I'm a long-time Eagles fan. The Eagles didn't have any failures as high profile as Super Bowl 51, but they did seriously contend for a long time without ever w

I'm a long-time Eagles fan. The Eagles didn't have any failures as high profile as Super Bowl 51, but they did seriously contend for a long time without ever winning. At the time, it seemed like it was okay, because it meant at least most seasons meant something, but by the time Super Bowl 52 rolled around it almost felt like a mental illness that was magically cured by them winning. I think the experience of being a fan of true sad-sack franchises doesn't have the same effect. (Probably Bills fans were like that after their fourth Super Bowl loss.) A successful season for the Browns or the Lions is 8-8, so they never reach the point where they think "This is our year." You got to think this was your year to the latest possible moment.