Maybe the Neanderthals lost because they had too many DEI friendly policies and accepted all the non-Neanderthals into Europe. This is what happens when you trust the Homo sapiens. One day it’s all fun and games fucking the new weird looking great apes, the next day they’re squatting in your cave, painting over your cave paintings and suddenly being woke doesn’t seem so smart. Wake up, Neanderthals.

A lot of stuff suggests they were a bit dumber, but the more insular societal structure and colder climes were the nails in the coffin.