On being a Pats fan on Super Bowl Sunday

Boston Globe

07-02-2025

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TODAY'S STARTING POINT
What has the incredible run of football excellence by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs done to us, as New England Patriots fans?
Bad things. Two weeks ago, we actually rooted for the Buffalo Bills to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
For anyone who recalls the frequent curb-stompings the pre-Brady/Belichick Patriots suffered at the hands of Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and the Bills of the 1990s, cheering for Buffalo was, well,
unnatural
, like a weekend getaway to the
But in the interest of defeating Kansas City and protecting New England's legacy as the greatest football dynasty of the current millennium, we
sports
hate, of course. We love Bills fans; there's nobody with whom we'd rather
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And, alas, all we single-day Bills supporters got the full Buffalo fan experience — a brief hope for victory by a superbly talented team that yet somehow managed to fall
just
short in the
Quarterback Tom Brady held the Lombardi Trophy after the Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl in 2019.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
Social media bloomed with AI-generated photos of NFL officials dressed in Chief's gear, and, yes, it does seem like KC gets the breaks. But remember: During New England's reign, we made fun of fans in other cities who whined that their defense drew roughing penalties
for just thinking unkind thoughts about Tom Brady. Maybe it wasn't quite that bad, but let's acknowledge that when the Patriots were good, they had a reputation for
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New England won
It doesn't get any easier this weekend for Patriots fans who feel the Chiefs uncomfortably nipping at the heels of New England's dynasty.
KC is chasing its fourth championship since 2020, and trying to win its third in a row, which is something New England never did. It's something no NFL team has ever done.
The NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles are Patriots fans' last hope to stiff-arm the Chiefs' momentum, at least for this season. It won't be easy to root for Philly, with memories of Super Bowl LII, in 2018, still fresh in our heads —
When President Trump is done declassifying the secret JFK files, how about releasing the contract Foles signed with the Devil to play the most clutch game of his life?
There is nothing wrong with rooting against a team, though I used to think players and coaches from the 1972 Miami Dolphins took it too far. The members of the only undefeated squad in NFL history are known for literally popping champagne every season when the last undefeated team
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I get it now. I may even ice some bubbly for the Super Bowl this weekend. Whatever the outcome, it will come in handy. As Napoleon
On this Sunday only: Go Eagles.
More on the game
How to watch:
The game starts at 6:30 p.m. on Fox, live from the New Orleans Caesars Superdome. Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar will headline the halftime show. (
The commercials:
See Ben Affleck and the DunKings, Matt Damon as David Beckham's long-lost twin brother,
Progress:
Two years ago, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts made headlines as the Super Bowl's first pair of Black starting quarterbacks. This year,
Rookie:
Tom Brady is back at the big game — this time
A missing fan:
Tiger Bech, a devoted Eagles fan, was killed in the New Orleans terror attack on New Year's Day. On Sunday,
Twist of fate:
'Pretty crazy how it has panned out': Seven former Patriots players
Place your bets:
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will let its operators
If you're cooking:
Spice up your spread with
If you order in:
National Pizza Day just so happens to coincide with the Super Bowl this year. Here are
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If you go out:
The Harp, Seamart, and other Boston bars
Lombarky Trophy:
Finally, don't forget the Puppy Bowl, which promotes pet adoption. It airs at 2 p.m. Sunday on Animal Planet, Discovery, and other channels. (
2 Down:
| 32°
POINTS OF INTEREST
You enjoyed the Globe's January Photos of the Month so much yesterday that we're bringing you another photo gallery: A look back at the Snowmageddon of February, 2015. Here, pedestrians had to navigate through massive snowbanks in downtown Boston, many of which remained well into spring. More below.
Jessica RInaldi/Globe Staff
Boston and Mass.
Swept up:
Federal immigration officials detained a Brazilian man living in Marlborough and sent him to Texas for possible deportation, even though he entered the US legally and has no criminal record. (
Sunlight:
Massachusetts lawmakers, vowing greater transparency, unveiled legislation
RTO:
Dell, which employs thousands in Massachusetts, will require employees to
Gender fallout:
The Education Department will
Whiteout:
Ten years ago, Massachusetts experienced a month of snow that would not stop until almost 100 inches fell on the area. Check out
New England
'Many will die':
Hospitals and aid groups funded by USAID
Live free:
Holding your phone but talking on Bluetooth does not violate New Hampshire's hands-free device law, a court ruled. (
OMG:
Inmates in Connecticut would no longer have free text messaging under a proposal in Gov. Ned Lamont's proposed budget. (
The Nation
Slash and burn:
Despite an all-night filibuster by Democrats Wednesday, Senate Republicans last night approved Russell Vought, a creator of the controversial Project 2025, as White House budget director. (
Inside pitch:
A federal judge sentenced Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter to nearly five years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from the Los Angeles Dodgers player. (
Sanctuary suit:
The Trump administration sued Chicago, Cook County, and the state of Illinois over sanctuary policies that prohibit local law enforcement from working with federal immigration officials. (
Admitting blame:
Southern California Edison officials conceded that its equipment likely sparked the Hurst Fire that burned nearly 800 acres in southern California. (
The World
Gaza puzzlement:
Trump said the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza would be permanent. Then his spokeswoman said it would be temporary, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Gazans would leave for an 'interim' period during reconstruction. (
Warmup:
How a tiny basketball court in Italy helped mold Kobe Bryant into an NBA legend. (
BESIDE THE POINT
🚐 Livin' in a van down by the river:
In honor of SNL's 50th anniversary, here are 50 catchphrases from the show that have entered the lexicon. (
💚
Healthy heart:
Why 'cardiac clearance' could save your life. (
🙀
Killer kitties:
No, Scotland is not going to ban cats, although given that the little buggers kill at least 700 million birds and other animals each year in the U.K., animal welfare folks want them leashed or kept indoors. (
🗺️
Map man:
Meet the 'map philosopher' who's
👪
Hanging on:
Gentle parenting
📽️
Truth hurts:
Not even Ke Huy Quan's infinite appeal is enough to save 'Love Hurts,' a haphazard new comedy,
📺
To watch:
'Apple Cider Vinegar' is an addictive addition
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📚
To read:
She grew up as a Cape Cod year-rounder. Her new memoir
🤝
Act of resistance:
An Oscar-nominated documentary
🎨
At the MFA
The artist John Wilson, a Roxbury native, is largely unknown.
💬
Story time:
Her daughter always wants one more.
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Mark Arsenault can be reached at