I'm Bitter About My Team

The NFL season has been great so far for many teams across the league. However, for ten teams, they are dealing with a 0-2 start. Since 1990, only 12% of teams that started 0-2 made it to the playoffs.

Players and coaches, for the most part, will remain optimistic about turning things around, considering it’s still early in the season. But for fans of those struggling franchises, many negative thoughts and emotions are already swirling around, especially as they watch other teams get off to a hot start.

For fans of the Browns, Panthers, and Jets, bitterness is likely setting in. (I confess I’m bitter about my team, the Panthers!) These fan bases continue to see their team lose year after year and are resentful and disgruntled about their lack of success and consistency. Through the first two weeks, it seems like the same old same old.

Meanwhile, Giants, Bears, and Dolphins fans are filled with envy due to the success of the other teams in their division and the winning they continue to experience.

Giants fans are jealous of the Eagles for not only winning the Super Bowl, but also for starting the season 2-0, and doing so with their former star running back, Saquon Barkley.

The Bears fans look up in the standings with jealousy as they see a 2-0 Packers team led by their third straight franchise quarterback in Jordan Love, while they continue to question if Caleb Williams will get Chicago over the hump.

Dolphins fans were bitter for years because of the Patriots' dominance, and they’re still losing to them even with Tom Brady gone. Plus, they are envious that the Bills have been the top team in the AFC East five seasons in a row.

We’re only two weeks into the NFL season, and along with these fan bases, plenty of other scenarios across the NFL lead to additional fans having sports envy, bitterness, and jealousy:

• Teams with questionable coaching situations are jealous that the Chargers have Jim Harbaugh as head coach.

  
  

• Bengals fans are glad to be 2-0, but bitter they lost Joe Burrow to injury once again.

  
  

• It’s easy to be envious that the Bucs are at the top of the NFC South again.

  
  

• Jealousy sets in because the 49ers and Rams are off to a 2-0 start, and they have recently been in the playoff mix every year.

As sports fans, when our team isn’t winning, we often feel envious of other franchises’ success. It’s hard not to notice what other teams have without wishing we had the same and being resentful about it.

Envy and jealousy aren’t exclusive to our sports fandom because they can infiltrate our minds and hearts as we witness friends, family members, neighbors, and people on TV experiencing other kinds of “winning,” blessings, or having something we wish we had.

So why are jealousy and envy destructive?

Proverbs 14:30 (NLT) tells us, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.”

Envy and jealousy can lead to bitterness, resentment, anger, discontent, and a lack of gratitude, ultimately resulting in pain. As followers of Jesus, those attitudes don’t align with the life that we are called to live.

Colossians 3:15 (NLT) implores us to “…let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

After all, we have everything we need in Him. We don’t deserve anything, yet He has given us so much, especially Himself, and His love, grace, and mercy.

Even when it comes to material things, relationships, or experiences that we see others have, we must be content and grateful for what He has provided us instead of letting jealousy and envy take root.

In love, let’s celebrate with our family and friends when they “win” and experience blessings rather than being frustrated or bitter when they have something we want.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (AMP) reminds us, “Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious…”

Today, instead of being consumed by another NFL team’s success, our friends’ new house, or our co-worker’s job promotion, let’s praise God for His goodness in our lives and be encouraged to avoid the pitfalls of envy.

Galatians 5:26 (ESV) says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Ephesians 4:31 (AMP) encourages us to, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].”

1 Peter 2:1 (AMP) challenges, “So put aside every trace of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander and hateful speech.”

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the envious and jealous thoughts that fill my mind and heart. Please convict me quickly when they start and remind me of Your goodness and faithfulness. Help me to be content and grateful instead of bitter and resentful. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.