Here’s an interesting question.
Assuming you are all fans of some team in the NFC East – which in my experience includes everyone in their right mind – in a hypothetical Super Bowl involving an NFC East team, which team might you be rooting against?
Say you are a Redskins fan, and it’s Dallas, New York or Philly in the Super Bowl: Which match up would have you supporting one or the other?
The genesis for this question was reading Michael Wilbon’s excellent column before the recent Washington-Dallas game, and of course my report from the game itself. Both Wilbon and I hit upon the blossoming “kumbaya” factor between erstwhile enemies among our respective camps. Washington does not hate Dallas quite the same as they used to, and I can say with authority we of the silver and blue don’t muster the same animosity for the burgundy and gold as in generations past.
Regarding the question, then: When I was a puerile idiot about sports – say, up until a year or two ago – I pretty much hated every team that ever beat the Cowboys. Come Super Bowl time every year, if the ‘Boys were not in it, I was rooting for the AFC.
Now, having achieved enlightenment, I take a broader view.
My wife and her entire family are Eagles fans, so as soon as Dallas is out of the mix, it takes the pressure of a feather swish to push me into the Philly rooting section. I know where my bread is buttered. My brother, absurdly, is a Cleveland fan, so similarly I’d have some moral obligation to support them if by some freak occurance the Browns made it to the big game.
As to the current New York Giants, I just like what this team has done. I LOVE what they did last year in demoting the New England Patriots. I think the Giants are one of the best organizations in sports, and if Dallas is not in it, I will probably root for Eli and the gang in the Super Bowl (though would not throw myself under a bus if Tennesee goes all the way).
The Redskins are another story, unfortunately. I reflexively root for any team that is playing the ‘Skins. I’ve done it since I was old enough to stay up for Monday Night Football. If it is Washington against Tennessee in the Super Bowl, my heart and soul and all that is good and holy in my consciousness will compel me to cheer on the Titans, the franchise that has never gone all the way, over the franchise whose fans automatically become a mob of gloating idiots whenever they get within sniffing distance of the postseason, and I will do it with gusto.
Ahem.
But back to the having-achieved-enlightenment idea. I do think I would honestly support the Redskins in certain scenarios if they were the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. I’d root for them over the Steelers, just because I think Pittsburgh stole that Super Bowl a couple years ago based on terrible officiating. I’d root for Washington over New England on general principles. I’d probably root for them over just about any other AFC team except maybe Cleveland and Tennessee.
So there, I have said it: There are quite a number of scenarios that would have me cheering on an NFC East team other than Dallas in the Super Bowl.
My question to supporters of Washington, New York, and Philly: How is your kumbaya mojo working? Ask yourself: What match up would it take for you to actually root for another NFC East team in the Super Bowl?
The only team in the NFC east I can pull for is the Redskins. I think I would rip off my skin if I ever rooted for the other three.
Pittsburgh did not steal the Super Bowl – They put themselves in a terrific position to win. It’s that simple.
ABD – ABNY – ABP – Guess what that means??
Don’t think anyone has to worry about the Eagles this year.
I would definitely root for NY over pretty much any AFC team, mainly because I like that they keep exceeding expectations (though I am rooting for the Titans to do well, so if they played them, it would be a toss up for me). I’d also root for Dallas, because I know it would make you very, very happy if they won. Skins? Don’t think I could bring myself to root for them regardless.
So … pretty much the same as you, actually, except I still like the Steelers.
Bob, Took me a while, actually … “Anybody But.”
Right back atcha … ABW!
Just realized, I need to amend my answer. I would root for the Skins vs. the Patriots, due to that whole illegal-video-augmented Super Bowl win over the Eagles a few years ago. But I wouldn’t enjoy it. Mostly, I’d be rooting for really good commercials.
@ joe
OMG I can’t believe it. We agree on something! I too am a Cowboys fan (for me, since childhood)
Kinda hard to get my mind around the issue of rooting for another team right now, now that the Cowboys are back in it, but I would kinda like to see the Redskins win if we do not.
I just don’t want the Steelers to win it
I would root for any of them against any AFC team with the exception of the Titans. I like Jeff Fisher.
Linda B is correct, the Eagles are not going to be in contention.
The beginning of the year looked like the road to the playoffs went through the NFC east. How things change.
I would cheer for the Steelers and many other teams against Dallas – I still can’t stand them.
I have a new found affinity for the Giants for beating the smarmy Patriots last year in the Super Bowl. Eli proved his detractors wrong and I got a certain satisfaction out of that as well.
I am neutral on the Eagles.
The range of responses is about what I would have expected. A caveat I did not mention is that, once one’s preferred team falls out of contention, the whole concept of “rooting” for anyone else truly sinks by several orders of magnitude of enthusiasm.
One of the factors that does allow me to have SOME smidgen of enthusiasm for the rest of the NFC East is that over a lifetime I’ve watched and read about these teams so much.
Here in Washington, if the sports section is part of your daily ablutions, you are going to follow this local soap opera like it or not. And for the past nearly two decades, it has been quite the soap opera. So it’s gradually become hard to hate them quite like I used to.
Although as a matter of habit/nature, yeah I am an ABW guy most Sundays, just like my hair and eyes are brown, weight: 185, race: caucasion, religion: Protestant.
I agree with Joe. Living here you can’t help but pick up info on the Skins. I am personally a GIANTS fan – so things are looking good again this year. I root for them because – well – my dad help build Giants Stadium (and yes he knows where Hoffa was buried) and because everyone down here shoved the stinking Redskins in my face. So I had to root for a rival. But – I like the Colts and the Seahawks – for no really good reason. It’s just fun.
zactly..anybody but philly, anybody but New York, and ESPECIALLY anybody but dallas.
Who remembers the best hit ever in football?? No one? How about Dexter Manley hitting Danny White so hard it looked like Danny was dead except for his breath being seen in the cold weather.
I remember when Dexter Manley broke his hand and had that huge cast/club – I can’t believe it was even allowed. I haven’t seen such a huge cast since so I am thinking it is a no-no now.
Plus, Dexter was high on crack most of the time so I supposed he was hitting (and not feeling) pretty hard.
Joe – If I’m not mistaken your Dallas Cowboys play the Pittsburgh Football Steelers on 12/7.
Want to put a friendly 5 drink wager on the outcome of that game?
Something tells me that James Harrison is going to have a “date” with one Tony Romo.
What say ye?
You are on, my friend. Now let’s see, I think I will wager on the outcome wherein the Cowboys win the game, so let’s have you wager on the one where the Steelers win.
Drinks to be delivered at the establishment of the winner’s choice?
It’s a legitimate wager. Drinks to be delivered at the establishment of the winner’s choice.
We’ll circle back on this after 12/7. Cheers!