If your favorite team is in the Super Bowl, congratulations! It's an exciting time for you. But for the rest of us, we need to figure out who we're rooting for on Sunday. It might be based on a relative who lives near one of the cities, or a favorite player or something even more flimsy. But one way another, we'll pick someone.
If you're having trouble deciding, maybe the following advice will help.
If you want fantasy stars to win, you'll root for Kansas City. Once one side, you have Mahomes, Hill, Kelce and a bunch of occasional fantasy standouts. On the other side you have Kittle. That's about it. What other 49er would you feel comfortable starting in your 2020 lineup (aside from the defense)? Great team, some great individual performances, but not much in the way of fantasy prospects. KC represents fantasy interests in this one.
If you like old-school football, you'll root for San Francisco. It's not a perfect analogy, but if Kansas City is the "fantasy" team, then San Francisco is the "traditional" team. They're not flashy but they play good defense (though, technically, SF scored more points this year and KC allowed fewer points). The 49ers should run the ball more, try to control the clock and slow down Kansas City's best weapons. If you like basic, solid football, they're probably your team.
If you hate the Patriots, you'll root for San Francisco. With the uncertainty surrounding where Tom Brady will play in 2020, New England might have to watch the former heir apparent win a ring for someone else. I'm still not sure how the smartest brain trust in the history of the game failed to keep Garoppolo around. It would have to sting a little to watch him claim the Lombardi Trophy for another team.
If you believe in "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," you'll root for Kansas City. Andy Reid holds the unfortunate record for most coaching wins in the NFL without a championship. To say he's due would be an understatement, and it would be an important addition to his coaching resume. Plus, he seems like a good guy.
If you want to support a city that hasn't won anything recently, you won't root for either team. Kansas City and San Francisco have been pretty successful over the past few years in terms of sports titles. The Giants won their most recent World Series in 2014, and the Warriors have wrapped up an impressive run that claimed three of the past five NBA titles.
In Kansas City, the Royals won a World Series in 2015, and the Blues won their first-ever Stanley Cup last season. If you're watching from a city that hasn't cheered a champion in more than a decade, you won't identify with either city.
If you don't want the Steelers or Patriots to be the only team with six Super Bowl wins, you'll root for San Francisco. If you want to see a team end a 50-year Super Bowl drought, you'll root for Kansas City.
If you're obsessed with music you'll root for San Francisco, and it's not even close. One city has Journey, Carlos Santana, Steve Miller, the Dead Kennedys, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone and plenty more. The other has Charlie Parker. A true legend, but he can't do it alone. It's a musical rout.
If you're watching for the commercials, you'll root for Bill Murray. He was spotted filming an ad, and the Super Bowl happens to fall on Groundhog Day this year. You can probably put things together from there.
And if all you care about is getting a good Super Bowl square, you'll root for 0,0. According to this article it's the best one to have.
Okay, so what else is there? NFL vs. AFL? Barbecue vs. clam chowder bread bowls? At that point, it doesn't really matter. On paper, it looks like a great game. Different styles and different storylines. But the winner will have earned it by facing the best competition available in the other conference. Unless you have an allegiance to a different team, a matchup like this is the best we could have hoped for.
You could also hope for some extra glory by winning your playoff fantasy contest, of course. If you're still in it, good luck this week.
Who do you want to win? What's your prediction for the game? Who's your MVP? Share your thoughts below.
13 Reader Comments:
Bruce Sadler
A tough Defense vs a high powered offense just hope it is a good game .
But too choose I guess KC has waited 50 long years and probably should have been there last year vs the Rams so
KC 38 9ers 32
ROBERT JOHNSON
NICK FRITZ
Ben Hogevoll
Ben Hogevoll
Jake Frack
When did the Blues move to KC?
Dennis Salisbury
Pete DeBiase
Pete DeBiase
Pete DeBiase
Ben Hogevoll
Michael Murillo
STEPHEN GRODSKY