The Big Loser Energy of the Also Rans

by John Kincade

The social media generation has created a lot of cultural phenomenon moments, from stupid dances, viral rant videos and candid moments people just felt they needed to share. Sometimes it’s like watching Americas Funniest Home Videos with the subjects actually trying to get noticed. Let me see what I can do that is so dumb I’ll get noticed. Unfortunately the age of Twitter brought the birth of the “hot take” media. Quality content and adult debate and conversation instead has evolved into oddly childish exchanges. If people buy it and seek it out then that says more about them than it does the content producer.

The Eagles lost the Super Bowl. Oh yeah, they lost it. They had the game under control, let it slip away, bounced back and let it get away from them once again. It was a very entertaining watch, except for the car crash finish. Chiefs fans are going to always have that golden moment in their back pocket should they interact with any Eagles fan. Deservedly so. Their team earned it and my team didn’t. What is odd is when teams fan bases with absolutely zero pedigree try to dance as if they won something by another team losing. It’s odd to me.

I have a rule that I’ve always tried to live by. If my team wasn’t good enough to compete on the highest stages, I try to sit out any spiking the football when another team loses. Regular seasons? Completely fair game, unless the opposing team or fan base kicked the backside of my team that year and said “you go sit down”. It seems logical. I also don’t believe in History Channel sports fandom. Recent success and moments are worthy of chest thumping, but if you have to go back decades to brag it’s better to just stay away from those conversations.

I see social media from the “Forty Whiners” media outlets still somehow clinging to a belief after a 31-7 ass whooping that they would have somehow won the NFC Title Game if Brock Purdy was not knocked out of the game. Yes, that Purdy. The 3rd string rookie 7th round puck who despite being very impressive was only playing because the 49ers had already so poorly defended their QB’s that the first 2 options were out injured. Then the 4th strong QB got knocked out too. A porous offensive line got dominated all day long but 49ers fans start celebrating after 2 weeks of crying in delusion after an Eagles loss. You got beaten, you couldn’t even compete. I’m glad you found the energy to celebrate something I guess.

I saw Dallas Cowboys fans dancing on the Eagles grave. Yep, those Cowboys fans. The ones that haven’t seen an NFC Title Game in 28 years! I saw Falcons fans, who unlike the Cowboys don’t even have VHS tapes to remember when they were good, celebrating as if they have hand in this conversation.

I love sports fandom and rivalries. I spike the football EVERY time I have the advantage. When my team sucks, I choose to sit out the piling on. The big loser energy fan bases may very well be a contributor to their own demise. Instead of holding their teams responsible and demanding better, they choose to focus on celebrating Super Bowl losses of the actual achievers. Having seen some of these fan bases up close and personal, I still never grasp it. I’d rather focus on holding my underachieving team accountable than look at someone else who is having great success stumble. That’s just me. Then again, I’m not “compensating” for anything.

Thanks for the TED Talk. Now back to the local public scourging of Jonathan Gannon 😆

It sucked. There is no other way to put it. The Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in a late LATE field goal which forced the Eagles to try a desperation heave. While the team led 24-14 at the half, the team choked in the second half and finished with a final score of 38-35. So lets talk about SOME of the reasons why the Eagles lost.

Issac Seumalo had a BRUTAL series in the first quarter where he blew coverage, looked lost, and capped it off with a costly false start on 3rd and 1. The Eagles lined up for their usual money play (Jalen Hurts up the middle) and Seumalo flinched. It backed them up and caused the Eagles to change their play calling. The very next play Jalen Hurts had an uncharacteristic fumble and it led to the Chiefs touchdown.

If you want to blame Jalen Hurts for actually coughing up the ball then fine. But it never wouldve happened had Seumalo just done his damn job.

Youre facing Patrick Mahomes on one leg. He reinjured the ankle during the game. And yet, the Eagles and their 70+ sack defense did nothing to make him uncomfortable. The front 4 was MIA the entire game. Sacks? They didnt even get pressure! The Eagles defense let the NFL MVP sit in the pocket and pick them apart.

A horrendous punt by Arryn Siposs led to a 65 yard return by Kadarius Toney which basically gifted the Chiefs an 8 point lead. Should the Eagles have gone for it on 4th and 3? Maybe. But they did themselves no favors with their special teams performance.

Too many times the Eagles defense looked LOST against the Chiefs offense. And it led to a few walk in touchdowns where fans at home were screaming "how was he THAT open." Its one thing to give up a touchdown, but its another to be completely confused on what the offense is doing. It was a REALLY bad job by Jonathan Gannon and his defense.

Jonathan Gannon, as I wrote above, looked horrible. But Nick Sirianni got outcoached. Andy Reid made adjustments and Nick Sirianni didnt. Yes, the offense put up 35 points which is great, but it was the untimely errors. Not being able to get the play call in which resulted in a delay of game and a time out being taken. The penalties (6 compared to the Chiefs 3).

They blew a 10 point lead at the half. They let Patrick Mahomes go off on their defense. They didnt stop the Chiefs ONCE in the second half. Chiefs scored every time they had the ball. They choked. The moment was too big for them and they choked.