This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Gooooood morning, folks! Welcome back to the Morning Win! We appreciate you being here with us today. Hope you had an excellent Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Can we talk about my Eagles and the epic collapse we just watched? Sheesh, man.
Watching the embarrassing 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers (WHO COULD ONLY SCORE NINE OINTS ON THE CAROLINA PANTHERS) was like watching a horror movie for me. I knew from the very beginning what was about to happen. I knew, eventually, the villain would catch up. I knew there was no escaping this fate. Yet, still. I watched. Entertained. Maybe, at times, even delighted. Not because my team didn’t show up — again. But, rather, because this nightmare is thankfully finally over.
It’s been an agonizing month. I would say the 49ers broke the Eagles, but I think that might be giving Philadelphia a bit too much credit for being better than it was supposed to be.
There’s a reason why this Eagles meme exists. Yes, this team was 10-1 exiting November. But there were so many close calls. Every game was close. Truth be told, Philly should’ve lost to the Chiefs. Philly also should’ve lost to the Bills. There were a few more games in there that were close that the Eagles could’ve easily been on the other side of.
Now, it’s all over. The question is what comes next. Philadelphia has a ton of decisions to make this offseason. Nick Sirianni is the biggest one of them.
With all the talk about Sirianni losing the locker room this season, it’s easy to see why Philly might move on. A lukewarm endorsement from Jalen Hurts immediately after the Eagles’ loss certainly doesn’t help. There’s a solid case there for letting him go.
This team should’ve been a lot better than it was. It’s unconscionable that, after all these weeks, the team’s offense had no answers for the blitz. Its defense has been … I’ll let Ray Lewis tell you how bad that’s been. Put it this way — Michigan’s defense is less talented than the Eagles’ defense. But I feel like the Wolverines probably could’ve gotten more stops than Philadelphia did on Sunday off of tackling fundamentals alone.
Coaching was a huge problem. That’s on Sirianni. It wouldn’t be unreasonable for the team to move on after such a terrible stretch.
At the same time, he’s won in Philadelphia more than he has lost — that applies to this season, too. He’s done something right. It wouldn’t be shocking if he got another chance here. I think it’d be justified.
Unfortunately for Sirianni, it’s not my decision. Ultimately, we’ll see what the Eagles do. After yesterday’s game? It feels like that Black Monday list might be getting a little longer.
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FEED. THE. PIT.
The Bills have the complete opposite of whatever vibes the Eagles have right now. Buffalo is cookin’ with seven straight wins.
After such a slow start to the year, what’s turned things around? Well, if you ask fans, it’s because of this ridiculously silly and dangerous ritual they’ve started: Feeding the pit.
What does that mean? Fans might be falling into the pit dug on site where the Bills’ new stadium will be. It apparently happened once on accident and the Bills won. Now fans just keep doing it.
“Rumors are swirling throughout Twitter and TikTok that Buffalo ended the season on a five-game winning streak and now subsequently beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday because there was a pit at the site of a new stadium being consistently “fed” with fans.
Naturally, this prompted all sorts of questions from us: What pit? There’s a pit? It needs to be fed? Is it like Little Shop of Horrors?
After AN INVESTIGATION, we could not substantiate this theory. Still, we did uncover a story from September of 2023 about a fan falling into a construction pit at the new stadium site.
We also found this “explanation” on TikTok and a wild Chris Pratt-inspired Bills “pit” video. Do with this information what you will.”
See you in the Super Bowl, Buffalo. I guess.
GG’s big moment
Nothing in sports is better than seeing a player get the spotlight for the first time after having an unexpectedly good game.
That’s what happened to GG Jackson on Sunday when the Grizzlies played the Warriors. Memphis completely stole the show in what was supposed to be Draymond Green’s big return. Jackson was a huge part of that, pouring in a career-high 23 points and hitting five 3-pointers against Golden State.
He got the headset at the end of the game with a chance to talk to the Inside the NBA crew. The look of delight on his face when Shaq congratulates him on his game says it all. Cory Woodruff has more.
“The Inside the NBA crew talked with Jackson after his huge night, which included the Grizzlies rookie geeking out once he realized he was talking to Shaquille O’Neal.
Jackson’s reaction is just so wonderful and genuine, as he realizes he’s being interviewed by one of the most recognizable people in the history of the sport.”
GG Jackson’s reaction to hearing Shaq talk to him during his TNT postgame interview is amazing 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ljI0D8Uvjl
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 16, 2024
Look at this face, man.
That’s such a great moment. Shoutout to GG. This is the first of many.
Quick hits: Happy trails, Jason Kelce … Hello, Bill Belichick … and more
— Jason Kelce is reportedly retiring, y’all. I’m sad. Charles Curtis has all the fan tributes here.
— Bill Belichick “interviewing” with the Falcons evoked so many 28-3 jokes. Robert Zeglinski has more.
— Christian D’Andrea has the worst quarterback performances of the playoffs so far here for you.
— Here’s Charles again with the 10 best Super Bowl matchups ranked by watchability. My Lions are looking good. Yes, MY LIONS.
— Prince Grimes was kind enough to put together a betting preview for the divisional round. Tap in and win some money.
— Here’s Robert again on the symmetry of Jared Goff’s and Baker Mayfield’s redemption stories.
That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading. Let’s chat again tomorrow. Talk soon! We out. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️