Philadelphia Eagles: What would Rocky Balboa say about this?

Week 15 of the NFL season means the Eagles are scheduled to take a trip to Baltimore, and knowing that made us think about a fictional character who’s name is synonymous with Philadelphia.

It’s hard to gauge when it started, but the 2016 season for the Philadelphia Eagles just seems like it’s never going to end sometimes. Fans are frustrated. Some are angry. Still, each one of them presses on. Give up? Of course not! Everyone that loves this team would never abandon them. Eagles fans aren’t built that way. Each and every Sunday, they’ll be right back in front of the television with their emotions tied in knots. Wait. This is a game we’re talking about right? Isn’t this supposed to be fun?

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Five times this season Eagles fans have gotten the desired result. It’s those other eight games that put you through the old emotional ringer. The team from the city famous for being the hometown of a fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa, now travels to meet the Baltimore Ravens. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for about a decade, the Ravens are no strangers to the fighter’s mentality. They’ll put the gloves on with anybody (or take them off in some cases) if they have to.

This game will be the final time the Eagles have to play on the road in 2016. After passing the road test in their first effort, a prime time thumping of the Chicago Bears, things haven’t gone too well for Philly when they’ve had to leave Lincoln Financial Field. They’ve lost seven times in their last seven attempts, and fans of this team haven’t seen the fighter’s spirit in many of those cases.

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In fact, it’s been the opposite. They’ve looked like old tired fighters who’ve been pushed way past their physical limit and are now taking vicious shots with their backs against the ropes. In some of those fights, those ropes may be the only thing holding them up. In other situations, we hoped and prayed the refs would step in and stop the beating. Sadly, they didn’t. Then again, there’s no “three knockdown rule” in football.

Head coach Doug Pederson addressed the Philadelphia media in reference to the upcoming game:

Doesn’t he look tired? Nevermind. Forget we said that. Last week, this team answered the questions. They’re nobody’s doormats, and their hearts are still in it. Now, all any fan can ask for is for this team to “knuckle up” and finish strong. Eagles fans are tough. They expect their teams to be tough. The deck is stacked the other way, but we expect “The Birdgang” to put their heads down and plow through. Who knows? They may even surprise a few people in the process.

Besides, that’s what Rocky would have done.

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