Hope Clicks Eternal – The Divisional Round

The four Divisional Round games gave us plenty to chew on.

Final.

AT&T Postgame Report – https://t.co/eQEQbSwXAT #InBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/9uhaV4PqUC

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 14, 2018

The Falcons getting beat wasn’t all that surprising. Still, it engendered two types of reaction:

A) It’s the new guy’s fault,

B) The refs are against us.

Of course, being Twitter, there’s always that one crazy person.

Titans fans, however, knew what to expect.

#Titans fall 35-14 to Patriots as 2017 season comes to an end

📰 » https://t.co/v3AdWX3zUv pic.twitter.com/80phnCPvxq

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 14, 2018

but they still found a way to shift blame onto the officials.

And that’s all well and good, but I know what you’re here for.

You know what you’re here for.

Let’s just enjoy the misery together, shall we?

First, the Steelers.

Final. pic.twitter.com/fDTwdY1ETt

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 14, 2018

There were words,

art,

more words,

some conspiracy theories,

and that one dude willing to go WAY too far.

And when you think a fanbase couldn’t be any more vitriolic, along came the Saints, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory,

FINAL: An emotional finish in Minnesota.

RECAP 📰: https://t.co/sNGoTnUEmn#SaintsGameday | #NOvsMIN pic.twitter.com/Y20dHLP6hQ

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 15, 2018

something their fans had all of 10 seconds to get ready for.

There’s a whole lotta this:

reminders that the Saints accidentally broadcast their victory early,

and just general rage

I dared myself to go onto Marcus Williams’ Twitter feed, and found…

support,

anger,

back-handed passive aggression,

some delightful wrestling memes,

and – for some reason – people suggesting he learn tackling from cats.

But the kid is braver than me, because he eventually returned to social media,

https://twitter.com/Babymagik32/status/953037799300698113

and got love from the fraternity,

the fans,

Ute nation will always have your back. Keep your head up bro! Already knowing this is going to make you great! Little man was hurtin for you yesterday. He knows you’ll be A1 though! pic.twitter.com/sIuKIRVN3W

— Richy Chansamoeun (@RChansamoeun) January 15, 2018

and the “fans”.

I guess that’s the lesson, and why most of us couldn’t handle being the athletes & politicians we criticize.

Madoda namakhosikazi, your NFL Divisional round social media.