Another "Almost" For Auburn

They say football is a game of inches. Most associate that saying with yardage, the ground that the offense gains or the defense defends.

But there are countless other aspects of a football game that are decided by mere inches.

The difference between a Hail Mary being knocked to the ground or slipping into the waiting arms of a receiver is a few inches. The difference between a defensive end knocking the ball out of a quarterback's hand or not is less than half a foot.

An inch or two decides whether Daniel Carlson's game-tying kick floats harmlessly through the uprights or cruelly bounces off of them with a resounding clang.

Three inches. These are what ultimately ended Auburn's 2014 campaign in disappointment. They separated a strong finish from a numbing loss.

With a chance to send the Outback Bowl into a second overtime, Auburn's freshman kicker pulled the kick just too far to the right.

Auburn 31, Wisconsin 34. For the fourth time in five games, the Tigers suffered a defeat they could just as easily have spared themselves of.

The last month and a half, Auburn hasn't been able to topple anyone not named Samford, the reasons for which were never more evident than in the game against Wisconsin.

Against Melvin Gordon, the nation's leading rusher, the Tigers defense once again was about as useful as paperweights on the field. The Badgers rolled up 400 rushing yards, running up, over, around, and through a battered and bruised Auburn defense on their way to a record-setting game.

Late in the game, the defense could not get the Wisconsin offense off the field, capping a less than satisfactory day despite a good outing from the offense.

The Auburn offense put up 435 yards of total offense, led by 217 yards and two touchdowns by Nick Marshall, and 126 yards and two touchdowns from Cameron Artis-Payne. Both seniors turned in strong performances in their last games wearing orange and blue; sadly, their efforts were in vain.

As per usual in the second half of what started as a promising season, Auburn couldn't finish.

Even after answering Wisconsin's first touchdown with 14 points of their own to take a 14-7 lead into the half, Auburn couldn't finish. Even after putting up a touchdown to take the lead with three minutes to go, Auburn couldn't finish.

Even after forcing three interceptions, all in Tiger territory, Auburn couldn't finish. Even behind yet another balanced offensive performance, Auburn couldn't finish.

Even with all of their grit and talent, Auburn just couldn't come up with the plays they needed at the end.

It was extremely frustrating for everyone involved. Of course the feelings of the players and coaches can't be spoken for, but through the TV, their frustration seemed evident.

It was frustrating that throughout the whole game, the defense couldn't tackle anyone. It was frustrating that the offense fell completely flat in overtime. It was frustrating that Carlson missed two field goals.

And just like every other game Auburn has played this season, they had ample opportunity to come away with a win.

Just like all of Auburn's losses this season, this one stings.

It's one thing to never feel like you belong in a game. It's one thing to be blown out in big games, maybe even the ones you were supposed to win.

It's something else entirely to lose a game you should have won at the last second by self-inflicted sounds. To sink your own ship by blowing holes in it rather than your opponent's.

Penalties, horrendous tackling, and poor pass blocking were the cannon balls that sunk Auburn's ship. And even an offense as prolific as Gus Malzahn's couldn't keep them afloat.

Auburn stayed above water until the last second, a moment they used to thrive in, when one final mistake finally did them in.

The Outback Bowl loss was the culmination of all of the self-inflicted adversity the Tigers had experienced this season, so it was only natural that they would lose in the most painful way possible.

Daniel Carlson, a fairly reliable kicker (for a freshman), was lined up and ready to extend the game and give Auburn a chance to win a game it had every right winning.

But as Auburn learned the hard way, your mistakes always catch up with you.

Don't be deceived, Auburn was more than capable of winning. I might even argue that Auburn is the better team.

But just as they've done all season, they've killed themselves late with foolish, mind-numbing mistakes. Mistakes that could be so easily avoided.

In many ways, Auburn played like they deserved to win the game. But in just as many ways, particularly on defense and special teams, they played like they didn't.

Those moments they didn't deserve to win were the ones that shone out in the game's critical moments.

Inches. Inches are all that separated Auburn from victory and defeat. And it's sad to see the Tigers in those positions when they could just as easily be miles ahead of the rest.

It's as true as it's been all year, Auburn was as good as they would allow themselves to be.

Against Wisconsin, Auburn allowed themselves to be the lesser team in the end.

But they should have been better.