Can the Rams beat the Eagles? | First things first
The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 and will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes discuss whether the Rams can beat the Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell spoke about his behavior during the team’s playoff game against the Packers Sunday, when he was seen on video berating a Packers fan sitting next to him with vulgar insults.
Caldwell was fired as project manager at BCT Partners after a video of his insults went viral. He has apologized but has also defended himself, insisting that his actions “were not without provocation” and that the viral video “does not show the full context” of what happened.
“While attending an NFL game last Sunday to support my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” Caldwell said in a statement to the New York Post.
“What started as banter with two Packers fans sitting next to me escalated into something more serious, and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose ruthless words to address one of the fans, Ms. Ally Keller.
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“I would like to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for these words, and to my wife, family and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the city of Philadelphia and anyone who was offended. That said, there are two sides to every story.
“The video clip circulating online does not provide the full context of what happened, and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience, and I am certainly paying a personal price. For those who don’t know me, this is an incident does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others and is not indicative of the person I am.”
The viral video was filmed by Keller’s fiancée, Alexander Basara, and quickly spread across the internet in the days following the Eagles’ 22-10 win.
Caldwell’s apology and news of his firing sparked a wave of celebration and ridicule among sports fans on social media.
“Okay, that excuse might be okay from some random drunk guy who walked into the stadium that day. But someone whose job it was to be inclusive? Hahahahahaha They’re looking for a job now and it’s going to be hard to get them said employment,” the user wrote.
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Another X user loved seeing the fallout that has befallen Caldwell in recent days.
“I love how Ryan Caldwell, the Philly Eagles fan who abused a woman for no reason, has ‘turned his life upside down,’” the user wrote. “I hope it gets worse for you, Ryan.”
Another X user described the public response to Caldwell’s verbal attack as “social media justice.”
“Philadelphia Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell has been fired from his job at BCT Partners over the altercation he had with a Packers fan during last week’s game, which was played all over the internet. This isn’t social justice, it’s SOCIAL MEDIA JUSTICE,” the user wrote.
One X user wrote that Caldwell’s behavior is not an isolated incident, and that similar language often comes out of the mouths of Eagles fans.
Philadelphia Eagles fans during an NFC wild card game against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, January 12, 2025. (Eric Hartline-Imagn images)
“And Eagles fans are wondering why everyone hates them and their team. This isn’t an isolated incident for someone showing up there to support an opponent. Things like this happen there all the time,” the user wrote.
Conservative filmmaker Matt Walsh even weighed in on the controversy.
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“A few things here. 1) The Eagles fan is a bloody idiot. 2) Don’t take your fiancée to a game in Philadelphia while wearing the opponent’s jersey. You’re asking for something like that to happen. 3) You You can’t let a man talk to your wife like that. You will have to live with that shame for the rest of your life,” Walsh wrote on X.
Eagles fans have a long history of unruly behavior.
The franchise’s former home, Veterans Stadium, had a judicial court and jail cells on site to handle law-breaking fans.
Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate after a game during the second half of the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field, December 4, 2022, in Philadelphia. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
During a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in November 1997, a fan infamously fired a flare gun into the crowd. Several fights broke out between fans during the game and team owner Jeffrie Lurie addressed the incident.
“Despite the fact that we feel we have made significant progress in recent years regarding fan behavior at Veterans Stadium, what we witnessed last Monday was undoubtedly a step backward,” Lurie told reporters at the time.
The Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday for the right to advance to the NFC championship game.
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