Feeling the NFL Playoffs

Cheering for other football teams is different than cheering for other hockey teams. As in, I can have two or three non-Buffalo teams in the NHL I can root for, or hope do well, without feeling like a traitor to the Sabres. Not so with the NFL. In football, the best I can feel about a team is ambivolent, especially if they’re from the same conference. When you think about how many AFC teams make the playoffs, and how often you face some of them, it’s almost not possible to like any of them.

So with that in mind, I will make my selections in upcoming games based on my level of dislike for the teams:

Kansas City at Indianapolis: I figured it best to lead off with the game that kind of ruins my hypothesis. While I used to dislike Kansas City in the early nineties, I never really hated them. And while I used to really dislike Indianapolis back when they were in the Bills division, they were always pretty benign. And now I kinda’ feel for them. Then I looked at the individual rosters: no ex-Bills to root against (or for), no ex-Dolphins, both coaches seem to be swell fellas’. Bill Polian is far enough removed from my thoughts that he doesn’t influence my rooting interest. So it comes down to this: I feel for Indy and their fans because they have been so close so many times and never gotten to the Super Bowl. As a Bills fan, I can feel that pain (except we actually DID get to the Super Bowl). So I’m pulling for Indy.

New Jersey at New England: Man, do I hate these teams. Know what it comes down to? I hate the J-E-T-S chant so fucking much, that I will actually root against them and their fans just because of that. I’m not happy to be typing it, but I guess I’ll pull for New England.

Dallas at Seattle: Most people who read this site are, I imagine, Buffalo Bills fans. I really shouldn’t need to type any further then, should I? Besides, Jim Zorn and Steve Largent used to play for Seattle; I still think Seattle’s cool because of that. Oh, okay, a quick reminder: Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Leon Lett, Alvin Harper, Nate Newton, Russell Maryland, Tony Casillas, and Jimmie God-Damned Johnson. Oh, yeah: Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells too. In fact, the only thing I like about Dallas is this site. Alright? Go ‘hawks!

New Jersey Giants at Philadelphia: Setting aside the fact I was almost killed by Philadelphia fans one year for daring to cheer for the Bills, I hold their organization no ill will. They have always been a fun team to watch, from the Ron Jaworski-Harold Carmichael years, to Randall Cunningham, to Donovan McNabb. As for New Jersey, I guess i can just type the letters “XXV” and you would all pretty much know where I am coming from.

So there you have it, Kevin’s picks from the heart. i would definitely not use these for betting purposes.