Dec 22, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman speak after the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chicago Bears 54-11. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Pain. Disappointment. I would be completely devastated if we didn’t still have a shot this Sunday. In the beginning of the season I thought the NFC North was the toughest division. It has turned out to be one of the worst.
The only thing good about last night was my wings. Actually, there was more. Flipping back and forth between Giants/Lions and Steelers/Packers nail-biting finishes was very exciting. With both games going in our favor, knowing we could clinch division with a win against Philadelphia, I was very happy.
Throw in the fact that due to a win by the Cowboys against the Redskins, I thought Philly might even rest their starters because they still had to win in week 17 to take division, regardless of the outcome of our game.
The stars had aligned. It was a thing of beauty. I was shown a “Stairway to Heaven” by Robert Plant himself.
Then, the Eagles dropped a Christmas fruitcake on our faces. Some people might like that. I am not one of those people.
I had said that I would never have fans of opposing teams over to watch the game anymore, and broke that rule last night. That’s not why the Chicago Bears lost. In fact, Jarrett Barnhouse came and brought tidings with him. I know my little boy liked his treats and seemed to take kindly to him regardless of his being an Eagles fan.
It would be real easy to blame everyone on the team for this one. I won’t. After all that has happened, we still have a chance to go to the playoffs. There are a bunch of teams that don’t.
I started thinking about my job as a writer. I thought about the responsibility that comes with it. I sit in my office and type my take on each Bears game, from a fan’s perspective.
I call myself a “non-expert” to make readers aware that I have no formal training in football, nor journalism. I say good things and bad things about players and coaches. I do my best to appeal to our readers.
I question decisions made when they don’t get the result I want. I express doubt that a player may be giving his all according to what I think he should give. I do this from the comfort of my office.
I sit in a position slightly different than the average fan sharing his views around the coffee station at work. I reach a broader audience. I do this without any rebuttal. Without any consequences.
I began to consider how some of the players or coaches would feel if they read my work. Would I still write what I did? They are fellow human beings with feelings. I get on a soapbox and have all the answers for everything wrong with my team. I always know what’s best. I’m not just reporting, I’m judging.
The players that are on the field in the NFL have done more to get where they are than I have ever done to achieve anything. For each one that got signed, there are 100 just as gifted athletes that did not get signed, and 10’s of thousands in the wings that did all the work, but lack the talent.
You might be reading this and saying to yourself, “it comes with the territory.” They are rich and famous and we pay their salary. That is true. Our many ways we contribute to the NFL does pay them.