Fans in New England, especially Massachusetts, had become accustomed to rooting for their own team, the Patriots, in the Super Bowl for quite some time. But that well has run a bit dry recently, the Pats last appearing in “The Big Game” three years ago. While not obligated, one might figure the locals are likely to pick someone to get behind, whether for emotional or financial reasons, in Super Bowl 56. Given the participants, their journeys to the game and what they stand for, you might be surprised who the Bay State is behind.
According to BetOnline.Ag, Massachusetts will be pulling for the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 56 on Sunday. This state-by-state rooting map was assembled using data mined from Twitter, a frequented conversation hub for football fans. Massachusetts pulling for the Rams seems a bit of a surprise, as the Bengals are both an AFC conference mate as well as the plucky underdog tale. While the Rams are the super team, if you will, a collection of stars in “going for it all” mode. Not exactly the Massachusetts lunchpail kind of team. Unless, of course, people in Mass. are thinking with their wallet and not their heart (the Rams are currently a four-point favorite). Tough to imagine Mass natives and Pats fans are rooting for the Rams based on the Sony Michel/ex-Pats factor.
It should be noted Mass isn’t the only New England state rooting for LA, as Rhode Island also shows up as a pro-Rams state. The rest of New England will be pulling for the Bengals.
Super Bowl 56 is scheduled to kick off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. from SoFi Stadium.