Just Like Starting Over

An hour or so ago, I was watching an NFL Films special that aired on ESPN2 that chronicled the Eagles and their die-hard fans.
It was well done, with all the necessary talking heads, local sportswriters, WIP personalities, etc. And it did a fair job dissecting the mind of the Philadelphia fan, particularly the Eagles fan.
The show recounted the 2004 season -- the near-perfect regular season, Terrell Owens’ injury, the monkey-off-the-back NFL Championship victory and the eventual Super Bowl defeat.
Watching highlights of that 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots from last February had me thinking that most of Eagles Nation probably haven’t gotten over the hangover of that crushing end (I know what you’re saying: “Duh.”).
More specifically, though, most have probably not even reflected upon the cause of the hangover -- or even watched replays -- at least since March.
Well, with tonight’s season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, the flood of painful memories will come raging back, as ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown and ABC broadcasters Al Michaels and John Madden rehash the past.
One thing is certain; the faithful are back on the bus, willing to take the ride, no matter the conclusion.