# NFL Playoffs, Who should I root for? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761 "2011-01-07T17:57:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/1 "2011-01-07T17:57:53Z")
Here’s the current schedule: [NFL 2023 - PRESEASON WEEK 2 Schedule | NFL.com](http://www.nfl.com/schedules?seasonType=POST) Hi everyone, I’m a Chicago Bears fan (Hi, Intergalactic Gladiator). Now I have my loyalties declared and ultimately I want the Bears to win the Super Bowl, of course. It could happen. So this weekend, the Beloved have a bye, who should I root for in these games? I’ve liked Kansas City a bit since I used to play as them a lot in Madden 92 and 93 way back when. I wouldn’t mind seeing Seattle win because they are now the ultimate underdog, but if they get their hats handed to them this weekend, that may prove to be fairly amusing as well. I’d like the Bears to smash either Green Bay or Philly again, so either way is OK by me, though I think the Bears match up well with Vick and would have a better time against them. With New York and Indianapolis, I’m feeling “Eh, whichever.” I kind of like the Colts, but I don’t see myself getting behind them this round. The Jets from their coach on down are pretty silly and full of braggadocio, so seeing them advance may be entertaining. OK, who should I root for? Give me the who’s and why’s. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/2 "2011-01-07T18:08:02Z")
You don’t root for another team. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/3 "2011-01-07T18:09:27Z")
Why wouldn’t I? My team isn’t playing, so there’s nothing at stake for them. Next week I’m going to root for whoever plays the Patriots. That won’t be my team playing them. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/4 "2011-01-07T18:20:11Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > You don’t root for another team. Ridiculous. I don’t like the Packers, but I’ll be rooting my ass for them since their playing the Scumbirds. I hate the Jets, but I’ll be rooting for them even more than I will the Packers, since a Jets win would keep me alive in a pool. You can _always_ find a valid reason to pick a rooting interest between two teams, especially when your team is still alive in the postseason and you’re looking ahead to potential matchups (said the Giants fan to the Bucs fan). ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/5 "2011-01-07T18:25:26Z")
Nope. You don’t root for another team. There is no other team than the one you like. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/6 "2011-01-07T18:26:47Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Ridiculous. > > I don’t like the Packers, but I’ll be rooting my ass for them since their playing the Scumbirds. > > I hate the Jets, but I’ll be rooting for them even more than I will the Packers, since a Jets win would keep me alive in a pool. > > You can _always_ find a valid reason to pick a rooting interest between two teams, especially when your team is still alive in the postseason and you’re looking ahead to potential matchups (said the Giants fan to the Bucs fan). Yeah, I’m trying to decide who to root for to match up against the Bears. I’ve been going back and forth between the Saints and the Eagles every day. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/7 "2011-01-07T18:30:52Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Nope. You don’t root for another team. There is no other team than the one you like. So, are you going to be sitting passively on your hands for the playoffs, or are you simply not watching? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/8 "2011-01-07T18:34:28Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Yeah, I’m trying to decide who to root for to match up against the Bears. I’ve been going back and forth between the Saints and the Eagles every day. If I were in your shoes, I’d be rooting for the Eagles. First, that’d mean A) that they knocked a (assuming you’re a Bears fan) hated division rival out of the playoffs, and B) the Bears will have a much softer opponent. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/9 "2011-01-07T18:42:03Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Nope. You don’t root for another team. There is no other team than the one you like. While this is correct, you can also pick the team that you hate the least or will give your favorite team the more favorable potential outcome in the next round. Neither of those requires actual liking, just a temporary lower level of loathing. For myself, I hope the Jets and the Chiefs win, because then Pittsburgh will host Kansas City, a much easier potential game than the alternatives, and the Jets might actually find the motivation to play the Patriots tough for a change, at the minimum beating them up for the Steelers. As a plus, I hate the Ravens and Colts more. That said, that is only best-casing it for the Steelers to make the Super Bowl. If they both lose I won’t be upset at all, because I hate them too. It might actually be fun to see Pittsburgh lay the wood to the Colts and the Ravens put some hurt on the Patriots. So, OP, pick a team that will make your next game easier if you absolutely must pick somebody. For the Bears you should be hoping that the Seachickens and the Packers win, because then Atlanta gets the Pack and the Bears get the “easy” game, albeit against a team that beat the Saints to get there. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/10 "2011-01-07T18:48:14Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > So, are you going to be sitting passively on your hands for the playoffs, or are you simply not watching? I’m a Lions fan. What are playoffs? You mean that’s what the span of time is before the draft coverage heats up? ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/11 "2011-01-07T18:52:10Z")
Definitely the Patriots. They haven’t won since '04. If you include all Boston pro teams, it’s still been close to 3 years since a banner’s been raised. This dry spell needs to end and end soon ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/12 "2011-01-07T19:02:11Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I’m a Lions fan. What are playoffs? You mean that’s what the span of time is before the draft coverage heats up? And once again I mix up LOUNE (Lions fan) with RNATB (Bucs fan). ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/13 "2011-01-07T19:45:55Z")
> [@Fred\_Garvin](#): > > Definitely the Patriots. They haven’t won since '04. If you include all Boston pro teams, it’s still been close to 3 years since a banner’s been raised. This dry spell needs to end and end soon You do realize that I’m a Chicago fan? 3 years is nothing when when you’re talking about the Cubs and Bears. I’m not rooting for the Patriots. They handed the Bears a most unmerciful shelacking a few weeks ago. I assume Bellicheck video taped the Bears offense some time before the game. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/14 "2011-01-07T20:51:40Z")
The Bears have an offense? Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/15 "2011-01-07T20:55:10Z")
I actually like the way the Bears match-up up against both the Saints and Eagles. If the Saints had Thomas or Ivory I’d be far more concerned about them but with the injuries on offense and homefield advantage I think the Bears are in a real good position to take them out. The Eagles are a little bit more of a feast or famine team and with all that speed they could beat anyone, but their injuries and the fact the Bears have beaten them once already this season bodes well. I think the Saints are the pick because that means the Packers are playing the Falcons and I like their odds of beating the Falcons and giving Bears homefield throughout. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/16 "2011-01-07T21:01:35Z")
**Fred Garvin’s** sarcasm was palpable, even through the internet with his pro-pats comment. also, i wouldn’t be so sure to say that the Iggles are a much softer opponent than the packers either. Vick and Desean Jackson are just the type of homerun x-factors that could really sneak up on you, cite: giants walkoff punt return game?! yeah, they might have JUST lost to the packers but it wasn’t by much. i feel like a bears-packers matchup would be more winnable than a bears-eagles matchup. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/17 "2011-01-07T22:02:58Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > also, i wouldn’t be so sure to say that the Iggles are a much softer opponent than the packers either. Vick and Desean Jackson are just the type of homerun x-factors that could really sneak up on you, cite: giants walkoff punt return game?! Exactly my point – all they have is the explosiveness factor. It’s the kind of thing that gets you onto highlight reels twice a year and a couple of “best plays of the season” slots. What it doesn’t get you is the kind of consistent wins that it takes to get through the playoffs. Simply put, _every_ football play is 30% luck. Vick-to-Jackson plays are 90% luck – they’re fucking amazing when they work, but you certainly can’t bank on them. Packers will hold them to 10 points. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-who-should-i-root-for/566761/18 "2011-01-07T22:13:52Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > The Bears have an offense? Who knew? Er, well _sometimes_ they do. 😉 Maybe he videotaped Hester returning punts.