1996. Guess which team gets our allegiance?

It’s that time of year. The time of year where the Longs here get massively into football. What I mean is that four minutes before kickoff, we are trying to figure out how to stream the game. Finally, we figured it out, because I am super smart, and then turns out we were watching in Spanish. So I guess we’ll do DuoLingo for a little bit first.

I called my brother, Jamey on speakerphone earlier to get some info. I also talked to my brother Jonny on Jamey’s phone afterward, but we didn’t talk football so I cannot in good conscience give him any credit for the following information. However, he did inform me that he is starting a card shop with his good buddy Zech. So if you’re looking for a place to start cashing out those shoeboxes of Pokémon and Joe Montana error cards, stay tuned here. Anyway, these are some things we learned about the football match today. I am probably going for the Eagles, as I used to watch Randall Cunningham play. Or maybe I just did once.

This household is most excited about the commercials overall.
Apparently the teams are fairly well matched up. Philly won in 2017, Kansas City in 2021. So they both have won the big one in the last six years.
Andy Reid, the Chiefs coach, used to coach the Eagles for 14 years, and is allegedly a very likeable fellow.
Both teams have high-powered offenses, and Patrick Mahomes just took MVP. The Eagles quarterback - a rookie? - is quite the tosser as well. Is that a football term?
Rob Gronkowski, a well known former footballer whose name I recognize, is kicking a field goal for charity, and I’m guessing to keep his social media presence exciting.

Predictions - Coin Toss

Jos - Eagles
B - Chiefs
M - Chiefs
JX - Eagles
Ej - Eagles
Es - Eagles

Update: Chiefs. Girls took it.

Our Grandpa.

My Grandpa would have turned 100 today. He wasn’t much of a sports fellow. But he liked to hike, and he liked to play, and he loved his kids and grandkids very, very much. I miss him, and I know many many people who do as well.

03.41pm

Sometimes I don’t care for when they try to make football players sound like heroes. - our 12-year old.

Sometimes, like right now, I just extra happy feeling about his perceptive observations and keen wit.

Predictions

Jos - Eagles 45-42
Bec - Chiefs 27-14
JX - Eagles 2,714…wait, how does the scoring work? Okay, Eagles 26-14
M - Chiefs 30-27
Ej - Eagles 100-2
Es - Eagles GPL, or TPNI2 - Chiefs TPLY

Quarter 1

Look, that man fell down!
—Es

03.51

Philly scores. 7-0.

Aaaah! Eagles are knocked down!
—Ej

The Chiefs scored, but I was out of the room and missed it. Also, there was an E*trade commercial our younger boys loved. Something about babies getting married. Big hit with the ages 3-6 set.

End of Q1 : Eagle 7, Chiefs 7

Two of my favorite sports fellows walking on the beach

Quarter 2

Philly scores thirty seconds in. Up 14-7. Our oldest son is deeply engrossed in his 47th chess match of the afternoon. That is an estimate.

An Eagle fumbled. A Chief picked it up and scored. Tied up at 14.

Becca quizzed us on average price of a Super Bowl ticket. Answer: $9,000 for this year’s matchup.

Eagles QB run. Seven more. Mahomes injured. Eagles nab a field goal as time runs down.

End of Quarter 2: Eagles 24, Chiefs 14

Halftime

Overall, I liked. Amazing stage. Grabbed a couple microphones and danced our way through alongside Rihanna and dance troupe. Liked some of the outfits and stage.

Quarter 3

Once again, I’m out of the room when the Chiefs score. Now they’re down by three. 24-21.

We speak with my brother Jeremy about the game and the halftime show. He and our daughter get into a giant argument about the pronunciation of “Rihanna.” According to a 2010 interview, she’s okay with either…but the correct way is with a short ‘a.’ Rhymes with ‘Hannah.”

Jeremy also informs us that our little sister is having difficult staying awake during the match. I have not confirmed this.

End of Quarter 3: 27-21, Philadelphia.

Quarter 4

The score is currently 27-21, and Jeremy just texted me and informed me his prediction was 27-24 Eagles. This seems suspiciously convenient. I have not voiced my suspicions aloud to him. Again, this is the fourth quarter and he is conveying this prediction.

I spoke to my brother Josh, who is pulling off the amazing feat of both making his children’s school lunches tomorrow while simultaneously watching the match. Amazing. He is also going for the Phillies, in part because Patrick Mahomes has already “…had his day in the sun,” and because Philadelphia has great spirit and a great story.

Also, Kansas City just scored. They just took their first lead at 28-27.

A few minutes later: KC scores again. 35-27.

And then…Philly long toss to the 1-yard, and then runs it in. Two point conversion is…good! Tied up!

Lamest end ever to a really good game overall. Chiefs run out the clock, kick a field goal with eleven seconds left, and Eagles’ Hail Mary drops dead. The End.

Final: Chiefs 38-35.