City of Brotherly Love or Sporting Heartbreak?

          Being a Philadelphia sports fan is not a task that can be taken lightly; one second, you’re overwhelmed with pride for your team, and the next you’re left with feelings of utter disgrace and anger. Philadelphia is a rabid fanbase full of unmatched fury and pride. Currently, Philadelphia fans are facing a period of angst, anger, and worry as the Phillies’ postseason hopes have come to an end, and the Eagles are struggling to gain a win each week. 

          Looking at the Phillies, they had a very successful regular season, with a winning record of 95-67. Led by players such as Bryce Harper, one of the all-around best players in the league who put up 30 home runs this season; Alec Bohm, the starting National League 3rd Baseman for the MLB All-Star team; and Zach Wheeler, a favorite to win the 2024 Cy Young Award for the best pitcher in the National League (NL), the Philadelphia team won the NL East Division for the first time since 2011. Not only did the Phillies claim the division title, but they advanced into the Postseason for the third year in a row, this year playing the New York Mets in the NL Division Series. But with fans eagerly anticipating a potential World Series run, the Phillies’ failed to live up to expectations, losing the series 3-1. 

          In the aftermath of the Phillies’ gut-wrenching loss at the hands of the Mets, Philly fans are now looking to the Eagles for a potential spark of joy, and coming up empty-handed. Unlike the Phillies and their dominant regular season performance, the Eagles have struggled to maintain a winning record, currently sitting at 3-2. Coming off of a disappointing 2023 season, in which they lost the last six games, they came back from training camp hoping to re-establish themselves in the NFL. The Eagles started the season fairly strong, beating the Packers 34-29 in Brazil. The Eagles couldn’t keep up the momentum though, giving up a late 4th quarter comeback in a 22-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons the following week. The team then traveled down to hot and steamy South Florida, where they lost dreadfully to the Baker Mayfield-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This past week, the Eagles barely scraped a 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns, one of the worst teams in the National Football League. Despite winning this past weekend, the Eagles are the only team in the NFL that has not scored any points in the first quarter of any game. 

          So far this season, the team has not only been let down by their players, but their coaching staff has also lacked any form of leadership or accountability. Coach Nick Sirranni has been called into question by the national media and has infuriated Eagles fans around the country. With his unwelcome comments to the fans this past weekend and his poor game management, Siranni’s future with the Eagles is in serious jeopardy. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is arguably the most influential player on and off the field as he holds the key to the Eagles' success for the rest of the year. Despite Hurts’ shaky beginnings to the season, he has shown glimpses of elite play, specifically when targeting wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. The Eagles' defense this past game also showed signs of improvement through powerful plays from rookie talents Cooper DeJean and Quiyon Mitchel.

          Although the Phillies have let the Philadelphia fans down, the Eagles have the power to bring pride back to the city and re-energize the fans. With a stacked offensive and a powerful defense, the Eagles have all the tools needed to achieve victory and hopefully, they will be able to bring smiles back to the Philly fans' faces.