Just got to bite the pill

Cale Makar, an NHL player on the Colorado Avalanche, was talking about his play against the Kraken:

“Looking back on it, obviously I never want to put myself in a position like that. That one’s on me. At the end of the day, just got to bite the pill.”

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/makar-avalanche-return-to-face-kraken-for-1st-time-since-fiery-playoff-series/

This is a great confluent conflation of “bite the bullet” and “bitter pill to swallow”, both meaning to do something unpleasant because it is necessary. “Bite” and “swallow” are closely associated, probably producing this mental mixup. Props to Andy Jacobs for catching this one and passing it on.