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Post being replied to

Alshon Jeffery, Cody Parkey by IndianaLee

A pass flutters through the hands of Alshon Jeffery and he takes ownership for the Eagles loss. Cody Parkey misses a field goal and similarly shoulders the blame for Chicago bowing out of the playoffs.

Both games came down to situations where the deciding factor in winning or losing was down to a single play.

But was it really 1 play?

Of course not. However, in contests that go down to the wire, we often seem conditioned to pin the W or L on that particular situation.

But what about a moment in the third quarter, where a penalty changed 4th down to a 1st, keeping a drive alive? Or a sack in the second quarter that moved a team out of field goal range?

My point being, if outcomes aren't hinged on a solitary instance, but perhaps countless instances, why is there so much finger-pointing, teeth-gnashing angst directed towards that player/moment?

Is it a case of "recency" bias? That which happens last is remembered most?

There's a lot to be said for a player to stand up and claim "that game was on me", even when teammates claim otherwise.

If fellow players recognize that, why are we, as fans, so harsh?