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I had posted this earlier in the week in this unknown area of PatsFans.com, but since this is a slow bye week I figured I would re-post this here in the main forum.
Week 8 Bye Week
Who To Root For – or Against
Who To Root For – or Against
With the Pats not playing next week, other than not watching any NFL games and actually being productive, what teams will Pats fans be rooting for to win? Actually it has nothing to do with who we want to win, but everything to do with whom we want to lose. Here is a look at the Week Eight schedule; the teams in Bold are the ones I want to win, and the Underlined teams are the one I want to lose.
1. Dolphins (2-4) at Jets (4-3)
In my opinion this is the easiest call: it’s a division game; the Jets are closest to the Pats in the standings; the Jets currently own a tiebreaker with the Pats since they defeated them earlier this season; and besides, the Jets are probably more hated by New England fans than any other team. Sure, rooting for the Dolphins may be difficult to do, and there is the temptation to want to put them that much further back in the standings. Just look at it not as rooting for Miami, but strictly rooting against the Jets.
2. Texans (4-3) at Bills (3-4)
Really, really hard to put this one number two – originally I had it number six – but the Bills are still in the same division as the Pats. And until they are eliminated, division games come first. No reason to let Buffalo creep back into it, as unlikely as that may seem. Take care of the division first, then worry about where the team stands within the conference.
3. 49ers (3-3) at Colts (6-0)
Tough call to put this as low as number three on this list, but here's to rooting for SF/against Indy. In reality the Colts have actually been the Pats biggest rivals this decade, not any of the other AFC East teams. And it’s fairly evident that most here do not relish the media ever talking about how good the Colts are, or talking positively about Peyton Manning. But there really is an unemotional element to wanting the Colts to lose that has nothing to do with insuring the Pats’ record for consecutive regular season wins remains intact. Right now Indy has a better record than the Pats do, which will affect playoff seeding and home field at the end of the season. In other words, even if you don’t hate Manning, Polian, or the Colts, there is a rational reason to want them to lose next Sunday.
4. Broncos (6-0) at Ravens (3-3)
This is an extremely difficult call, but I’m going with a Denver loss and Baltimore win in this game. Obviously from strictly an emotional side I would want the Broncos to win because of the connection to Josh McDaniels and all the former Pats – and at the same time wish for the Ravens to lose due to their post-game whining, lack of poise, and (possible) deliberate attempts to injure Brady a few weeks ago. Add to that one Ray Lewis - from what happened in Atlanta to his ‘look-at-me’ schtick, and they are a very easy target to root against. But I want the Broncos to lose for the same reason that I want the Colts to lose: they are an AFC opponent with a better record than the Pats. On top of that I don’t want Baltimore to fold; I want them to continue to play other teams like the Steelers tough.
5. Falcons (4-2) at Saints (6-0)
I’m pulling for Atlanta for a couple reasons. One, I want other teams to get it over with and lose so Pats fans don’t turn into replicas of Don Shula and Mercury Morris, celebrating the last team to lose its first game every year. Just lose so we don’t have to endure that talk and the comparisons. Second, with a win perhaps Atlanta can provide some information that the Pats coaches can use to their benefit in terms of weaknesses about the Saints that they can use to their benefit when those two teams meet later this year. Third, why not root for Matt Ryan and Thomas Dimitroff. Fourth, the Falcon fans that were here a few weeks ago seemed pretty cool. Fifth, with a loss or two before the Saints meet the Pats, maybe they’ll have a bit less confidence in themselves.
6. Browns (1-6) at Bears (3-3)
Two words: Eric Mangini.
7. Vikings (6-1) at Packers (4-2)
Sorry Brett fans, but I really did not care for the way Favre strung the Packers along every year, I didn’t care for the way he tried to manipulate public opinion in training camp a year ago, and I absolutely do not buy his comments about “this not being about revenge.” If that’s not enough, if Minnesota wins do you really want the media to start trying to tell us what a great coach Brad Childress is?
8. Raiders (2-5) at Chargers (3-3)
I would really like to see the look on Mr. Classy’s face if San Diego loses to Oakland. Besides, after being sent to the Black Hole, Richard Seymour would surely enjoy this win as well.
9. Giants (5-2) at Eagles (4-2)
I don’t think we need any more “Eli is great” stories, or rewinds of the Tyree catch for a while.
10. Jaguars (3-3) at Titans (0-6)
Do I feel sorry for Jeff Fisher? Rodney Harrison's knee says no.
11. Seahawks (2-4) at Cowboys (4-2)
I guess I’ll root for former Eagle Matt Hasselbeck. And with some more Dallas losses, maybe the networks will finally stop showing every Cowboy game on television. So sorry, Jerry Jones.
12. Rams (0-7) at Lions (1-5)
If St. Louis loses to Detroit, will Marshall Faulk blame it on the Pats?
13. Jaguars (3-3) at Titans (0-6)
If the two were playing anybody else, I’d be rooting for both of them to lose since the Pats have draft picks obtained from each of these teams. I’m not even going to attempt to try and figure out which of those picks would be better to be higher or lower than the other one.
That’s my list of teams to root for and against this week; what’s yours?
