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Super Bowl XLIX Presents A Dilemma For Neutral Fans

Tom Brady Super Bowl XXXVIII

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Super Bowl XLIX is one of the rare Super Bowls that pose a matchup between two villains. Throughout NFL history the big game typically hosts a spot for a fan-favorite against the bad guys. Think Jim Kelly‘s Buffalo Bills, the lovable losers, against the mid-90s Dallas Cowboys who donned the unflattering nickname, the Dallas Convicts. Yet, Sunday’s game is a product of two bad guys clashing together.

From the AFC you have the not-so-rule-abiding deviants known as the New England Patriots. Following the Deflate-gate scandal, they are public-enemy No. 1. Every NFL fan outside of Boston is skeptical of Bill Belichick and his partner-in-crime, or should I say quarterback, Tom Brady. AFC fans everywhere from Baltimore, to Pittsburgh, to Indianapolis are happy to see New England naysayers hopping on the anti-Patriots bandwagon.

Then we have the NFC’s representative, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks boast one of the NFL’s biggest villains in cornerback Richard Sherman. His loquacious nature often sparks controversy for himself and the team. His anti-establishment attitude and All-Pro play help anchor Seattle’s Legion of Boom. Aside from Sherman, Seattle is led by a similarly disliked NFL-personality in head coach Pete Carroll. Like Belichick, Carroll is regarded with a love-em-or-hate-em mentality.

The most ironic similarity between these two teams is their fans. Both sets of fans are despised by the rest of the NFL. New England’s fans boast a unique blend of arrogance and narrow-mindedness ensuring opposing fans understand that their team is the best, the most elite and the most dignified despite what the media may say.

On the opposite side it appears that Seattle is the West Coast Patriots. Their fanbase, better known as the 12th Man, can sometimes come off just as arrogant. The Starbucks-drinking crowd at CenturyLink Field can certainty rub the rest of the NFL’s  fans the wrong way.

Both franchises share unfavorable coaches, irritating fans and on top of it all both teams are proven winners. The Patriots are looking for a fourth Super Bowl ring under the Belichick-Brady era, and the Seahawks are aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since the Patriots in 2004 and 2005. Winning can be a double-edged sword. Teams get the luxury of hoisting the Lombardi trophy, but they also receive the unfair criticism of jealous fans.

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, fans of the unlucky 30 teams sitting at home are prepared to watch a game with no presumed satisfactory outcome. There’s no heart-warming story here. There is no Jerome Bettis‘ last ride to Detroit. There is no Ray Lewis farewell tour. There are only the Democrats and the Republicans — the lesser of two evils.

Sure, there’s a safe bet. The most likable character in this Super Bowl may be Seattle’s quarterback Russell Wilson. He’s a young, well-mannered quarterback who may be the saving grace for some viewers come Sunday. The downside to Wilson winning a second ring is the media circus come Monday morning. More than likely, if he wins then the sports world will crown him as the next great quarterback. After all it took Eli Manning only four mediocre seasons and one ring to be crowned elite.

This leaves fans with three options. One, cheer for the Patriots. Even if you’re not from the Boston-area perhaps you have the mental-fortitude to block out the negative allegations being thrown at the Patriots. Instead, you can focus and cheer for Brady and Belichick becoming only the second QB-coach combination to win a fourth Super Bowl (joining Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll). Such strong-willed fans may be able to cheer for the possibility of NFL history being made without any doubts in the back of their minds.

Option two is to root for the Seahawks. They may not be your cup of tea, but they are better than option one, right? The beginning of a new dynasty, the Carroll-Wilson era, isn’t so bad. Besides, you’ll be in the company of every fan outside of New England; it is always better to root for a team with friends.

The last option may be the easiest to handle. Sit back, order up some pizza and wings, and hope the game is a thriller. No matter what side of the fence you’re on, this is a matchup all NFL fans are going to have to endure. The most optimistic solution is to aim for an entertaining game to watch.

In the end, we can all count on Katy Perry’s halftime show and million-dollar Super Bowl ads to put a smile on our faces.

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