn't over yet.

The Packers got the ball, also made it to the 49 yard. Joe realized that hope hadn't quite died in him yet, as many field goals as missed today, why would this one go in now of all times?

Unfortunately, the Packers' kicker had apparently adjusted to the conditions of the environment by now, or maybe the wind that had manipulated the other field goals wasn't blowing right now, because this time the ball was sitting. The Packers had won the game.

Joe's mood was down. Sure, you could lose to the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, there was no shame in that, but such a close loss, where in the end the wind conditions had mattered more than the game itself, was bitter and very annoying.

He gave the Packers players a friendly high-five, exchanged a few words with Aaron Rodgers, and looked around the field to see if he could spot Elle anywhere. But apparently she had already gone inside, because only Michael, Roberto and Paul were still standing in the AT area, dismantling equipment.

Sighing, he went into the locker room. After Zac gave his routine postgame speech, Joe stripped out of his uniform with the help of C.J. and went to shower first. He noticed the adrenaline of the game starting to wear off. His head was pounding, his limbs ached, and every little wound burned as the water ran over his body.

Thanks for 46k reads, 1.36k likes and again #1 on the NFL, burrow, nfc and Super Bowl rankings. It's so unbelievable!!!

Question for today is more an thing for future chapters. How do you like it when im trying to summarize the games the way I did in this chapter? Im thinking about doing it more often for important games like the two matches against the Chiefs and ofc the Super Bowl but only if it's ok and you're liking it.

Comment your opinion and leave a like!

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