Facts vs. Feelings: Week 1 surprises you can trust in Week 2 (and those you can't)

"Have you ever received a piece of news that stole the air from your lungs and made your joints give? Something that shook your perspective as though it was a kid's kaleidoscope, creating a completely new arrangement of events and subsequent outcomes. A development or scrap of information that not only forced you to a revised conclusion but also made you question how you had ever arrived at the prior destination in the first place?"

"For me, I become a junior detective, attempting to tease out an accurate timeline or uncover a previously hidden clue. So that the bewilderment of having been blindsided can be replaced by the thrill of putting together a puzzle. Maybe that's why I dig true crime. Because there's something satisfying about solving a mystery ... even if it doesn't erase the initial gut punch or unexpected ending."

"And it doesn't have to be a giant revelation. I'm not necessarily referencing the discovery of a secret half-sibling or a death bed confession detailing a torrid affair. Though those are some loaded curve balls. Truthfully, though, something as simple as ... an unexpectedly crowded backfield in Seattle or a three-time Pro Bowl receiver drawing a single look versus a division rival in an island game, can be enough to blow the wind out of one's proverbial sails."

"What can we do to prevent ourselves from being so taken aback if it happens again? After all, it will happen again. And we will forgive and, ultimately, remain gleeful volunteers, registering for another 17 weeks of virtual duty regardless. I think the answer is in reviewing the facts and checking our feelings. Miscalculations are human occurrences. Even the robots struggle to pro"

Unexpected news can abruptly upend assumptions and force a re-evaluation of events and outcomes. People often respond by reconstructing timelines and searching for overlooked clues to replace bewilderment with the satisfaction of solving a puzzle. Small surprises, such as unforeseen fantasy football depth charts or unexpected game usage, can produce the same visceral reaction as major personal revelations. Preparation for future shocks involves reviewing objective facts and examining emotions to reduce repeated blindsiding. Accepting that miscalculations are part of human decision-making helps mitigate the sting and encourages returning to the activity with renewed perspective.

Read at ESPN.com