2020 Playoffs: Who You Rooting For Now?

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
24,629
At this point, I just want to see great football and hope anyone but Baltimore wins. This past weekend's games were amazing (Pats' outcome notwithstanding). It will actually be super relaxing to just watch great football without the stress of having a real emotional investment in the games. Don't get me wrong, OBVIOUSLY I'd rather have that emotional investment with the Pats being in it, but it's not the worst thing ever to get a once-a-decade break from that.
 

54thMA

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Aug 15, 2012
10,166
Westwood MA
Yeah, I'm taking Vrabel & Titans off my rooting list #ABTBR

*Anyone But The Baltimore Ravens
He was never on my list.

And yeah, I get it, he won, let him gloat, if you want to shut him up, beat his team...blah, blah, blah.

He's a snarky smart ass.

Man oh man did getting traded really go up his ass sideways.

Get over it already.
 

Bergs

funky and cold
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Jul 22, 2005
21,686
1) Vikings
2) Anyone else from the NFC
3) Anyone from the AFC not named "The Ravens" - preference towards non-KC teams
4) Nuclear holocaust
5) There is no #5
6) Ravens
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
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Dec 4, 2005
19,615
Portsmouth, NH
You are pretty sure most franchises have a domestic abuser? Solid reasoning to justify rooting for the Chiefs and Tyreek Hill.

I look forward to your thoughts on the Yankees and Chapman and German going forward.
Thanks.

I look forward to you showing where I said I was rooting for Tyreke Hill. Numbers dictate that yes, there's probably someone guilty of domestic abuse in most any franchise; you're talking about probably 150 people, minimum, that are employed, per team. I'd be willing to bet that yes, most have someone that did something. Color me jaded if you like.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
22,058
Pittsburgh, PA
I don’t get the Chiefs support. I like Mahomes and I like the city itself, but a franchise that employs Tyreke Hill shouldn’t be awarded. And Andy Reid has a history with players involved in domestic violence. Yeah, he’s been around a long time, but so what?
Another way of framing it is "Andy Reid has a belief that lost souls can turn their lives around with the right structure and support, and is committed to the rehab of the person, not just the exploitation of his talents". There have been very long articles about this, and it's rooted in the incidents that led to Andy Reid's addict son dying of a heroin overdose. It's a lot more complex than just "a history with players involved in domestic violence", in his specific case. There are many teams that are happy to look past DV incidents - the Giants and kicker Josh Brown frankly seems as egregious to me as any of them - but I don't think "look past" is accurate in the case of Reid.

The harder part for me is that the fanbase - as exemplified by ChiefsPlanet - seems to be populated by the worst racist assholes we've seen surface this side of white supremacy sites. But there are assholes in every fanbase, including ours, and I'm not prepared to let that really determine how much I enjoy seeing this player or that coach enjoy professional success.
 

Shaky Walton

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Nov 20, 2019
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For me, it's who are you rooting against? With the Eagles now out, I'm down to Anyone But the Chiefs and Ravens.

If forced to actually choose a team, I would go with the Niners/Jimmy G. As happy as I am that the Pats kept Brady, Jimmy was fun to root for as a Patriot and didn't exactly shoot his way out of town. But this is a low level preference and is dwarfed by rooting interest against the two AFC teams I mentioned.
 

Al Zarilla

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Dec 8, 2005
59,235
San Andreas Fault
I am rooting for the historical Superbowl IV rematch, MIN vs. KC.
Keep matriculating the ball down the field boys?

SF-Bal would be a rematch, if not too historic. I would love to see Jimmy, Kittle, Bosa and Shanny with a brilliant game plan kick the shit out of Baltimore.
 

BornToRun

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Jun 4, 2011
17,454
Titans or SanFran. The Titans might be populated by bitter ex-Patriots but they’re still former Pats that contributed to championship teams and contributed a lot while on the roster so I wouldn’t be upset to see them pull it off. As for the 9ers, well I’ll always have a soft spot for Jimmy G.
 

Flunky

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Keep matriculating the ball down the field boys?

SF-Bal would be a rematch, if not too historic. I would love to see Jimmy, Kittle, Bosa and Shanny with a brilliant game plan kick the shit out of Baltimore.
One of my earliest memories of being old enough to ditch church on a Sunday was watching the NFL films sb4 episode, marveling at Stram's coaching... it's nostalgia I guess.

I think it went Three Stooges episodes, NFL films episodes, then the early games, all while avoiding the concept of Sunday night homework.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
24,629
I hate Baltimore but I’d love a Baltimore-KC AFCCG matchup, followed by the winner taking on SF. That would be pretty compelling (and stress free!) playoff football.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Teams left ranked by (approx.) latitude, south to north:

Texans 29.760

Titans 36.163
49ers 37.354
Chiefs 39.100
Ravens 39.390

Packers 44.513
Vikings 44.978
Seahawks 47.606

(FYI, Pats are 42.080, so geographically, Pats fans should root for the Packers)
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
73,080
In terms of (driving) distance to Miami Gardens, FL (site of SB LIV), the rankings are as follows:

Titans: 897 miles
Ravens: 1085 miles
Texans: 1175 miles

Chiefs: 1449 miles
Packers: 1576 miles
Vikings: 1740 miles

49ers; 2997 miles
Seahawks: 3284 miles
 

Willie Clay's Big Play

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Jan 30, 2017
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Whoever can beat Baltimore and really annoy Harbaugh is my team. Chiefs or Niners, I’ll always have a soft spot for Jimmy G.

I’m also surrounded by chief’s fans and though I’d never tell them this I’d like to see them and Reid win one.
 

RIFan

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Jul 19, 2005
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I'm routing for a strike that cancels the playoffs. (I'm that bitter about the national rejoicing of the Pat's elimination). If pushed, I'd go with the Vikings. I think their fanbase will be the least obnoxious. Outside of the WBNA Lynx they haven't had a major championship since the '91 twins. The Vikings, of course, lost 4 Super Bowls so they would be a great story. The last thing I want is an AFC champion. The NFL will end up scheduling the Pats on the night of the banner raising and I want no part of that.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
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I'm routing for a strike that cancels the playoffs. (I'm that bitter about the national rejoicing of the Pat's elimination). If pushed, I'd go with the Vikings. I think their fanbase will be the least obnoxious. Outside of the WBNA Lynx they haven't had a major championship since the '91 twins. The Vikings, of course, lost 4 Super Bowls so they would be a great story. The last thing I want is an AFC champion. The NFL will end up scheduling the Pats on the night of the banner raising and I want no part of that.
On the other hand, the national rejoicing is because the Pats have won FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE titles in the AFC, and was a play or a toss-up coaching decision from five in a row. Words fail me at describing how absurd that is. They hate us 'cause they ain't us, and it's hard to get any more direct evidence than that. Nobody is rejoicing at the Saints being out; nobody feels threatened by them or is tired of seeing them win so damn much.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

Homeland Security
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Dec 4, 2005
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On the other hand, the national rejoicing is because the Pats have won FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE titles in the AFC, and was a play or a toss-up coaching decision from five in a row. Words fail me at describing how absurd that is. They hate us 'cause they ain't us, and it's hard to get any more direct evidence than that. Nobody is rejoicing at the Saints being out; nobody feels threatened by them or is tired of seeing them win so damn much.
The Saints win so damn much? They've had a nice little window last 3, but that's also coming off 4/5 years winning 7 games.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
32,762
Every time I read the thread title I imagine I am talking to a boar and the boar answers Cespedes.
 

Flunky

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well, there goes the sb4 nostalgia trip. now, adjusting preferences, I will go for the hypothetical Montana rematch. firmly rooting for the Chiefs.

though a Mahomes/Wilson SB would be great.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
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I just want good games like tonight and last week. Early game sucked today.

Im slightly rooting against the Packers because Rodgers kind of annoys me.
 

j44thor

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Aug 1, 2006
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2013 was last year NE season didn't end with a win or loss to SB champs, here's to Vrabel and Henry keeping that streak alive
 

SMU_Sox

queer eye for the next pats guy
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Jul 20, 2009
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I'm pretty bummed Lamar is out.

I am on the KC bandwagon. I liked Mahomes a lot in the 2017 class and I feel that Andy Reid deserves a SB win. I believe it would put him in the HoF too as a coach and that he does belong there.

I also like the Titans and the 49ers. Really at this point anyone but GB.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
73,080
I loooooooooooved DT way back when. Probably my favorite non-Patriot of all time. But this franchise ruined Joe Montana, Marcus Allen and Scott Pioli for me, not to mention the off-the field woes they've had, they can f right off.
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
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1) Ten


2) GB
3) SF




4) KC
Except switch GB and SF. I cares less about the franchise competition than Rodgers is GOAT discussion that will happen if he even gets to the NFCCG. I would compare him to Jeter, except that he actually is one of the best at his position, but he gets free pass from the media all the time. I mean during deflategate he was on record of doing the opposite to over inflate balls, and nary a peep. Also Olivia Munn ruins every scene she is in in everything.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Except switch GB and SF. I cares less about the franchise competition than Rodgers is GOAT discussion that will happen if he even gets to the NFCCG. I would compare him to Jeter, except that he actually is one of the best at his position, but he gets free pass from the media all the time. I mean during deflategate he was on record of doing the opposite to over inflate balls, and nary a peep. Also Olivia Munn ruins every scene she is in in everything.
He didn't make it into 100/100, so I think we're fine in the GOAT discussion. Blame the media, not him.

I like Packers owners a lot more than the Debartolo-Yorks. Plus Lafleur coached Matt Ryan so I'll always like him for 2 reasons.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
24,629
The skinny...

Ten: Obvious Pats' ties with Vrabel, Butler, Logan Ryan, Dion Lewis, etc. The underdogs. And it would keep the streak alive of the Pats either winning it all or losing to the eventual SB champ (streak since 2013). Which is kinda cool. Plus, it would make the Pats' loss to them much more palatable. Especially if they somehow were to manhandle KC and then the NFC opponent; the Pats could possibly be the team that played them the most straight-up.

KC: Whatever else anyone may say about him, Mahomes is electric. Very fun for the game. I like Andy Reid a lot. KC lost in such heartbreaking fashion last year (well for THEM; for US it was glorious) that it would make a great story for them to win it all this year. But...they have a bunch of not-so-good people on that team and I don't really like them, frankly.

SF: JG on the 49ers. That would be very fun. I simply have nothing against that franchise and never have. But it would be all about "JG vs. TB" and I really don't want to deal with that.

GB: It's kind of hard to believe they're here because they weren't THAT great this year. But Rodgers is excellent, obviously. This would definitely fuel the GOAT argument all over again if Rodgers wins, because suddenly two Lombardis puts Rodgers in a rare group of QBs. I don't really want to deal with THAT either, even though TB is on obviously solid ground. I just don't want to entertain those stupid GB fans (or national fans) that want to open that up again.

Anyway for me then, it's:
(1) Ten
(2) SF
(3) GB
(4) KC
 

SeoulSoxFan

I Want to Hit the World with Rocket Punch
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Jun 27, 2006
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A Scud Away from Hell
(1) Ten
(2) SF
(3) GB
(4) KC
I like Reid and Mahomes enough to cover up the stink of Hill and that stupid chant. So my order:

1. Titans aka Don't-Call-Us-the-Patriots-South
2. Niners aka Pornstar Jimmy & the Chocolate Factory
3. Chiefs aka Mahomes & Friends
4. Packers aka Mr. Sulking Rogers in the Neighborhood

Titans & Niners would be the most intersting SB matchup. Chiefs and Packers would probably make me watch just the highlights.
 

heavyde050

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Nov 17, 2006
11,257
San Francisco
The skinny...

Ten: Obvious Pats' ties with Vrabel, Butler, Logan Ryan, Dion Lewis, etc. The underdogs. And it would keep the streak alive of the Pats either winning it all or losing to the eventual SB champ (streak since 2013). Which is kinda cool. Plus, it would make the Pats' loss to them much more palatable. Especially if they somehow were to manhandle KC and then the NFC opponent; the Pats could possibly be the team that played them the most straight-up.

KC: Whatever else anyone may say about him, Mahomes is electric. Very fun for the game. I like Andy Reid a lot. KC lost in such heartbreaking fashion last year (well for THEM; for US it was glorious) that it would make a great story for them to win it all this year. But...they have a bunch of not-so-good people on that team and I don't really like them, frankly.

SF: JG on the 49ers. That would be very fun. I simply have nothing against that franchise and never have. But it would be all about "JG vs. TB" and I really don't want to deal with that.

GB: It's kind of hard to believe they're here because they weren't THAT great this year. But Rodgers is excellent, obviously. This would definitely fuel the GOAT argument all over again if Rodgers wins, because suddenly two Lombardis puts Rodgers in a rare group of QBs. I don't really want to deal with THAT either, even though TB is on obviously solid ground. I just don't want to entertain those stupid GB fans (or national fans) that want to open that up again.

Anyway for me then, it's:
(1) Ten
(2) SF
(3) GB
(4) KC
That is my issue with SF (and I live out here) - any success by Jimmy G leads to several stories about how the Pats didn’t get enough for him (true) and they messed up keeping Brady (false). I have absolutely nothing against the 49ers, but 100% don’t want Jimmy G winning the Super Bowl solely because of the hot takes (not JG’s fault).
Go Titans, Packers, or Chiefs.
 
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