This year wasn’t about finding my voice.

It was about using it without apology.

Raw Reflections became a place where I stopped translating my thoughts into something easier to accept and started writing with clarity—about trauma, power, culture, accountability, and the systems that rely on silence to survive.

The posts collected here aren’t the most comfortable or the most shareable. They’re the ones that mattered. The ones that shaped the direction of this blog, challenged readers (and me), and defined what this space became over the course of the year.

This isn’t a recap.

It’s a record of what I chose not to soften.

Week 15 offered no grace. Baltimore delivered a season-ending shutout in Cincinnati. Josh Allen erased a 21-point deficit to keep Buffalo alive. Dallas watched its playoff hopes fade at home against an eliminated team. And as if the chaos needed one more twist, Patrick Mahomes’ torn ACL reshaped the AFC overnight. December football doesn’t reward potential—it exposes who’s built to survive when the margin disappears.

Indiana football spent decades in the Big Ten cellar—until Curt Cignetti reset the program’s standards and rewrote its future. What followed was one of the fastest and most improbable turnarounds in modern college football.

In just one month, this relationship has taught me more about love, safety, and emotional growth than years of dating ever did. From a late-night FaceTime call to becoming inseparable, this is the story of how someone unexpected turned my guarded heart into something grounded.

Week 14 delivered pure chaos from start to finish—quarterback injuries, blown leads, shocking upsets, and multiple division races tightening by the minute. The Bills erased a double-digit deficit to stun Cincinnati. The Vikings shut out Washington as Jayden Daniels and Zach Ertz both exited with injuries. Jacksonville took control of the AFC South behind a dominant Trevor Lawrence performance after Daniel Jones went down early. The Steelers outlasted Baltimore in another classic AFC North slugfest. And in the biggest surprise of the day, the 2–10 Saints walked into Tampa Bay and punched the Buccaneers straight out of rhythm for a stunning 24–20 upset.

This week wasn’t clean—it was unpredictable, wild, and season-altering. Exactly how December football should be.

The Cincinnati Bengals walked into M&T Bank Stadium on Thanksgiving night and delivered their most complete game of the season. Joe Burrow’s return from turf toe steadied the offense, but the real shock came from Cincinnati’s defense, which forced five turnovers in a commanding 32–14 win over the Baltimore Ravens. After weeks of spiraling, the Bengals finally looked alive again—and they cooked a division rival to prove it.

Cincinnati didn’t just lose in Pittsburgh—they unraveled. What was supposed to be a statement game turned into a 34–12 beatdown that exposed every flaw the Bengals have been trying to outrun. From Aaron Rodgers’ injury to Mason Rudolph’s unexpected heroics to a meltdown between Jalen Ramsey and Ja’Marr Chase, this one had everything… except a Bengals response.

Week 10 flipped the script on everything we thought we knew.

Miami broke free, the Jets won a game they had no business winning, Caleb Williams found his clutch gene in the snow, and Baltimore reminded everyone why they can never be counted out. It wasn’t a week of perfection—it was a week of grit, chaos, and the kind of football that exposes who’s real and who’s not.

This war isn’t new—it’s just louder. Gaza didn’t start burning on October 7; it’s been suffocating for decades under occupation, siege, and silence. What Israel calls self-defense has become starvation and erasure. What the world calls “complex” is actually clear—no child should starve for someone else’s sense of security.

The Broncos won ugly—again. A 10-7 grind-out over the Raiders pushes Denver to 8-2 and extends their streak to seven straight. The defense keeps carrying, the offense keeps limping, but the result stays the same: another win.

Week 9 was a movie—equal parts chaos, control, and comeback energy.

The Bears stole one from the Bengals in a wild finish, Sam Darnold found perfection while Jayden Daniels fought heartbreak, and Josh Allen finally conquered Mahomes in a rivalry that refuses to be boring. The Colts imploded, the Lions lost their rhythm, and the Vikings reminded everyone that belief still beats reputation.

This week wasn’t just about football—it was about foundation. About who holds steady when everything shakes.

Lamarvelous returned—and so did Baltimore’s fire. After weeks of frustration, the Ravens finally looked like themselves again, grounding the Dolphins in a 28–6 statement win that felt bigger than the scoreboard. It was redemption in real time—a quarterback rediscovering his rhythm, a team reclaiming its identity, and a fan base finally breathing again.

From the Bengals’ emotional implosion to Tyler Huntley’s quiet takeover and Miami’s fiery redemption, this week reminded us that the NFL never runs out of drama. Trinity Barnette breaks down the biggest games—with attitude, emotion, and a few well-deserved rants.

Monday Night Football brought clarity and chaos. The Lions dismantled the Buccaneers 24-9 behind a monster night from Jahmyr Gibbs, while the Seahawks outlasted the Texans 27-19 thanks to disciplined play and defensive pressure. It was a statement night for both winners—and a wake-up call for everyone else.

Week 7 was pure chaos. Blown leads, shocking upsets, and a few miracle finishes turned Sunday into a disaster reel for my picks. From the Giants’ one-point heartbreak to the Vikings’ collapse, the Dolphins’ betrayal, and the Chiefs’ domination, this week tested every ounce of patience I have as a football fan. Thank God the Ravens had a bye week—because they clearly need the break.

Joe Flacco turned back the clock, the Bengals ended a four-game losing streak, and Cincinnati finally reminded the AFC North who runs it. A 33–31 win over Pittsburgh wasn’t just a victory—it was a statement. The Bengals beat the division leader, snapped their slump, and might’ve just started a winning streak.

Two games. Two upsets. One unhinged Monday night.

The Falcons embarrassed the Bills under the lights, and Caleb Williams led a last-second drive that stunned Washington. Injuries, comebacks, and chaos ruled the night — because apparently, the NFL thinks we all needed a double dose of drama.

We’re calling it what it was: Monday Night Mayhem.

Week 6 was pure madness—from the Ravens’ collapse to Daniel Jones’ redemption and yet another Bengals heartbreak. The Chiefs reminded us why Arrowhead is sacred ground, while the Panthers proved clutch isn’t dead. Injuries, upsets, and chaos defined this week—and trust me, we’re not done yet.

We’ll be back tonight for Monday Night Football, covering Bills vs. Falcons and Commanders vs. Bears, because apparently the NFL decided one meltdown per night wasn’t enough.

I grew up in chaos—violence, fear, and survival. But this month, I’m telling my story not as a victim, but as someone who finally understands what it means to break the cycle. Domestic violence doesn’t just hurt your body—it rewires your brain. I lived it, survived it, and turned it into purpose. This is my story, and my reminder that healing is possible—even after hell.

Week 5 tested my patience, my loyalty, and my blood pressure. The Ravens got stomped, the Bengals embarrassed me again, and I’m officially at my breaking point. I’ve spent five weeks defending the AFC North—now I’m just defending my sanity.