The NFL playoff field is down to just four teams. In the AFC, the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos will fight for a spot in the Super Bowl. While in the NFC, it’s between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.
With no NFC North rival team to root against, Detroit Lions fans no longer have a clear rooting interest in the two conference championship games. And if you’re the type that roots for the ever-struggling franchise with little-to-no historic success, you’re out of options there, too. Here was the last championship for each franchise:
Patriots: 2018
Broncos: 2015
Rams: 2021
Seahawks: 2013
Ugh. Some fan base that has already celebrated a Super Bowl in the past dozen years will get to do so again. Maybe one year…
Anyway, for those reasons alone, it doesn’t really seem like there’s a team to really get behind, but I’m curious if any of you feel differently. Today’s Question of the Day is:
Is there any playoff team still worth rooting for?
My answer: I guess I’m still rooting for the Rams.
I’ve mentioned this before, but as a lifelong Matthew Stafford fan, I would like to see him build out his resume enough to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He may get his first MVP this year, which would be a huge help to get him his gold jacket, but a second Super Bowl ring—and maybe a Super Bowl MVP—would really push things over the top for him.
But even Stafford getting into the Hall of Fame would provide some mixed feelings. With the majority of his team success coming with the Rams, I’m not sure he’d even be recognized as a Lion in his HOF induction. That wouldn’t completely spoil it for me because I’m simply a fan of the player, but it certainly would feel strange.
And the Rams’ success would also bring out some frustration that the Stafford/Goff trade that was supposed to eventually set Los Angeles back due to the loss of draft capital, has proved to be a huge win for the Rams. They’ve managed to climb themselves out of the draft pick hole to surpass the Lions again after it appeared Detroit had jumped them.
That is all to say that I have mixed feelings about rooting for the Rams. But I’m still rooting for them over a Seahawks franchise that has caused the Lions a lot of recent pain, a Patriots team that is impossible to root for even with Brady/Belichick gone, and a Broncos team led by a coach who seems like a jerk.
So… yeah. This group of teams is pretty unlikable.
Do you see it differently? Offer your thoughts in the comment section by scrolling down and sharing your thoughts.
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