Sports - at least the version we are familiar with here in the sports-crazed Philly region - is a cruel mistress.
And nowhere is that more in view than among the die-hard legions of green and white.
They are a different breed, these Eagles fans.
Just ask the folks out in L.A.
Twice this season they saw their home turf literally taken over by traveling Eagles faithful. When the Birds played the Chargers a few weeks back, their retrofitted pro soccer stadium was likely more than half populated with Eagles fans.
Then just this past Sunday, "Iggles" zealots swarmed into the sprawling L.A. Coliseum as the Eagles faced off with the Rams.
It got so bad that Fox Sports actually put out a casting call for Rams fans to counter the legions of Birds backers who crowded the set for the pre-game show.
Of course, this year the full-throated roar of "E-A-G-L-E-S" was even more raucous than normal.
This was our year.
Doug Pederson's charges raced out to a 10-2 record, tied for the best mark in the NFL.
And they did it despite injuries to several stars.
They lost All-Pro left offensive tackle Jayson Peters, the man tasked with protecting Carson Wentz's blind side.
They lost all-purpose running back Darren Sproles for the season.
They lost star middle linebacker Jordan Hicks to a blown Achilles.
Special teams stud Chris Maragos was placed on the shelf.
But they persevered, adopting the policy of their head coach, "next man up."
There is only one injury they could not fathom, and likely will be unable to survive.
That would be if anything should happen to Wentz, the superstar in the making QB who was showcased on national TV Sunday against another star QB, the one taken before him as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Then late in the third quarter, the unthinkable happened.
That as Wentz limping up the tunnel into the locker room.
Suddenly, this was Nick Foles' team again.
Next man up?
How about next season.
Oh, don't get me wrong.
The Eagles clearly are still a playoff team, they locked that up with that thrilling win over the Rams - maybe the game of the year in the NFL.
But all of that is now overshadowed by the loss of Wentz.
It was left to Pederson to deliver the news at his Monday press briefing.
Torn ACL in his left knee. Gone for the season.
We are cursed.
Maybe it's our fate, forever saddled with ill will for once deigning to boo Santa Claus.
Once again there is coal in Eagles' fans stockings.
It is now up to Nick Foles and Doug Pederson to give Philadelphia perhaps the ultimate Christmas gift.
The season of joy suddenly has a dark pall hanging over it.
Playoffs? Absolutely. A first-round bye? Possible. Super Bowl? Don't bet on it.
Carson Wentz doesn't play here anymore. At least not any more this season.
Just another day in Philly sports.
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Just in case you really want to be depressed, check out Jack McCaffery's column here.
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