ANTICIPATION

Since the final whistle blew of their previous game, this match-up has consumed every thought in your head. You’ve read all the comparisons, reviews, analyses, and statistics. You’ve heard every bogus stat comparison from who’s better on stopping the run on 2nd and long to which team has more current starters picked in the 4th round of the draft or later. You know their weapons and what your team has to do right to keep them from hurting you. As if the build up wasn’t enough, the game has now been pushed back to 4pm because the context of the match-up is so significant. Division rivals fighting for both the top spot in the NFC East and a potential home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Your New York Football Giants hosting the hated Philadelphia Eagles. And so you wake up that Sunday morning, after hardly getting to sleep at all, jump in the shower, and throw on your traditional “fan’s uniform.” You eat your breakfast with your eyes glued to every pre-game show imaginable, just waiting for any sort of segment that features your game or team. Of course, in your head, they should simply devote the entire two hours to your game, because every other match-up pales in comparison. You grab your friends/family/whoever, hop in the car, and race over to the stadium powered entirely by anticipation and adrenaline. You show up and find great parking, which is a surprise, until you remember that the game was pushed back until four and you’re three-and-half hours early. No better way to kill time than by grilling and drinking with fellow die-hards while throwing a football around in the parking lot. The superstitions come into play here, not only in the form of your tried-and-true outfit but also in certain activities. You’ll throw the ball with a friend, forcing ten consecutive completions without a drop to ensure a victory, with any additional completions counting towards potential overtime situations. This is what you do, this is why you’re here. This is why you refer to your favorite team as “we” and not as “they.” All that’s left now is to watch and cheer, knowing that your presence and accompanying spirit is just the spark your team will need to come out of this game victorious.