I'm Glad I'm Not...

I'm still feeling pretty bitter about the Packers' heart-breaking loss in Pittsburgh. That would have been such a beautiful win -- such a good achievement to come back in the 4th quarter on the road against a good team. Alas.

In any case, one of the therapeutic habits I've developed in my years of football fandom is to follow a disappointing loss by making a list of the fans that I'm glad I'm not. In other words, while it is a little painful to be a Packer fan today, I'm still glad that I'm not a fan of several other teams, instead...

I'm glad I'm not a Saints fan. I know that they've still got plenty to be happy and excited about, but you've got to know that their mouths were watering over the prospect of 16-0. To lose at home against the struggling Cowboys really hurts -- very disappointing. (Also disappointing for us as Packer fans!)

I'm glad I'm not a Vikings fan. They went into the game knowing that they could make up ground on the Saints, who stumbled on Saturday night. Instead, they couldn't close the deal on an out-of-contention Panther team, which only managed 6 points through 3 quarters. And, on top of it all, now they've got a QB-coach controversy to deal with all week.

I'm glad I'm not a Jets fan. They really needed a win on Sunday. The difference between 8-6 and 7-7 in the AFC just now is huge. They were at home, and they had the lead on the Falcons all game long. But they gave it up in the end, and now they're just crossing their fingers about the playoffs, with games against the Colts and Bengals still to play!

I'm glad I'm not a Broncos fan. Remember when they were 6-0 and the talk of the league? Now they languish at 8-6, barely clinging to a wild card berth, with a whole herd of 7-7 teams nipping at their heels. They could have distanced themselves from the pack with a simple win at home against the dysfunctional Raiders with their quarterback carousel, but they lost. And now they have to go to Philly to play the Eagles!

I'm glad I'm not a 49ers fan. San Francisco jumped out to such a promising start this year under relatively new head coach Mike Singletary. They took early control of their Division, and they looked like world-beaters. Then things began to crumble, and yesterday they were officially knocked out of playoff contention.

I'm glad I'm not a Bears fan. No need for elaboration -- they're just a disaster.