FanPost

Super Bowl or Bust... A "casual" fan perspective.

I am a fan, but, I'm not a fanatic.

I love the Eagles and have been a fan for as long as I can remember. When my brother first introduced me to the Eagles I decided to root for them because I idolized my brother (and my dad was a Dallas fan).

But I never had that diehard feeling of anger or sadness at a bad football team. Maybe because my family could never afford to go to an actual football game, maybe because I'm a Delawarean from over the river, or maybe because of any multitude of reasons. Long story short, I didn't feel that bad when the Eagles lost or had a bad experience.

That is until they finally won it all. In 2017 I was going through one of the hardest emotional fazes of my life. I was stationed with the Marines in Japan, my wife was leaving after a failed marriage and taking my son with her, work and stress was pilling on to the point I had a break down. I had very little going for me and the outlook didn't look great.

But then the 2017 Eagles happened. Facing the adversity of a team riddle with injuries and keep fighting to maintain the momentum towards the Super Bowl. I was hooked again. I bought a Gamepass subscription after week 3 and watched every game I could live and rewatched every one I couldn't. They were the brightness I needed to make it through the dark.

When Carson Wentz went down it was like a gut punch, but I had watched this team face so many things and keep standing up that I (totally) never lost faith.

They scared me heading into the playoffs but after the Falcons game I felt elated. The Vikings game I became ecstatic. I got the day off for the Super Bowl (it was Monday at breakfast time for us) and I was glued to my screen. With every up, I was up. Every down felt like a knife in the chest.

Until it happened. The forced fumble. I cried. HARD. I was so happy that had happened. I couldn't help myself. After the play I composed myself and kept watching. With Brady the Patriots were never out. I watched every play on the edge of my seat. Finally when I saw the Hail Mary I didn't breath until I saw the ball bounce and stay down. It was over, (I cried again). I felt that the world had finally given me a bright spot that I could count on.

Fast forward to today. The Eagles are officially 0-2 to start the year. And once again I don't really mind. I understand that a team doesn't stay good forever. Outside of the Patriots teams ebb and flow. Look at the last four NFC champs. Falcons haven't been the same team, the Rams missed the playoffs the following year, and while the season is far from over for the 49ers they did lose the Cardinals of all teams.

I still love the Eagles. But I feel as though a lot of their problems since 2017 have been masked by making it to the playoffs these past two years. Going into each of the wild card rounds I knew the Eagles were not going all the way. (It was nice to rub the double doink in my d*ckhead, Bears fan bosses face)

I believe in Super Bowl or bust. If the best prospect you have is losing in the wildcard round, take the time to fix the issues within the team. Focus on drafting young good players instead of trading for and signing expensive veterans. Fix the cap situation so that you have a surplus heading into a Super Bowl push. Be honest with what you have and manage expectations with the fan base. Focus on fundamentals and teaching your young players so that when the opportunity comes, so does your youth and depth.

I expect to get roasted for this post or maybe even nobody reads it at all.

But to end it off, FLY EAGLES FLY. I still love the team, the fans, and the Philadelphia Eagles culture.