In probably the most unprobably take in human history, an illiterate, teenage, peasant girl swung the tide of The Hundred Years War when she convinced the French elites that she was sent by God to ensure the French hereditary line’s right to the French Throne.
In 6 days (in her first action), she defeated the British at Orleans, where they had besieged the city for many, many months.
In truly staggering tactical inneptness, she repeatedly charged (with French forces behind her) heavily fortified British bastions, inexplicably defeating them (it should have been wholesale slaughter of Joan and the French) and winning the day.
How did this insanity occur? The unbelievable power of human (delusion) belief. The men she led to what should have been certain death ACTUALLY BELIEVED SHE WAS SENT FROM GOD TO DO THIS; “if God before us, who can be against us.”
This insane frontal attack and the moralized zeal of the French forces cause the British forces to wilt and retreat. This is very similar to when Jordan and the Bulls took the floor in the 90s or guys wilting on Sundays during Tiger’s heyday (“they won before the game even began”).
The Patriots jerseys and helmets are like Joan’s standard and Brady and Bellichek are Joan. Guys are powerfully moralized just by that armor, just by the presence of those two figures.
Our Bucs? The overwhelming % of the guys we field are utterly stricken by disbelief at this point. Theyre the Brits in this scenario. Their fortified positions have been charged and overrun far too many times. They’re emotionally damaged goods and there is no one to carry a standard, recklessly challenge a fortified position with a battlecry, and instill belief. The opposite happens; wilting and death spiral when things are on the brink.
I don’t see the trajectory of this franchise ending until all of those damaged people are purged. Whether we can find a Joan to instill belief is another matter entirely.
