Eagles Super Bowl Win

The Philadelphia Eagles won the second Super Bowl of their franchise history, second in seven years, this past Sunday. It was a remarkable season for The Birds, who, after starting 2 -2  in their first four games, won twelve of their next thirteen regular season games, that one loss occurring when their starting QB left the game in the 2nd quarter with a concussion. 

From there they won three straight home playoff games, to the delight of Eagles fans, the last one, the NFC Championship game, a 55 - 23 drubbing of the upstart team from Washington.

Then, in a game that they played with near perfection, they dismantled the two time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, 40 - 22, at one point leading 40 - 6. 

Today, on one of the Philly sports channels, the question was put to the listeners as to which Super Bowl victory was the most rewarding, or meant the most. I decided to read my post from the week after that first Super Bowl win before I considered my answer, a link to which you can find below. 

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2018/02/super-bowl-champion-eagles.html 

After reading it, I am torn as I initially thought that this past week's win was better for me, especially considering how dominant the team was in the last two Championship games.

But after reading it, I am less confident in my opinion.

While this year's team overcame some setbacks, there wasn't nearly the number of injuries that beset the first Super Bowl winning team. 

This year's team was hindered more by some poor play, at times, for some of the key players, yet that occasional poor play was always overshadowed by the remarkable year that their star running back had, a year in which he broke the all-time rushing record, regular season and playoffs combined, with over 2500 yards.

Still, I will remember the details of both teams' accomplishments, especially the fact that that 2017-18 team brought home our first Lombardi trophy by beating an opposing QB who is currently considered the best of all time. 

This year's game itself, like that first Super Bowl victory, featured individual play that provided a number of Eagles team members the chance to prove their worth to the team, many whom had their talents doubted at times during the year.

The QB is at the top of that list, a man who just wins games, without flash, without gaudy stats. Jalen Hurt's ability was questioned practically after every game this year, even when they won. And now he is the MVP of the Super Bowl breaking his own record for most rushing yards by a QB in a Super Bowl game.

Then there is the field goal kicker who was one for eight in kicks more than 50 yards after he missed one against Washington in that NFC game, and who had missed a number of extra points in the playoffs. Yet in the biggest game of the year, Jake Elliot made every PAT and hit four field goals, one from 50 and two from 48 yards out, which made him the first kicker to make three from 48 or more yards in Super Bowl history.

One of the Eagles, a player who was well off the radar when the season began, was one of their linebackers, a man who played his first four years in the league with another team, without distinction. For the Eagles this year Zack Baun made more tackles than all those years combined, and after having only one interception in those four years, had one in each of the two biggest games of the season.

Another player who, I admit, I did not have much faith in, accepted his diminished role on this year's team. But when they needed him most Avonte Maddox made a great pass breakup on a fourth down play, and also recovered an onside kick. He did not let his disappointment in not starting effect his play.

One might even include the star wide receivers who saw the limelight shine ever so brightly on the newly signed star running back and perhaps slightly less so on them. But that didn't stop A J Brown or DeVonta Smith who were often seen blocking down field to provide that extra space which resulted in a half dozen 60 plus yard running plays for touchdowns, a record for running backs.

And speaking of that star running back, Saquon Barkley did not just run. There were many plays where he stepped up into the pocket to take on an incoming defender, often someone much larger than himself, to provide that extra split second so the QB could let fly a pass or scramble for extra yards.

And finally, there is the rookie corner back, who did nothing other than holding opponent wide receivers to few completions and even fewer TD's. To top that however, Cooper DeJean, made his first career interception the the Super Bowl and returned it for a TD on his 22nd birthday!

Can I say it is a tie, that I enjoyed both games equally!

Regardless of which game, or team, you prefer for their great victories, hail to this year's Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl 59 Champions!

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For those who wish to leave this post on a positive note, I recommend you stop reading. 

You see, the facts are that both Eagles teams would not have achieved their success without placing the team's needs above their own. It was truly a team effort! While there may have been moments that a me first statement or sentiment was uttered, all in all the players and coaches focused on the team.

Yet America seems neck deep in this America First bull**** which is nothing more than selfishness and me first. We see it in the inane renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, the ridiculous statements from the White House about making Canada the 51st state, or taking back the Panama Canal. As if what is perceived as being good for America, is good for the world!

Still, those supporting such populist nonsense will most likely agree with me that the Eagles run this season was based on non-selfish play. Had A J Brown operated with the mantra of A J first, he wouldn't have been making those down field blocks to allow Barkley to score. Had Jalen Hurst decided that he needed to pad his passing yard numbers, he wouldn't have accepted the focus on letting Barkley run so often. And had Barkley thought that he couldn't afford to risk getting hurt when 250lb defenders came barreling towards our QB, he wouldn't have put his own body on the line to protect his teammate.

Folks, it is that simple. We either work together to make America work, to make the world work, or we all go down together. And so when the new president unilaterally decides to sever our relationships with the World Health Organization or remove America from the Paris Accord on Climate Change, the end result of such temper tantrums is that we all lose, Americans and our allies.

Cooperation and collaboration, playing for your teammates, is a mantra that we hear all the time from players who have just won a championship, yet is sadly lacking from the absurdities that emanate almost daily from the new president and his acolytes. 

It can be difficult to widen one's perspective, while succumbing to tribalism can be safe, far less challenging. But can you imagine if we started treating everyone in our community as teammates, even those who live and love and worship differently from ourselves.

Can you then imagine if we did the same for everyone in our country, whether they live in blue states or red, whether they struggle with their gender identity or were born to people who came from outside our borders.

And finally, can you imagine if we extended that sentiment to all people who inhabit this tiny, insignificant planet orbiting one of millions of suns in a galaxy which itself is one of millions of such expanses in a universe that reaches back into time further than we have discovered, and will continue to exist far after humanity has worn out its welcome within its confines.

Imagine.