The people have spoken. And by people I mean, of course, my Twitter followers, which when you think about it covers everyone of importance. Or so I’d like to think.
The question — now that they have spoken — is what to make of it. And do they simply have a death wish for NFL TV ratings?
I posted a Twitter poll this week, and after 22 hours and more than 3,300 votes, these were the results to the question of which of four possible Super Bowl matchups they prefer:
1. Jaguars-Vikings: 53 percent.
2. Patriots-Vikings: 32 percent.
3. Jaguars-Eagles: 9 percent.
4. Patriots-Eagles: 6 percent.
I wonder how many of these thousands of folks were thinking about a Jacksonville-Minnesota Super Bowl last summer. Or even a month ago.
Now I should mention as something of a disclaimer that while no voter fraud has been detected, it’s fair to presume that a considerable number of my followers are Cowboys fans. So the Eagles’ poor showing is probably not a reflection of national sentiment, although I think Minnesota’s tale is an easy one to fall in love with, especially after the Vikings won Sunday’s game in such incredible storybook fashion.
But there is not much question when it comes to fan bases and markets: New England and Philadelphia have it all over Minnesota and Jacksonville. It’s not even remotely close in either case. I suspect an Eagles-Patriots game would produce the highest possible ratings on Super Bowl Sunday, although I don’t discount the possibility that a sizable portion of your average fans are somewhat sick of the annual Bill Belichick-and-Tom Brady visit to the promised land.
In fairness, they have played and coached in only seven of the last 16 Super Bowls, so it only seems like a Groundhog Day-like tradition. On the other hand, Sunday’s game will mark the Patriots’ seventh straight AFC Championship Game appearance, a remarkable run not likely to be matched in some of our lifetimes.
What does each game have to offer? Let’s consider the possibilities.
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Jaguars-Vikings
The people’s choice pits Case Keenum against Blake Bortles. The closest thing we have in Super Bowl history to either this or the Nick Foles-Bortles matchup that Jacksonville-Philadelphia would present is 17 years ago when Baltimore’s Trent Dilfer took on the Giants’ Kerry Collins. And even they were more decorated.
Two Cinderella teams (and I think Minnesota has to be regarded as such given the quarterbacks the club went through while losing second-round pick Dalvin Cook in the backfield as well) can seem like one too many. Then again, when San Francisco met Cincinnati after the 1981 season — first Super Bowls for each coming off 6-10 seasons — the game produced a 49.1 rating, still the highest in Super Bowl history. A snowstorm that blanketed a large portion of the country and kept viewers indoors played a part. But, who can say, it might have been the “Up With People” halftime show as well.
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Pats-Vikings
The best matchup in my mind given that it’s Brady and Belichick going after more history against the first team ever to host a Super Bowl on its home field. Also provides a chance for longtime Cowboys coordinator Mike Zimmer to win the charm contest among Super Bowl head coaches.
I’m guessing Minnesota’s home-field edge against either AFC team would be reduced by the league’s ticket distribution, but I have to think a sizable advantage would remain in place.
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Jaguars-Eagles
Would this mark the third straight game for Philadelphia, a No. 1 seed, to be considered the underdog? The Eagles were the first top seed ever to be underdog to a No. 6 seed when Atlanta was favored by 2 1/2. Minnesota is favored by 3 1/2 this week, and we are talking about a pair of games played on the Eagles’ home turf.
Remember that this matchup does not happen unless the Jaguars have knocked off New England, quite possibly leaving Philadelphia in the underdog role against the AFC’s No. 4 seed.
Bizarre.
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Pats-Eagles
Based on the 6 percent of all votes received, this is the nightmare scenario for Cowboys fans. Philadelphia breaking out of its half century of failed attempts to secure a Lombardi Trophy doesn’t play as heartwarming in this section of the country. Doing it with Foles, a backup quarterback that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dismissed as an option in 2016 makes it worse.
The alternative is to see owner Bob Kraft, Belichick and Brady passing the Lombardi Trophy around and reminding us that whether they can’t stand each other or not is irrelevant when it comes to producing championship teams on a steadier basis than any franchise has ever managed.
Pick your poison.
And let’s go Jaguars and Vikings.
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