By Dan Duggan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Patriots-Eagles matchup in Super Bowl LII on Sunday has been portrayed as the worst possible matchup for Giants' fans, but I don't buy it. It would be much worse if the Jets (stifling laughter) were representing the AFC.
It surprises me that some Giants fans are torn on who to root for in the game. Pulling for the Patriots is a no-brainer. Here are five reasons why:
Patriots win elevates Giants' legacy
New York Giants vs. New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI
Andrew Mills | The Star-Ledger
Two reasons rise above the rest: First, the Giants currently own the distinction of being the only team to beat the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady Patriots in the Super Bowl. And they did it twice. A win by the Eagles would remove some of the historical luster from the Giants' wins.
The Patriots are 5-0 against all other teams in the Super Bowl in this era. A win on Sunday would further cement their status as the greatest dynasty in NFL history, with the major disclaimer that they could never beat Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, et al. in the big game. A Patriots loss to the Nick Foles-led Eagles would diminish the Giants' place in history slightly, while another win by the Patriots will make the Giants' triumphs look even more impressive.
eaglesdogmasks
Patrick Smith | Getty Images
The second compelling reason Giants fans should root for the Patriots is simple: A Patriots loss means an Eagles win. That possibility should end any debate.
The Eagles have owned the Giants over the past decade, winning 16 of their past 20 matchups. But the Giants have the ultimate trump card in any debate over which franchise is better due to their 4-0 edge in Lombardi Trophies.
The Eagles are the Giants' closest rival in proximity and arguably their fiercest rival, period. Rooting against your archrival is in the DNA of every fan. Under no circumstance should a Giants fan root for the Eagles.