This is the episode.
Tune in Sunday, February 4 after the Super Bowl and set your DVR with extra time so you don't miss a single minute. #ThisIsUs [1] pic.twitter.com/yBpnIlqLrC [2]— This Is Us (@NBCThisisUs) January 24, 2018 [3]
Fans were heartbroken after learning what caused the house fire that led to Jack's death [4] on This Is Us [5], but we shouldn't put the tissues away just yet. Judging from the latest teaser, next week's episode will likely be even more devastating as we watch the story unfold. In the clip from episode 14, "Across the Border," we see the most important parts of Jack's life flash before our eyes — his wedding, his relationships with his children [6], and sadly, his final moments before death. Although Tuesdays are typically reserved for ugly crying [7] and obsessing over the Pearson family, the pivotal episode will actually air after the Super Bowl on Feb. 4.
It may seem like a random time for the episode to air, but for those who don't know, the Super Bowl is on a different network every year. Each year, the network airing the game usually chooses a big episode of one of its most popular shows to put on directly after the game ends, capitalizing on both the ratings and viewership. Considering the Super Bowl was Jack's favorite day [9], and it's believed he died following the big game in 1998 [10], we're mentally preparing ourselves for a painful episode.
While we now know a Crock-Pot is to blame for Jack's death, there are still many questions that remain unanswered. For instance, why does Kate still blame herself [11]? And what happened to her dog, Louie? As the preview so sadly promises, we will soon know everything, but whether or not we'll be able to handle it is yet to be determined.