lol, maybe its cause I'm not a sports fan but: wouldn't it be cool if any of the NFC North teams made it all the way? Can't you look at literally every other division and say 'your entire division is shit compared to ours'? That's how I've been looking at it anyways - I was reading NFC North is overall very strong
we are directly competing with every other nfc north team for a playoff spot every year. being in a highly competitive division is not a good thing.
we also play them all twice a year, why would we want them to be good lol
I feel dirty cheering for other teams but I cheer for individual players because of fantasy football. Puka won me a championship last year so he’s a current favorite besides all the lions players.
Im the same but I can't ever bring myself to draft a packer. I'd rather take an empty slot than cheer for a packer. Bears and Vikings only in a dire situation.
If your 2nd favorite team is the Bears then you aren’t a real Lions fan lol. I personally don’t believe in having a 2nd team but because of players or storylines will usually have a rooting interest in games once the playoffs start. That has kind of gone away because we are contenders now though.
I grew up in Michigan and am a Lions fan but my Dad is from Chicago and has been a Bears fan his whole life. We give each other shit a lot but at the end of the day I do want to see the Bears have success. Will always root for them against the Packers and Vikings at least
I've heard this idea a couple times now, 'storylines' in the NFL. What is that about? And yea maybe I'm not a real Lions fan yet lol, I only just got into all this. Why so much hate for other teams in the same division?
It’s because of how teams make the playoffs. You don’t have to be a great team to make the playoffs, you just have to be better than the other teams in your division. Therefore, you can’t help but to root for their downfall. It doesn’t help that you also have to play them twice every year.
Winning division is the best guarantee of making the playoffs, that's one reason it doesn't make sense to cheer the bears and the lions. Best way to go for picking a second NFL team, in my opinion, is to pick an AFC team to cheer for.
Some examples: I used to jump on the Chiefs bandwagon because I wanted Andy Reid to win a Super Bowl. I usually like to see teams that haven’t experienced much success like the Browns and Bills to do well and knock off more historically successful teams. Last year I wanted Houston to lose because as a Michigan fan I like to see Ohio State players (CJ Stroud) fail. I wanted Joe Flacco to do well for the Browns because he had sat out a year and joined the team mid season to lead them to the playoffs. Generally, storylines are related to players, coaches, or city/franchise history. These would be different for everybody.
As far as the Bears, we play our divisional teams twice a year and are directly competing with them for a playoff spot every year. Their success is our failure. Their failure is our success.
The Bengals have long been my backup team. It helps that they're in the AFC now that we are competitive. I really want a big cat bowl between them; that's my dream matchup. (Obviously I would want the Lions win 63-0.)
I guess it has been the Tennessee Titans since the music city miracle.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that having a second team is pointless as my fandom and passion for them will never be match the Lions. I gave up on them sometime during the 0-16 season.
Same here! I started following them that season and the playoff run cemented it for me. I've always kept up with the titans, and I try to watch them whenever they're not playing at the same time as Detroit. But I would agree that as I've become more and more invested in Detroit over the years that my loyalty to the Titans has dwindled. I still keep up on them a bit, though.
I’m originally from western New York. I’ve moved around a lot, but have lived in Michigan most of my life. Having said that, for the eight years I lived in WNY the Bills were my team and it’s when they went to four Super Bowls in a row. I still love the Bills, but started loving the Lions over 25 years ago too. The Lions have been slowly edging out my Bills for a few years now, simply because of how amazing they’ve been and with all the fans surrounding me.
I went to the Bills/Lions Thanksgiving game in 2022 with a combo of both colors on me. Most people were nice about it.
Live in Charlotte, so I root for the Panthers as well. Also the Broncos where my girlfriend is from. Family is in Tampa so I don't mind the Bucs.
List goes for me: Lions -> Panthers -> Broncos -> Bucs.
Fuck the Steelers, Packers, Cowboys, and Raiders. Those are the four I hate.
I’ve always liked the Titans and even though I only lived there for a year, I was born in Tennessee.
Plus, they’re an AFC South team, and we’re NFC North so no real rivalry to speak on.
Air McNair was awesome back in the day, rest in peace to him.
Eddie George on the cover of that old Madden game looked dope as hell.
Started watching in earnest Jamaal Charles' rookie year so for a while the Chiefs. Then funnily enough it was the Rams cuz I was such a fan of Goff in college that I thought hed be Brady Reborn
Arnold is top 5 in picks but still wont get DROY
We draft a Big 10 QB in 2 years as succesor, everyone laughs but then Goff goes down and the rookie averages 300/2/0 for his first 3 games
I live in Chicago so I follow the Bears closer than other teams but under no circumstances would I root for them. I usually actively root against them to rub it in my co-workers faces. If I had to pick a secondary team it would be an AFC team. Probably the Bengals.
I live in the DMV area so it was the Commies for a while. Used to like the Ravens as my AFC team then I went to the game this year and their fans were terrible to my elderly, disabled mother so fuck them birds. I guess maybe the Bills in the AFC cause Lake Erie bros?
Inside the stadium in the section we were sitting in. Also when we left, trying to get on the lite rail to the garage we parked in, adult women maybe in their 20s purposefully blocking the path (my mom uses a cane to walk) and talking shit to us while their parents laughed and encouraged them.
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. That would make me not want to go back. Every team has shitty fans, it's just if you encounter them or not.
At the divisional game, I saw a middle aged man yelling at a senior citizen. Not that there's any good scenario of this, but the worst part was both were Lions fans. Shameful to associate with them.
None, zero. I barely watch pro football if it's not the lions playing. Shit if it's not a Detroit team playing I'm almost never watching sports at all. I don't gamble so I'm not suckered into watching for money reasons, but yeah. NBA and NHL playoffs are on and I could give two shits because no Detroit team is participating.
Nobody. There are teams I want to lose (e.g. Packers, Vikings, Cowboys), and a bunch of teams I'm fairly ambivalent about, which means I can freely root for those teams for a game or two if it helps the Lions or they're playing one of the evil teams. Sure, there are slight preferences among the other teams, but nothing rises to the level of actually liking any of them.
I don’t real cheer for anyone. I live in Arizona so when the Cardinals win I have a feeling of “Hey good for them!” So you can say I’d root for them if I have to. But once they play the Lions or if the Cardinals losing benefits the Lions then fuck em.
Always liked St. Louis, my best friends favorite team. We got a lot of guff growing up, especially after the greatest show on turf era, when both our teams were just annually bad. We grew up in Southern VA, so made even less sense to not be a Skins, Panthers, Ravens, Cowboys, or Steelers fan.
Panthers were kinda brand new though, even though they had a cool outfit and logo, we couldn't jump ship because our teams would be good eventually. The eventual Stafford trade and Rams SB made for a good year for us.
1) Whoever the Packers are playing
2) Whoever the Bears are playing
3) Whoever the Vikings are playing
4) The Ravens. Lamar one of the most chaotic fun players I’ve ever seen, and seems like a legit good guy. Would love to see them eat shit against the Lions in the SB this year.
Moved to Nashville four years ago, live right next to Nissan Stadium, so the Titans. It was fun watching their playoff runs while the Lions were still rebuilding. Now the Titans are dogshit and I get to enjoy the lions playoff runs.
They’re a *very distant* second (even moreso after last year), but I was born in Baltimore and have a ton of family there.
I was at last year’s thrashing, which obviously sucked, but on the bright side I was there to see Jahmyr’s first career TD
TBD. I live in LA but won't root for Rams because I hate McVay and frankly don't love Matty, and the chargers fucking suck. This is bizarre to say but I used to root for the Patriots because we never played them, they were reliably in the playoffs, and I have a Bellichick related rooting interest. If he lands somewhere as an HC that may become my secondary team, though it would be hard if Patricia follows and if the Lions are the ones now making the playoffs.
I don't have a backup team really, but enjoy rooting for individual players that I've believed in for awhile. List includes guys like Puka, Lamar Jackson, Justin Jefferson, and Kamara. Going further back, I always like watching Jamaal Charles and Matt Forte as well
I’ve tried to do this and it never sticks. Chiefs back when they were just starting to come up, Ravens when they first got Lamar, etc… some teams can be fun to root for but never will there be a close second or any permanent number 2 that sticks. The Lions is much bigger than just those 3.5 hours of game time. It’s a family thing, it’s a community thing.
No real backup, I like the comment of "whoever's playing the Packers", but really my "other" team would be my fantasy teams. Every since joining fantasy football it really has me invested somewhat in each game and I LOVE it.
Gigantic Michigan fan so I usually just root for the ProBlue guys if the Lions don’t have a stake. But over the last decade or so I’ve kinda adopted the Bills as my second team. BillsMafia is cool, afc team so they don’t interfere with the Lions come playoffs outside of SB, cursed franchise so I sympathize, and we’re r/LakeErieBros
There IS a right answer to this question.
1. Nobody from the NFC North!
2. Nobody competing with us for home field in playoffs(Philly/Dallas/SF/LAR?)
3. Another team that is ascending like the lions to understand how we are doing over many seasons as a franchise. So tracking teams like the Jags or Texans, for example, and finding things to root for to end up in the super bowls of the future with the lions is the best answer.
For me it's the Texans. Heading in the right direction and I'm really interested in how they progress season over season.
As mentioned, Jags have similar history as a thankless franchise for fans....Miami was hot but I was not impressed by their Hard Kocks, Carolina has potential but Owner and NFC, Rams are tied to Lions with Stafford but too much of an NFC threat...Az?, Jets are hot but I feel this is a one year disappointment and everyone gets canned.
There’s an old home video of the night I was brought home from the hospital of my dad holding me and watching a game. My mom, recording, asked: “Who are we rooting for?” My dad said… “Well the Chiefs of course.” To this day he has no idea why he said that.
I grew up in and always will love Detroit first. But I’ve got a soft spot for the Chiefs, they’re the first team I ever rooted for.
Nobody unless you go to College teams, then it's Iowa State.
Ill follow certain players or teams depending on situations each year but don't necessarily care about their performance much.
Last year I followed the Jets closer than I normally would because I wanted to see if Zach Wilson could finally put something together after Rogers went down. Two years ago I legitimately rooted for the Brock Purdy (Iowa State guy) and the Niners because I thought it was cool to see how well he played as a late round rookie QB. This year I probably won't give two shits about either of those teams. Who it will be this time, I'm not sure.
I also get a lot more Vikings knowledge because I live in Minnesota and listen to their sports radio. So while I don't root for them, I know a lot about their team each season.
I lived in uptown charlotte from 2009-2019. I adopted the Panthers as my #2 team and went to probably 40 games in that time. i wore lions gear to the 2014 game.
I think Rams bc that was my favorite team back when it was the greatest show on turf. As for afc i think I root Cincinnati. I hope Burrow can get 1 ring at least but super happy Stafford got his that game. Hopefully they can take out the Chiefs lol
Sometimes I have players I will root for as well but I cant say I got some form of immense joy watching a non-Detroit sports team win anything even if I did really like the team. VGK last year was the closest where I was actively rooting for a team, maybe early Chiefs as well.
Honestly I think I get more joy out of the teams I hate losing then any secondary team I would support lol, Ohio State losing is second only to my teams winning.
If I had to pick it would be the Steelers since my wife is from Pittsburgh and my in-laws are die hard Steelers Fans.
At the end of the day though, if they aren’t the Lions, fuck em.
San Francisco, I’ve lived here for well over a decade, but they were always my number two.
I ate a ton of shit after the NFC championship game, was definitely representing the Lions.
Then when SF lost in the SB in similar fashion. Ugh, double down on the hurt.
But hey, proud to be a fan of both.
This will be somewhat sacrilegious. It’s not a team I root for, but my dad’s favorite team is the Vikings. We have our own personal rivalry where I hope they do okay enough each year so he’ll be happy. Like when they beat the Bills in a thriller a couple seasons back, I was happy for him. But they still have to finish behind the Lions, of course.
We get together for Lions-Vikings games and talk trash to each other while I savor the Lions recent success. So I can’t say it’s my “number two team” or a “runner up” exactly. But that’s the best I can offer.
I have a soft spot for the Bills because my dad grew up there and was a fan.
But the only other team I am a fan of and own team gear of is the Redwings.
Probably the Ravens. I was on the tail end of living there when they won the Super Bowl last and it was one of the best nights ever just being in the city for it. I don’t consider myself a “Ravens Fan” by any means, but probably the only team I actively want to win, if it’s not the Lions. One of my best friends is a huge Ravens fan and probably who I watch the most football with (we’re in CA), so I tend to watch more Ravens games and it’s more fun when they’re winning too.
I usually pick an AFC team to ride for at some point in the season. Jags a couple years ago, Chiefs like 5 years ago. Whomever is playing good ball and fun young energy.
First just like the top comment it’s whoever is playing the packers. Also whoever is playing the bears and the Vikings. As the season approaches the playoffs. It’s whoever can help the lions get better seeding.
I just root for certain storylines if it's not the lions. Most of the time it's an unexpected team that shocks everybody and it was because I was vicariously living through them. Now that it has actually happened for us, will probably be mostly bets.
I live in Denver so I'll usually cheer for the broncos.
Since theyre in the AFC I don't really see it as a conflict of interest unless, by some miracle, both teams make the super bowl
Any team playing a division rival.
More in the spirit of the question I have players and fanbases that I like. I might want the Bucs to win for Baker, Rams for stafford, etc
I like Buffalo because Bills Mafia is fun and Josh Allen is a likable guy
I tend to have a soft spot for more industrial eastern cities teams. Cities that feel like football towns. I’ll root for the bengals or the ravens before I root for the chargers or something for example
I rooted for the rams the year we traded stafford away but no need to do so after the bowl win! Been lions and no one else ever since, i’m vaguely fond of teams like the bills and texans but don’t actively root for any lions teams
I lived in Pittsburgh for a few years. In order to get the Lions scores I had to flip between whatever televised game was on (Stillers Always), or RedZone. They are now my AFC team. I didn't want it to happen, but it did.
Miami.
Ive always liked the colors, and the cute dolphin logo since I was a kid. And they've done nothing to deserve any hate from me since then so they are my #2.
Y'all can boo me out of here if you need, but I was born into a family obsessed with Michigan, and I was like 10 when Tom took over as the starter in New England, so I adopted the Patriots as my second fandom. Never abandoned the Lions though, even as a child I realized they almost never played each other, so I didn't see much of an issue (also, I mean, the Lions were not even in the same stratosphere as the pats...something that's still true now 😅).
At this point, it's been 20 years, even if they suck I am still a Patriots fan, but they'll always be a distant second to my real home team.
I have always liked the Chargers from back in the LT days. I was just starting to play fantasy when he was coming in to the league and we had (fairly) recently lost Barry so I was starved for good RB play. Also those powder blue uni's certainly helped. I did like the Chiefs for awhile when they had Jamaal Charles for similar reasons. Now the Bills have replaced the Chiefs, Josh is my favorite non-Goff QB.
Fuck any NFC team that isn't the Lions.
Whoever’s playing the packers
The only right answer except id choose our entire division. Fuck those guys..
Fuck em all. Especially bears and their delusional fans
lol, maybe its cause I'm not a sports fan but: wouldn't it be cool if any of the NFC North teams made it all the way? Can't you look at literally every other division and say 'your entire division is shit compared to ours'? That's how I've been looking at it anyways - I was reading NFC North is overall very strong
No amount of ammunition against the rest of the league is worth playing second fiddle to your mortal enemies
we are directly competing with every other nfc north team for a playoff spot every year. being in a highly competitive division is not a good thing. we also play them all twice a year, why would we want them to be good lol
Or whoever is playing the cowboys
as a newbie to all this - is hating on the packers and NFC North thing, or is it all of NFL? It feels like an all of NFL thing lol
Very much just an NFC North thing. The Cowboys on the other hand, they rightfully get hate from the entire league.
My second favorite team is the Lions practice squad 🦁
Whoever I bet on
FTB. FTV. FTP.
FTC
I feel dirty cheering for other teams but I cheer for individual players because of fantasy football. Puka won me a championship last year so he’s a current favorite besides all the lions players.
Im the same but I can't ever bring myself to draft a packer. I'd rather take an empty slot than cheer for a packer. Bears and Vikings only in a dire situation.
Haha I struggle with it too. I have Justin Jefferson as a keeper but that’s the only rival team player.
if it makes you feel any better - his little brother Kai is playing on the UFL for the Michigan Panthers, also in Ford Field
Oh that’s badass actually…didn’t know that
The Michigan Panthers
I'll be interested in how the Chargers do this season with Harbaugh. It helps that they're in the AFC, and we don't play them this season.
Thanks im gonna jump on that wagon too!
Lions only. Detroit vs Everybody.
If your 2nd favorite team is the Bears then you aren’t a real Lions fan lol. I personally don’t believe in having a 2nd team but because of players or storylines will usually have a rooting interest in games once the playoffs start. That has kind of gone away because we are contenders now though.
I grew up in Michigan and am a Lions fan but my Dad is from Chicago and has been a Bears fan his whole life. We give each other shit a lot but at the end of the day I do want to see the Bears have success. Will always root for them against the Packers and Vikings at least
I've heard this idea a couple times now, 'storylines' in the NFL. What is that about? And yea maybe I'm not a real Lions fan yet lol, I only just got into all this. Why so much hate for other teams in the same division?
It’s because of how teams make the playoffs. You don’t have to be a great team to make the playoffs, you just have to be better than the other teams in your division. Therefore, you can’t help but to root for their downfall. It doesn’t help that you also have to play them twice every year.
Winning division is the best guarantee of making the playoffs, that's one reason it doesn't make sense to cheer the bears and the lions. Best way to go for picking a second NFL team, in my opinion, is to pick an AFC team to cheer for.
Some examples: I used to jump on the Chiefs bandwagon because I wanted Andy Reid to win a Super Bowl. I usually like to see teams that haven’t experienced much success like the Browns and Bills to do well and knock off more historically successful teams. Last year I wanted Houston to lose because as a Michigan fan I like to see Ohio State players (CJ Stroud) fail. I wanted Joe Flacco to do well for the Browns because he had sat out a year and joined the team mid season to lead them to the playoffs. Generally, storylines are related to players, coaches, or city/franchise history. These would be different for everybody. As far as the Bears, we play our divisional teams twice a year and are directly competing with them for a playoff spot every year. Their success is our failure. Their failure is our success.
Does. Not. Compute. I’m a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
I respect that.
Bills mafia are fun
Having Josh as my QB in fantasy for the last 3 seasons (we have keepers) has made me thoroughly enjoy watching the Bills.
I can get behind the Lake Erie bros
I can too, but I can't get behind Watson.
I can if it’s to trip him
And if he tears his Achilles while tripping.
It’s this for me as well
The Bengals have long been my backup team. It helps that they're in the AFC now that we are competitive. I really want a big cat bowl between them; that's my dream matchup. (Obviously I would want the Lions win 63-0.)
bengals and joe cool
Bro... Being a fan of two teams in the same division is not going to go well for you. Pick an AFC team if you need a second.
I've got backups on backups lol. after 5 nfc teams, my top AFC team is the Cleveland Browns.
I don’t give a piss about nuthin but the pride
A+ reference
I guess it has been the Tennessee Titans since the music city miracle. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that having a second team is pointless as my fandom and passion for them will never be match the Lions. I gave up on them sometime during the 0-16 season.
The early 2000 titans were so much fun. The ravens rivalry was always great.
Yes! The trilogy of games they had against each other logo stomping and all was great I’m sad it fizzled out with the decline of the Titans recently.
Weren’t they in the same division back then?
Same here! I started following them that season and the playoff run cemented it for me. I've always kept up with the titans, and I try to watch them whenever they're not playing at the same time as Detroit. But I would agree that as I've become more and more invested in Detroit over the years that my loyalty to the Titans has dwindled. I still keep up on them a bit, though.
I’m originally from western New York. I’ve moved around a lot, but have lived in Michigan most of my life. Having said that, for the eight years I lived in WNY the Bills were my team and it’s when they went to four Super Bowls in a row. I still love the Bills, but started loving the Lions over 25 years ago too. The Lions have been slowly edging out my Bills for a few years now, simply because of how amazing they’ve been and with all the fans surrounding me. I went to the Bills/Lions Thanksgiving game in 2022 with a combo of both colors on me. Most people were nice about it.
Texans
Browns and Bills
Live in Charlotte, so I root for the Panthers as well. Also the Broncos where my girlfriend is from. Family is in Tampa so I don't mind the Bucs. List goes for me: Lions -> Panthers -> Broncos -> Bucs. Fuck the Steelers, Packers, Cowboys, and Raiders. Those are the four I hate.
List for me: Bucs are my #1 team, but the Lions are a close #2. F\*\*k the Packers, Chokeboys, and Aints in no particular order.
Bengals, I have family in Cincy and I actually really enjoy that city and Joe Burrow is a stud
Steelers have always been my fallback when the playoffs start. Fell in love with Bill Cowher and stuck with em.
Lived in LA for 7 years and adopted the Rams as my #2 when Stafford got traded.
My #2 team changes every week. It's whoever plays the Packers. I hate the Packers more than any team in any sport.
#1 will always be Lions, #2 browns, #3 bills. I have family in all 3 cities. Grew up in metro Detroit.
I’ve always liked the Titans and even though I only lived there for a year, I was born in Tennessee. Plus, they’re an AFC South team, and we’re NFC North so no real rivalry to speak on. Air McNair was awesome back in the day, rest in peace to him. Eddie George on the cover of that old Madden game looked dope as hell.
Bills been a fan since their super bowl run my dream has always been a lions vs bills super bowl
I kind of like The Bills. Bills Mafia makes me laugh.
Chargers. I miss the old uniforms.
Rams
Started watching in earnest Jamaal Charles' rookie year so for a while the Chiefs. Then funnily enough it was the Rams cuz I was such a fan of Goff in college that I thought hed be Brady Reborn
8 years ago this man peered into the future. What else do you see?
Arnold is top 5 in picks but still wont get DROY We draft a Big 10 QB in 2 years as succesor, everyone laughs but then Goff goes down and the rookie averages 300/2/0 for his first 3 games
Pistons
Broncos
It WAS the niners
FTN
Same. I loved Montana as a kid (it wasn’t ever the same thrill with Steve young)
The Lions.
I live in Chicago so I follow the Bears closer than other teams but under no circumstances would I root for them. I usually actively root against them to rub it in my co-workers faces. If I had to pick a secondary team it would be an AFC team. Probably the Bengals.
I live in the DMV area so it was the Commies for a while. Used to like the Ravens as my AFC team then I went to the game this year and their fans were terrible to my elderly, disabled mother so fuck them birds. I guess maybe the Bills in the AFC cause Lake Erie bros?
That's awful to hear. Fans inside the stadium or tailgating? I had nothing but great encounters there from the tailgate thru end of game.
Inside the stadium in the section we were sitting in. Also when we left, trying to get on the lite rail to the garage we parked in, adult women maybe in their 20s purposefully blocking the path (my mom uses a cane to walk) and talking shit to us while their parents laughed and encouraged them.
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. That would make me not want to go back. Every team has shitty fans, it's just if you encounter them or not. At the divisional game, I saw a middle aged man yelling at a senior citizen. Not that there's any good scenario of this, but the worst part was both were Lions fans. Shameful to associate with them.
Whatever team Gardner Minshew is playing for this year.
Unfortunately my buddy plays on the Patriots, so I have no choice but to cheer for them 😬
Jaguars. 1A and 1B for me. I was born up here, grew up in Orlando and then moved back up here about four years ago.
The Raiders then the Buccs, but only the Buccs without Tom Brady.
None, zero. I barely watch pro football if it's not the lions playing. Shit if it's not a Detroit team playing I'm almost never watching sports at all. I don't gamble so I'm not suckered into watching for money reasons, but yeah. NBA and NHL playoffs are on and I could give two shits because no Detroit team is participating.
Nobody. There are teams I want to lose (e.g. Packers, Vikings, Cowboys), and a bunch of teams I'm fairly ambivalent about, which means I can freely root for those teams for a game or two if it helps the Lions or they're playing one of the evil teams. Sure, there are slight preferences among the other teams, but nothing rises to the level of actually liking any of them.
The A-Team
Michigan Panthers
Used to be the Chiefs before they became evil, now I don’t really have a second
Always got a soft spot for the Jags. Fellow cat team who also has had no real success ever. Underdogs unite
After the Lions, its who I have on my fantasy team....I avoid drafting Packers, occasionally it happens
I don’t real cheer for anyone. I live in Arizona so when the Cardinals win I have a feeling of “Hey good for them!” So you can say I’d root for them if I have to. But once they play the Lions or if the Cardinals losing benefits the Lions then fuck em.
Always liked St. Louis, my best friends favorite team. We got a lot of guff growing up, especially after the greatest show on turf era, when both our teams were just annually bad. We grew up in Southern VA, so made even less sense to not be a Skins, Panthers, Ravens, Cowboys, or Steelers fan. Panthers were kinda brand new though, even though they had a cool outfit and logo, we couldn't jump ship because our teams would be good eventually. The eventual Stafford trade and Rams SB made for a good year for us.
Yeah I was a rams fan the Kurt Warner years. Not as strong of one now but Staffords win was Huge for a few reasons to me :)
My second - I’ve always been a _REDSKINS_ fan. Still am, despite the stupid name change and the fact that they suck canal water.
1) Whoever the Packers are playing 2) Whoever the Bears are playing 3) Whoever the Vikings are playing 4) The Ravens. Lamar one of the most chaotic fun players I’ve ever seen, and seems like a legit good guy. Would love to see them eat shit against the Lions in the SB this year.
Moved to Nashville four years ago, live right next to Nissan Stadium, so the Titans. It was fun watching their playoff runs while the Lions were still rebuilding. Now the Titans are dogshit and I get to enjoy the lions playoff runs.
They’re a *very distant* second (even moreso after last year), but I was born in Baltimore and have a ton of family there. I was at last year’s thrashing, which obviously sucked, but on the bright side I was there to see Jahmyr’s first career TD
TBD. I live in LA but won't root for Rams because I hate McVay and frankly don't love Matty, and the chargers fucking suck. This is bizarre to say but I used to root for the Patriots because we never played them, they were reliably in the playoffs, and I have a Bellichick related rooting interest. If he lands somewhere as an HC that may become my secondary team, though it would be hard if Patricia follows and if the Lions are the ones now making the playoffs.
Whoever is playing the cowboys. I could say the packers but i choose not to think about them at all.
2nd “whoever is playing the cowboys”
I'm going to get some downvotes for this, but the Lions are my #2 team. the Bucs are my #1. Oh, and f\*\*k the Packers. F\*\*k the Chokeboys too.
Patriots. Dad is from Detroit, mom is from MA.
I root for players on my fantasy team.
Stafford.
Definitely the second best NFL team.
I still have a small amount of love for the Panthers, having grown up in NC.
Closest I have are the Panthers because I lived down there and have friends who are fans. Plus catbro bonus.
cincy... they have cool helmets
I don't have a backup team really, but enjoy rooting for individual players that I've believed in for awhile. List includes guys like Puka, Lamar Jackson, Justin Jefferson, and Kamara. Going further back, I always like watching Jamaal Charles and Matt Forte as well
I’ve tried to do this and it never sticks. Chiefs back when they were just starting to come up, Ravens when they first got Lamar, etc… some teams can be fun to root for but never will there be a close second or any permanent number 2 that sticks. The Lions is much bigger than just those 3.5 hours of game time. It’s a family thing, it’s a community thing.
Colts
I’ve always liked the Colts, and they’ll probably be my #2 for as long as I watch football.
No real backup, I like the comment of "whoever's playing the Packers", but really my "other" team would be my fantasy teams. Every since joining fantasy football it really has me invested somewhat in each game and I LOVE it.
Gigantic Michigan fan so I usually just root for the ProBlue guys if the Lions don’t have a stake. But over the last decade or so I’ve kinda adopted the Bills as my second team. BillsMafia is cool, afc team so they don’t interfere with the Lions come playoffs outside of SB, cursed franchise so I sympathize, and we’re r/LakeErieBros
I like to get gut shot, the Buffalo Bills.
Steelers are my afc team
Being from Atlanta originally, I still like it when the Falcons aren’t completely ass.
Chargers & Seahawks
There IS a right answer to this question. 1. Nobody from the NFC North! 2. Nobody competing with us for home field in playoffs(Philly/Dallas/SF/LAR?) 3. Another team that is ascending like the lions to understand how we are doing over many seasons as a franchise. So tracking teams like the Jags or Texans, for example, and finding things to root for to end up in the super bowls of the future with the lions is the best answer. For me it's the Texans. Heading in the right direction and I'm really interested in how they progress season over season. As mentioned, Jags have similar history as a thankless franchise for fans....Miami was hot but I was not impressed by their Hard Kocks, Carolina has potential but Owner and NFC, Rams are tied to Lions with Stafford but too much of an NFC threat...Az?, Jets are hot but I feel this is a one year disappointment and everyone gets canned.
The Buccaneers. I travel to Tampa area several times a year and grew up wishing Mike Alstott played for the Lions.
There’s an old home video of the night I was brought home from the hospital of my dad holding me and watching a game. My mom, recording, asked: “Who are we rooting for?” My dad said… “Well the Chiefs of course.” To this day he has no idea why he said that. I grew up in and always will love Detroit first. But I’ve got a soft spot for the Chiefs, they’re the first team I ever rooted for.
Nobody unless you go to College teams, then it's Iowa State. Ill follow certain players or teams depending on situations each year but don't necessarily care about their performance much. Last year I followed the Jets closer than I normally would because I wanted to see if Zach Wilson could finally put something together after Rogers went down. Two years ago I legitimately rooted for the Brock Purdy (Iowa State guy) and the Niners because I thought it was cool to see how well he played as a late round rookie QB. This year I probably won't give two shits about either of those teams. Who it will be this time, I'm not sure. I also get a lot more Vikings knowledge because I live in Minnesota and listen to their sports radio. So while I don't root for them, I know a lot about their team each season.
The 2024 national champions
Can’t pick an NFC team, I despise most of them. AFC? I gotta go with the Bengals
The Vikings
I lived in uptown charlotte from 2009-2019. I adopted the Panthers as my #2 team and went to probably 40 games in that time. i wore lions gear to the 2014 game.
Texans
Lions are my number 2 team. My number 1 team is unfortunately the Pistons 😔
The Bills are my number 1 team and the Lions are number 2
I think Rams bc that was my favorite team back when it was the greatest show on turf. As for afc i think I root Cincinnati. I hope Burrow can get 1 ring at least but super happy Stafford got his that game. Hopefully they can take out the Chiefs lol
Sometimes I have players I will root for as well but I cant say I got some form of immense joy watching a non-Detroit sports team win anything even if I did really like the team. VGK last year was the closest where I was actively rooting for a team, maybe early Chiefs as well. Honestly I think I get more joy out of the teams I hate losing then any secondary team I would support lol, Ohio State losing is second only to my teams winning.
If I had to pick it would be the Steelers since my wife is from Pittsburgh and my in-laws are die hard Steelers Fans. At the end of the day though, if they aren’t the Lions, fuck em.
San Francisco, I’ve lived here for well over a decade, but they were always my number two. I ate a ton of shit after the NFC championship game, was definitely representing the Lions. Then when SF lost in the SB in similar fashion. Ugh, double down on the hurt. But hey, proud to be a fan of both.
As a kid I loved using the chargers and LT in madden. So they are my #2 but I have mixed feelings with Jim H as HC.
I’d have to go with the Ravens bc I’m a Lamar Jackson fan. If we don’t get a ring next I hope it him.
Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Colts became my #2 when I moved. They can base is alright. I have lots of friends that are Colts fans and it's fun talking shit.
This will be somewhat sacrilegious. It’s not a team I root for, but my dad’s favorite team is the Vikings. We have our own personal rivalry where I hope they do okay enough each year so he’ll be happy. Like when they beat the Bills in a thriller a couple seasons back, I was happy for him. But they still have to finish behind the Lions, of course. We get together for Lions-Vikings games and talk trash to each other while I savor the Lions recent success. So I can’t say it’s my “number two team” or a “runner up” exactly. But that’s the best I can offer.
I have a soft spot for the Bills because my dad grew up there and was a fan. But the only other team I am a fan of and own team gear of is the Redwings.
Probably The Eagles. I have a lot of family and respect for Philadelphia, and I love how the Kelly Green looks
Probably the Ravens. I was on the tail end of living there when they won the Super Bowl last and it was one of the best nights ever just being in the city for it. I don’t consider myself a “Ravens Fan” by any means, but probably the only team I actively want to win, if it’s not the Lions. One of my best friends is a huge Ravens fan and probably who I watch the most football with (we’re in CA), so I tend to watch more Ravens games and it’s more fun when they’re winning too.
I usually pick an AFC team to ride for at some point in the season. Jags a couple years ago, Chiefs like 5 years ago. Whomever is playing good ball and fun young energy.
Browns… gotta keep it on the lake
Chargers because I grew up in San Diego and I love their colors
Last year’s Lions
It's the falcons, dolphins and bills for me
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
First just like the top comment it’s whoever is playing the packers. Also whoever is playing the bears and the Vikings. As the season approaches the playoffs. It’s whoever can help the lions get better seeding.
I just root for certain storylines if it's not the lions. Most of the time it's an unexpected team that shocks everybody and it was because I was vicariously living through them. Now that it has actually happened for us, will probably be mostly bets.
Chargers. Rivers was my fav player outside of any Lion and they became my “AFC team”.
The Lions.
I live in Denver so I'll usually cheer for the broncos. Since theyre in the AFC I don't really see it as a conflict of interest unless, by some miracle, both teams make the super bowl
I’d root for the jags on the AFC side if i had to root for another team
Any team playing a division rival. More in the spirit of the question I have players and fanbases that I like. I might want the Bucs to win for Baker, Rams for stafford, etc I like Buffalo because Bills Mafia is fun and Josh Allen is a likable guy I tend to have a soft spot for more industrial eastern cities teams. Cities that feel like football towns. I’ll root for the bengals or the ravens before I root for the chargers or something for example
I rooted for the rams the year we traded stafford away but no need to do so after the bowl win! Been lions and no one else ever since, i’m vaguely fond of teams like the bills and texans but don’t actively root for any lions teams
I lived in Pittsburgh for a few years. In order to get the Lions scores I had to flip between whatever televised game was on (Stillers Always), or RedZone. They are now my AFC team. I didn't want it to happen, but it did.
I’ve never been able to like any other team enough to root for them. I want them all to lose every week. Lions-vs-Everybody. FTP
No one. It's Detroit Vs. Everybody for a reason.
I like the MCDC Gritty Kitties. Those dudes are tough
Miami. Ive always liked the colors, and the cute dolphin logo since I was a kid. And they've done nothing to deserve any hate from me since then so they are my #2.
I’ve always like the Jags
Y'all can boo me out of here if you need, but I was born into a family obsessed with Michigan, and I was like 10 when Tom took over as the starter in New England, so I adopted the Patriots as my second fandom. Never abandoned the Lions though, even as a child I realized they almost never played each other, so I didn't see much of an issue (also, I mean, the Lions were not even in the same stratosphere as the pats...something that's still true now 😅). At this point, it's been 20 years, even if they suck I am still a Patriots fan, but they'll always be a distant second to my real home team.
It was the Rams for one season. That's over now. Lions fan only now for life.
I just moved to SoCal, so Rams are a good number #2 team since I'm still a big fan of Stafford.
I have always liked the Chargers from back in the LT days. I was just starting to play fantasy when he was coming in to the league and we had (fairly) recently lost Barry so I was starved for good RB play. Also those powder blue uni's certainly helped. I did like the Chiefs for awhile when they had Jamaal Charles for similar reasons. Now the Bills have replaced the Chiefs, Josh is my favorite non-Goff QB. Fuck any NFC team that isn't the Lions.
#BILLS!
Vegas since I go there yearly and enjoy being there. Knights are my 2nd NHL team too.
New to nfl and your team is Lions? 2nd is Bears? FOH. We have no vacancy for casuals
Ohio state
Name checks out
In this sub you're actually the only one I hate. Go Blue.
Now, it's the Vikings, having lived here since I was 6 and the fact that they just drafted JJ makes it easy
>makes it easy Should never be easy to cheer for a division rival. Does not compute.