Face it, there were a lot of people looking forward to this day.
The Patriots being eliminated from the postseason for the first time in eleven years, just the second time in eighteen years, came with an air of inevitability. An epic run coming to a close. Most New England fans took it in stride, mostly with a tone of appreciation for what a run it was...
...or the effort the team gave during a difficult season with much turnover.
BUT, you didn’t think social media would be sympathetic to the loss, did you? You had to expect there would be plenty of people, teams, organizations and more taking victory laps over the Pats being bumped from something they’d basically been rubber stamped for for basically two decades. A virtual cause for celebration, even.
Some sports sites made more than note of it, having a little fun with it...
The #Patriots playoff hopes. pic.twitter.com/0OxK2dYk2O
— Scoreboard.com (@Scoreboard_COM) December 20, 2020
But of course it was the fans of other teams, specifically division rivals the Patriots had kept under thumb for those two decades, who had the most to say. Like Bills fans, whose team now lays claim to the AFC East crown.
Bill Belichick walking through airport security on his way to Barbados two months early this year: pic.twitter.com/Pc1gDXMhJa
— Bills Playoffs Defender (@billsboner) December 20, 2020
Division champion Buffalo Bills.
— Playoff Bill (@Brother__Bill) December 20, 2020
Eliminated from playoff contention New England Patriots.
Life is good baby
And Dolphins fans, fresh off of delivering the Pats another late season playoff blow
No greater feeling than kicking the Patriots out of the playoffs 😈 #FinsUp
— Tricky Dicky 🐊 (@riichard_21) December 21, 2020
Even Jets fans tried to troll...though considering what their win did for their draft hopes and future they may want this one back.
Then came the randoms from several corners of football fandom, looking to feast on the sports schadenfreude.
Yes my Falcons blew another lead. But as a born and raised New Yorker,seeing the Patriots getting eliminated from the playoffs brings me joy.
— Nick Battaglia (@MercWithOneArm) December 21, 2020
The Patriots are out of the playoffs.
— Gʀᴀᴄɪᴇ Jᴀɴᴇ (@drquuxum) December 21, 2020
Finally, something good happened in 2020.
Not that you should expect social media to be kind to you in defeat, or ever, especially after your team has been so good for so long. Who’s going to sympathize with an organization that’s basically run the league this century? But why acknowledge or share them? Well, there’s a weird nostalgic joy to seeing others celebrate your (potentially temporary) demise. You have to be great in the first place for others to cheer your fall. And great the Patriots have been for sure. And when/if they rise from these ashes and return to prominence or postseason then what a laugh Pats fans will have at how over-eager the world became at one playoff miss. Call it an emotional bookmarking for seasons to come.
Let them have their fun. It’s been a while. You know Bill and the boys will be back.
