I grew up as a New England Patriots fan in Rochester, NY. Most Rochesterians (yes, that’s a real word) are Buffalo Bills fans since we’re a little less than an hour away from the team’s city. The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills are both in the AFC East division of the NFL, and are therefore bitter rivals.
If you are a Patriots fan surrounded by Bills fans, here are a few things you might have experienced, or can probably expect to happen.
1. You’ll be accused of being a bandwagon fan.
Tell someone you’re a Patriots fan, and they will either assume you’re a bandwagon fan or accuse you of being one. It comes with the territory of cheering for a team that’s won five Super Bowls in the last 13 years. Admittedly, I have a somewhat strange reason for being a Patriots fan.
When I was a kid, my favorite TV show as was “Liberty Kids” on PBS, a cartoon that took place during the American Revolution. I loved reading about the American Revolution, especially the battles (which marked my initial interest in military history).
So when I saw the Patriots’ old logo of a Minuteman hiking a football, I picked them as the team I’d cheer for. Is that an incredibly nerdy reason for being a fan of a particular NFL team? Sure, but I got off lucky; my paternal grandfather was a Cleveland Browns fan.
2. You’ll be constantly told that the Patriots are cheaters
3. If the Patriots beat the Bills, you’ll be ridiculed.
Personally, I’ve learned to just keep my mouth shut whenever the Patriots are playing the Bills. I don’t like bragging, and I believe the Patriots’ overall record against the Bills speaks for itself (71-43, in case you’re wondering).
4. If the Bills beat the Patriots, you’ll be ridiculed even more.
This has only happened a couple of times in my life, and I guess it’s only fair that Patriots fans occasionally face the kind of disappointment that Bills fans live with. I do genuinely hope that the Bills will eventually win the Super Bowl, even if I never stop hearing about it.
5. You’ll have to endure insults against our Lord and Savior, Tom Brady
The man, the myth, the legend. Or more simply, the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Unfortunately, Bills fans don’t appreciate Brady’s talent or the records he’s broken with that talent. They tend to refer to him as a “sissy,” “pretty boy,” and other insulting nicknames that I’m probably not allowed to write here. Linebackers and defensive lineman might break his bones, but insulting nicknames will never hurt Tom Brady.
