I'm from the UK, and I don't really have a favourite overall team in the NFL, but I was wondering, which team people in the States tend to support in the Superbowl, if their own team doesn't make it. For instance, if you're a Pats fan, do you back the Steelers as a representative of the AFC, or do go against them as a Conference rival? Or does it not make a bit of difference?
East Coast bias.. Most people are picking Pittsburgh to win the Super Bowl over Seattle. Seattle is a very forgotten team in seems like.
umm...if my team doesnt make it...unlike this year...usually ill pull for the underdog or the sleeper team...like two years ago i pulled for the Panthers because they were 1-15 the year before...it was a good story...
There doesn't seem to be a favorite pick. I'm pretty sure this one would be a coastal rivalry, so west coast cities will tend to go with Seattle...
East coast bias? What a pile of crap. The truth is that, historically, the Seattle Seahawks have been the most boring franchise in the NFL. If the Seahawks were any more boring, their yearly highlight film would appear on the golf channel. I like Shaun Alexander and would root for him in a number of matchups, but this isn't one of them. If this were a Seahawks-Bills game, I would be pulling for the Seahawks. I'm pulling for the Steelers for a number of reasons. My stepdad was a Steelers fan. I really like Jerome Bettis and Bill Cowher and would like to see them get Super Bowl rings.
Being a Dolphins fan, I had no problem rooting for the Pats as I respect Belichick & at one time he was the best coach in the division. Typically, it all depends on who I root for. I am fine as long Denver and the Rams have no chance in hell. A lot of time the coach is the decideing factor for me. This year I am rooting for the Seahawks and there is thread giving 4 reasons why. Despite his BYU ties, I like Holmgren better than Cowher. I could care less about the sentimentality regarding Bettis and obvious East coast preference for the Steelers. I find it funny that Dale is rooting for a team from where Dave Wannstedt lives & has ties there.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>historically, the Seattle Seahawks have been the most boring franchise in the NFL. If the Seahawks were any more boring, their yearly highlight film would appear on the golf channel.</div> I can't disagree but its not like the Steelers are pure excitement either. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>If this were a Seahawks-Bills game, I would be pulling for the Seahawks.</div> Bite your tongue, Dale, for mentioning that one franchise. I don't ever see them getting back to the big game only to embarass themselves again.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>East coast bias? What a pile of crap. The truth is that, historically, the Seattle Seahawks have been the most boring franchise in the NFL. If the Seahawks were any more boring, their yearly highlight film would appear on the golf channel. I like Shaun Alexander and would root for him in a number of matchups, but this isn't one of them. If this were a Seahawks-Bills game, I would be pulling for the Seahawks. I'm pulling for the Steelers for a number of reasons. My stepdad was a Steelers fan. I really like Jerome Bettis and Bill Cowher and would like to see them get Super Bowl rings.</div> I was more so hinting toward the bandwagon riders. There are people who just go with the team the media covers the most. The media has covered the Steelers run more than Seattle?s run. Last I checked ESPN picked Carolina to rip apart Seattle. Now there giving the edge to Pittsburgh in every category. Seattle is vastly disrespected. Who cares what they did in the past. That was then. It's the present day. This is a completely different team than those pitiful teams Seattle usually put together. This a Championship caliber team. The media covers the east coast more than the upper northwest. Seattle is being very overlooked by everyone in this game. Both teams are very evenly matched in my opinion and the game could go either way. A lot of people expect Pittsburgh to walk away maybe not easily but with a solid victory none the less. History means nothing when it comes to the players on the field. If I?m mistaken each team has maybe one or two guys that have Super Bowl experience. None of the 70?s Steelers are playing Sunday.
actually it seems that espn has recently gone to the Seahawks...almost all of NFL live chose the Seahawks...
The Seahawks aren't being disrespected. The Steelers have beaten the one, two and three seeds, on the road, in the far superior conference. The Seahawks are a good team, but they play in the NFL's worst division and in the weaker conference. I don't think anyone is saying that the Seahawks don't have a chance of winning or that this game won't be close, but the Steelers are playing great football right now and have earned some good press. Personally, I'm getting tired of cry baby teams hollering that they're not getting any respect. This is the NFL. If you want respect, go earn it. If the Seahawks win tomorrow, I'm sure they'll get plenty of respect.
I want to reply to a bunch of stuff in this thread. First about East Coast Bias. I believe there is a pretty big East Coast Bias, but it's not like a giant conspiracy or anything. It's just that most people on the East Coast don't see a lot of the games played on the West Coast. I'll bet you almost every East Coast based commentator has seen more Steelers games than Seahawks games. In week 10 of the regular season Len Pasquarelli was on a show out here (Seattle) and he said he hadn't seen a single Seahawks game. This is a guy who gets paid to watch NFL games and he hadn't watched a single minute of an 8-2 conference leading team. How much can he possibly know by looking at the box score? Here's how you can tell if a national commentator doesn't know much about the Seahawks. If one of the first things out of their mouth is, "Seattle needs to get Shaun Alexander going early", then they haven't watched a lot of Seahawks games. Seattle uses the pass to open up the run. They will do this in the Superbowl too. There is a 95% chance that Seattle?s first offensive play will be a pass. 2nd, Willie Williams is the only Steeler with Superbowl experience and he is on the IR so he won't even be playing in the game. The Seahawks have 5 guys who have played in the Superbowl before. Joe Jurevicius, Chuck Darby, Tom Rouen, Jamie Sharper, and Robbie Tobeck. Sharper is on the IR for the Hawks, but the other 4 guys will all play a lot. Last, win or lose both teams deserve respect. I think Pittsburgh has already earned it by beating all the higher ranked teams. If the Hawks win they will have beaten the #6 seed, the #5, and the #6 seed making it technically the easiest possible Superbowl victory. They only played these teams because supposedly better teams like the Giants, Bears, Colts, and Broncos weren't good enough to play them. Still I bet you a lot of commentators will point out how easy Seattle had it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (liljuzam)</div><div class='quotemain'>I believe there is a pretty big East Coast Bias, but it's not like a giant conspiracy or anything.</div> I don't know that its not a conspiracy (The best are hard to prove) but there is not by bias just preference as I stated previously. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (liljuzam)</div><div class='quotemain'>It's just that most people on the East Coast don't see a lot of the games played on the West Coast.</div> And neither do I. I am stuck in Broncos country. If its not Denver then its one of the bay area teams. I would be stoked if they started showing more Charger, Arizona, & Seattle fames. I should get Sunday ticket just so I can see my team (Dolphins) play. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (liljuzam)</div><div class='quotemain'>Still I bet you a lot of commentators will point out how easy Seattle had it.</div> I wonder how many times Coffee and grunge music will be brought up? LOL.
