Playoff Piggyback: Patriots Divisional Weekend Rooting Guide
Patience is the name of the game for New England Patriots fans, at least for the time being.
The ended its flair for the coaching dramatics rather early this week, hiring Jerod Mayo almost immediately after the team parted ways with Bill Belichick. Now, New England has to bide its time: after all, eight months now loom between Mayo's hire and his official debut at the helm, but that's probably for the best considering how drastically out of character this past campaign went.
In the meantime, New England will have to watch one of its most time-honored traditions ... Divisional playoff weekend ... march on without them, as four premium games dot this week's NFL calendar starting on Thursday evening in Baltimore.
Among the eight participants, where should the rooting interests of the Foxborough faithful lie? Patriots Country investigates ...
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8. Buffalo Bills
With all due respect, if you're a New Englander wondering why you don't want to see the Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl, maybe Patriots Country isn't the site for you.
Former Patriots: RB Damien Harris (IR)
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7. San Francisco 49ers
Even with former safety Logan Ryan in tow (signed last month after Talanoa Hufanga went down for the season), New Englanders (or the Yinzers in Pittsburgh, for that matter) probably won't want to welcome a third member of the six-Super Bowl social club.
Former Patriots: S Logan Ryan
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6. Kansas City Chiefs
Watching Kansas City make a routine out of feasting upon divisional competition before catapulting themselves to the top of the playoff bracket feels oddly familiar, doesn't it? Patrick Mahomes might not be at the height of his powers this season, but the last thing New Englanders probably want to see is another pillar for the "GOAT" argument at such an early stage of his starting tenure. Besides, further Kansas City advancement will likely have the television cameras constantly cutting to a certain individual capable of incredible performances ... defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who shut down the Pariots' legendary offense in Super Bowl XLII while repping the New York Giants.
Former Patriots: OT Joe Thuney
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5. Baltimore Ravens
Sure, watching the top-seeded Ravens, the AFC team that came closest to providing the Patriots any sort of fits during the Belichick era, might be a tad annoying. But, other than that, there's really not much of a reason to get on Baltimore's case, even if you're the type to seethe over the idea of Malik Cunningham hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Former Patriots: QB Malik Cunningham
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4. Green Bay Packers
Another championship for Titletown would move the Packers closer to the Patriots' six-Super Bowl domain, but unless you're still feeling raw about Desmond Howard's run to glory in Super Bowl XXXI, there's not much to get upset about here. Besides, if protecting the sanctity of six Super Bowls is your thing, then Green Bay did the Patriots a favor by completely dismantling the Dallas Cowboys' best chance at a sixth in quite some time.
Former Patriots: N/A
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3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The recent prescience of a certain quarterback under South Florida center gave the Buccaneers a de facto Foxborough fan farm team. Will the goodwill extend now that Tom Brady has moved on? As currently constructed, it's hard to make an argument for such a departure, even with the lack of 12. Tampa Bay is inoffensive enough to the New England palette and watching head coach Todd Bowles prevail in a head coaching spot without the GOAT's services will certainly provide ammunition for Patriots supporters if batting in the AFC East basement with the Jets becomes a tradition.
Former Patriots: N/A
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2. Detroit Lions
Even fans with the most impenetrable hearts of stone have to be swayed by the Lions' championship case, one that took an unexpected step forward with a Divisional home playoff game this week. There are no strong New England connections residing in the Motor City or any true ill will. Honestly, the Cowboys' fall ... and maybe other factors before that ... transformed Detroit into America's Team, if only for a short while
Former Patriots: N/A
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1. Houston Texans
Putting the Texans at the top of a list like this feels right thanks to the potential talking points generated by the prescience of general manager Nick Caserio, who previously held a variety of roles on the Patriots' board. The downtrodden Houston franchise put up an unexpected AFC South title run and now stands as one of the conference's final four thanks primarily to Caserio's homegrown talents such as Nico Collins, Derek Stingley Jr., CJ Stroud, and more. If Caserio gets the Texans to the Super Bowl, or even the organization's first AFC title game, an intriguing debate will open up: should the Patriots have pulled the plug on Bill Belichick, at least de facto general manager Bill Belichick, a bit earlier and bestowed more power to a rising front office name like Caserio? Or can Patriots fans simply be happy to see their championship impact rub off on one of their most prominent projects? If the Texans play like they in the Wild Card round, which produced a 45-14 win over Cleveland, a divided question to that answer could soon emerge.
Former Patriots: G Shaq Mason
