Your Most Dreaded SB Match-Up

Ferm Sheller

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As a Pats fan, I absolutely hate this year's SB match-up and I'm trying to figure out where it stands against two others that I absolutely dreaded: (1) XXX -- Pittsburgh v. Dallas and (2) XIX -- SF v. Miami. (The first SB I ever saw was XV -- Oakland v. Philly, so I can't say I had the opportunity to dread any previous match-up.)

What was your most dreaded match-up headed into the big game?
 

Ale Xander

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Indy Chicago probably

2nd probably Washington Buffalo or Denver Carolina

So basically I hated Peyton when he was a player (but like him now post-retirement)


(Jets/Fins haven't been there in ages, I liked Kaepernick [v. Ravens], and the 3 recent Pitt opponents, and I liked the Parcells Giants)
 

RSN Diaspora

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As a Pats fan, I absolutely hate this year's SB match-up and I'm trying to figure out where it stands against two others that I absolutely dreaded: (1) XXX -- Pittsburgh v. Dallas and (2) XIX -- SF v. Miami. (The first SB I ever saw was XV -- Oakland v. Philly, so I can't say I had the opportunity to dread any previous match-up.)

What was your most dreaded match-up headed into the big game?
Dread/hate as in "dislike both teams enough to just root for injuries" or as in "boy this is gonna be tough for my preferred squad"?
 

Ferm Sheller

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Indy Chicago probably

2nd probably Washington Buffalo or Denver Carolina

So basically I hated Peyton when he was a player (but like him now post-retirement)
I can see hating Indy, but I don't get the Chicago hate (unless it was lingering hard feelings over SB XX, but that was 20 years prior).
 

ThePrideofShiner

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Patriots-Falcons involved two teams I hate, but that was mostly because I didn't trust the Falcons to actually win (which obviously was true).

I think the worst I can imagine would be Cowboys-Pats. Who would I root for?
 

Ferm Sheller

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Dread/hate as in "dislike both teams enough to just root for injuries" or as in "boy this is gonna be tough for my preferred squad"?
Good question. Dread as in I absolutely loathe both of these teams and their fanbases and wish a comet would wipe out civilization sometime before the game.
 

Hendu for Kutch

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Jets - Giants would be pretty goddamn awful. At least with teams I hate situated further away, I can just shut it off and don't really have to hear about it unless I go searching it out. NY is too close to do so.
 

Ale Xander

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I can see hating Indy, but I don't get the Chicago hate (unless it was lingering hard feelings over SB XX, but that was 20 years prior).
Some of it is that (first SB I ever watched), and Cubs fans are the worst, and I thought Chi was a paper tiger (mainly because of QB) and i knew they were gonna give Peyton a win.
 

BaseballJones

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Most dreaded matchup in real time? Hmmmm. I hated the second Buffalo-Dallas game because we had just seen that play out and I had no interest in a repeat. I really wasn't a fan of Pittsburgh-Seattle - that had boring stinkfest written all over it. I wasn't a fan of Giants-Ravens because I hated the Ravens and I knew they would crush the Giants.
 

Ale Xander

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In the theoretical, a Jets/Giants Super Bowl would be Armageddon, especially for those of us who live and/or work around a lot of NY fans.
Jets - Giants would be pretty goddamn awful. At least with teams I hate situated further away, I can just shut it off and don't really have to hear about it unless I go searching it out. NY is too close to do so.
Didn't realize this was a science fiction thread.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Packers Dolphins.

I don't know. I can think of a nearly infinite number that I would fucking despise, including this year's.
 

RSN Diaspora

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Good question. Dread as in I absolutely loathe both of these teams and their fanbases and wish a comet would wipe out civilization sometime before the game.
Oh. I'm biased because an Eagles win means my in-laws yammering on about it and my casual fan wife somehow insisting that 2 SBs is as good as 6 because DeflategateCheatersTomAndGiselle, but this one is pretty bad. And on the other side of the ball, if you've ever looked at a Chiefs message board you would begin to understand exactly why A&W's campaign of selling 1/3 pound burgers for the same price as a McD's Quarter Pounder was unsuccessful because too many people thought the Quarter Pounder was bigger. So this SB will be in the echelon of a Dolphins v. Cowboys SB, which would also suck.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Some of it is that (first SB I ever watched), and Cubs fans are the worst, and I thought Chi was a paper tiger (mainly because of QB) and i knew they were gonna give Peyton a win.
Off the top of my head, that Chicago team could have been the worst SB team in history. Pats never blew anyone out in the SB, but I can't see how they wouldn't have beaten that Chicago team by at least 14 points. (Maybe the rain would have helped keep scoring down?)
 

Ferm Sheller

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Oh. I'm biased because an Eagles win means my in-laws yammering on about it and my casual fan wife somehow insisting that 2 SBs is as good as 6 because DeflategateCheatersTomAndGiselle, but this one is pretty bad. And on the other side of the ball, if you've ever looked at a Chiefs message board you would begin to understand exactly why A&W's campaign of selling 1/3 pound burgers for the same price as a McD's Quarter Pounder was unsuccessful because too many people thought the Quarter Pounder was bigger. So this SB will be in the echelon of a Dolphins v. Cowboys SB, which would also suck.
That Chiefs message board is America at its worst. There's no cleaning it up, it should simply be torn down and burned.
 

Ale Xander

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If we're going by hypotheticals, I'd probably go an AFC CG between Miami and NYJ over any SB matchup.

Going by hypothetical AFC v. NFC, either the above Jets Giants or probably more than that, Dolphins Giants, especially being in SFL.
 

nolasoxfan

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Most dreaded matchup in real time? Hmmmm. I hated the second Buffalo-Dallas game because we had just seen that play out and I had no interest in a repeat. I really wasn't a fan of Pittsburgh-Seattle - that had boring stinkfest written all over it. I wasn't a fan of Giants-Ravens because I hated the Ravens and I knew they would crush the Giants.
All of the matchups @BaseballJones cites above + this year's stank fest, which I will not watch.
 

InstaFace

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Pittsburgh (or Oakland) vs ... let's say the NY Giants.

Absolutely insufferable fanbases I have to hear from on a regular basis, who should never be given additional reasons to brag.

I have a hard time ginning up a lot of negative energy for most NFC teams, though. A lot are just sad, and the few that aren't sad are either a great story themselves (Green Bay, minus Rodgers anyway), or way too much of a hegemon but presently are eminently likeable (49ers). Like, how am I gonna get upset at, I dunno, the Saints or the Vikings?

I understand the hate for Dallas or Philly but just can't match it myself. I probably wouldn't be thrilled with a Dallas SB win, but I'd deal with it. And as long as Snyder's sale goes through, I won't wish the Commanders any further ill.
 

BaseballJones

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If we're going by hypotheticals, I'd probably go an AFC CG between Miami and NYJ over any SB matchup.

Going by hypothetical AFC v. NFC, either the above Jets Giants or probably more than that, Dolphins Giants, especially being in SFL.
Like you, I hate the Jets. But…why? Division rival yea but basically, aside from one game, they’ve been completely harmless to the Patriots.
 

luckiestman

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I don’t really hate laundry (in the NFL) that much. So I feel differently about different iterations of teams. If force to pick I would go:

Fish/Dallas

But I don’t even hate these teams anymore.
 

CantKeepmedown

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I remember kinda dreading the Ravens/Niners match up from a few years ago. Mostly because the Ravens had just beaten us up, but I've never really liked either Harbaugh brother. So that was two weeks of blah.

I'm not finding this one all that bad. As much as I hated that SB loss to the Eagles I feel like I've kinda gotten over it. And even if I could whip up some hatred for Philly, it would be double for KC and their fans. I will comfortably be pulling for Philly in a couple weeks.
 

Ale Xander

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Like you, I hate the Jets. But…why? Division rival yea but basically, aside from one game, they’ve been completely harmless to the Patriots.
geography

In addition to the MFY, I also hate the Knicks, Nets, Devils,, Rangers, Liberty, and the Gotham.

For some reason, I don't hate the Mets (sort of like enemy of enemy reasons) and the Isles (success before my time) really. I understand the Jets share the fandom of those two, but I guess my dislike isn't completely rational.

And the below.
 

BigSoxFan

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Like you, I hate the Jets. But…why? Division rival yea but basically, aside from one game, they’ve been completely harmless to the Patriots.
Well, that one game had a decent chance of costing the Pats a ring. That 2010 team was 14-2 and really good. May have kept Rodgers ringless as well so no “Discount Double Check” commercials.
 

johnmd20

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If we're talking about real matches, this one is it for me. Not sure if I'll bother watching TBH.
I agree. I haven't been this disgusted by a SB matchup in my life.

But I'll watch because I am now officially an Eagles fan in the next two weeks. That bag job by the refs for KC has left me basically wearing a Randall Cunningham, Mike Schmidt and Rod Brind'Amour jerseys. Simultaneously. Anyone but KC.
 

54thMA

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This one goes to the top of the list for me, won't watch one second of it, could give two shits who wins.

Right behind this one is Bucs/Chiefs, then Panthers/Broncos, then Seahawks/Broncos, then Seahawks/Steelers.
 

BaseballJones

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Well, that one game had a decent chance of costing the Pats a ring. That 2010 team was 14-2 and really good. May have kept Rodgers ringless as well so no “Discount Double Check” commercials.
Regarding that team, here's a snippet from Matthew Slater in my upcoming book....

“I’ll say to this day,” Matthew recalls. “I don’t think we were one of the best teams in the league. We were the best team in the league. That team in 2010 was one of the best teams I’ve ever been on, including the ones that won championships. I believe that we were going to win that game (the Super Bowl that year). A lot of us did. To lose to the Jets in the divisional round was painful. It added to the doubt that had been creeping in of whether or not we could ever get back to the level of 2004 and win another championship.”
 

BusRaker

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Going off of the fan bases alone I think Eagles - Jets would barely eek out this years Chiefs - Eagles rendition

Jets Eagles ... OMFG
 

Anthologos

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Patriots-Falcons involved two teams I hate, but that was mostly because I didn't trust the Falcons to actually win (which obviously was true).

I think the worst I can imagine would be Cowboys-Pats. Who would I root for?
I don't doubt that most of the country would hate that matchup and, as established in another thread, would root for the asteroid.

having lived in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and doing so as a Boston guy who loves the local teams, I can say their fanbases are insufferable. No offense to our resident fans here, who are fine and proper people. But I would listen to my neighbors in Pitt watching the Pats—Steelers games, and the Eagles-Pats super Bowl, though the thin walls, and heard some terrifying threats made at the poor pixels on their TV screen.

And as everyone knows, Boston fans are sweet and loving, modest about success and generous always toward visiting teams and fans

as for the teams themselves…I love the old time Steel Curtain teams and the Pitt history, and I actually enjoyed living in both cities. Good teams, good cities…insane fans. Not like here at all. Boston sports fans are the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful beings you have ever known.
 
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Anthologos

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To answer the original question …now that I’m older I don’t hate like I used to. I don’t even hate the Yankees anymore…I think the duller Super Bowl would have been between two teams that are wounded or unexciting…Ravens—Seahawks maybe. With a hurt Lamar and an errant Geno, who knows what would have resulted.
 

BigSoxFan

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Regarding that team, here's a snippet from Matthew Slater in my upcoming book....

“I’ll say to this day,” Matthew recalls. “I don’t think we were one of the best teams in the league. We were the best team in the league. That team in 2010 was one of the best teams I’ve ever been on, including the ones that won championships. I believe that we were going to win that game (the Super Bowl that year). A lot of us did. To lose to the Jets in the divisional round was painful. It added to the doubt that had been creeping in of whether or not we could ever get back to the level of 2004 and win another championship.”
Nice. I believe it. They were destroying teams down the stretch outside of that weird Packers game.

45-24
45-3
36-7
31-27
34-3
38-7

Just an absolute wagon. They went 14-3 that year, two losses to the Jets. Completely reinvented themselves after getting rid of Moss. That Jets loss was one of the more disappointing ones during the decade of “disappointment” (all relative, yes). Was just so unexpected. I’ll forever blame Alge Crumpler for dropping that early TD. Bad juju right from the onset.
 

rodderick

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Nice. I believe it. They were destroying teams down the stretch outside of that weird Packers game.

45-24
45-3
36-7
31-27
34-3
38-7

Just an absolute wagon. They went 14-3 that year, two losses to the Jets. Completely reinvented themselves after getting rid of Moss. That Jets loss was one of the more disappointing ones during the decade of “disappointment” (all relative, yes). Was just so unexpected. I’ll forever blame Alge Crumpler for dropping that early TD. Bad juju right from the onset.
That defense wasn't good and a lot of their success was turnover driven, so their luck was about to run out sooner or later. I don't see a scenario in which the Packers don't hang 30+ on them in the Super Bowl. The offense was amazing and could have still pulled a win off, though. I still think the 2015 team was better and would have won the Super Bowl were it not for injuries.
 

deanx0

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Packers/Steelers--It's not just Rodgers for Green Bay; I just feel like Packer fans are a bit too self-important "we're the best fans in America" crap, similar to St. Louis Cardinal fans. And of course I don't want the Steelers to win any more Super Bowls
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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I grew up a Steelers fan since my father is from Pittsburgh so I absorbed a loathing for the Cowboys, and now living in TX makes me hate them even more. They just fucking self-annointed themselves "America's Team"!?!??!? WTF!!!!
Cowboys are the only NFC team I really hate. I seriously dislike the Giants and Eagles.
AFC teams- Jets, Colts, and now I've grown to hate the Steelers, and Ravens (used to like them too since I lived in Baltimore in the late 90's)
 

tims4wins

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That defense wasn't good and a lot of their success was turnover driven, so their luck was about to run out sooner or later. I don't see a scenario in which the Packers don't hang 30+ on them in the Super Bowl. The offense was amazing and could have still pulled a win off, though. I still think the 2015 team was better and would have won the Super Bowl were it not for injuries.
Agreed, they ended up near the bottom in all defensive metrics. Turnovers and front-running team. They couldn't stop the Jets when they needed to in the 2nd half of that divisional game.

The 2015 team was a juggernaut until all the injuries. But they sustained so many that it's hard to even compare. They might have gone undefeated.
 

Rudy's Curve

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Agreed, they ended up near the bottom in all defensive metrics. Turnovers and front-running team. They couldn't stop the Jets when they needed to in the 2nd half of that divisional game.

The 2015 team was a juggernaut until all the injuries. But they sustained so many that it's hard to even compare. They might have gone undefeated.
As a fan of a team who also felt what could've been in 2015, first by Dalton's injury when he was having a career year and then the officiating atrocity in the playoff game, that never struck me as one of the best Pats teams. It's probably because they played such an easy schedule (got the AFCS and NFCE which were by far the two worst divisions), but admittedly I don't know how hurt they were at the end.
 

tims4wins

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As a fan of a team who also felt what could've been in 2015, first by Dalton's injury when he was having a career year and then the officiating atrocity in the playoff game, that never struck me as one of the best Pats teams. It's probably because they played such an easy schedule (got the AFCS and NFCE which were by far the two worst divisions), but admittedly I don't know how hurt they were at the end.
Gronk, Edelman, Solder, Blount, and Dion Lewis all went down, among others. They were 10-0 when they went to Denver in the snow. Led 21-7 early 4th. This was without Solder, Lewis, or Edelman IIRC. Gronk got hurt during that game and left. The Pats muffed a punt which led to a TD, then lost in OT. They finished 2-4 in their last 6 due to both the injuries and some other crazy stuff happening. But through 10 games they were +141 points - they were winning by 2 TDs a week on average. It wasn't quite the 2007 Pats, but that is pretty freaking dominant.

You're right that the schedule was pretty easy though.
 

astrozombie

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In terms of SBs played which I watched, I hated Raiders/Bucs in 2003. I just thought both teams had a bunch of unlikable players, plus the Raiders fans I knew incessant whining over the Tuck Rule game the year before. Gruden's schtick always bothered me and years later, he turned out even worse than I thought.
That said - I think KC/Philly this year will be worse than that one.
 

Al Zarilla

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How about this one, Chiefs-Eagles. I don't even watch the Chiefs at home (KC) anymore mostly due to the Native American slur shit the fans do all game. Can't stand Mahomes either. And Kelce. I probably dislike the Cowboys as much the Eagles, come to think of it, but they never get there LOL.
 

BaseballJones

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I don't get the hate for Mahomes. Why do people dislike him?
He really hasn't done anything wrong. It's that he's a great quarterback playing for a rival team and he seems like a really major hurdle for our team to overcome.

I guarantee you, every Pats fan except for maybe an extreme few would LOVE to have this guy quarterbacking the Pats.