As the Jets/Giants matchup draws closer, and the anticipation grows as a result, Evan says the rivalry between the two New York football teams has "probably" become the top rivalry among teams in the Big Apple.
"Things have changed to where the Jets and the Giants, as a rivalry, has legitimately become a real thing in this town," Evan said. "We have nine teams…I always looked at the Giants and Jets as towards the bottom of that pecking order in terms of rivalries. But I have to admit, over the last few years, maybe the last decade, that has moved up to the list to the point where it is challenging as the number one rivalry in this town.
"I could tell you the exact moment it changed…everything changed on Christmas Eve in 2001. Jets/Giants was never a thing. I grew up as an Islander fan despising the Rangers, because Rangers/Islanders is still a thing. I get the Devils fans out there feel the same about Devils/Rangers. Nets/Knicks, I'm fired up. I don't miss a game. But I also think it's kind of one-sided. For a long time, Knicks fans didn't give a rat's ass about the Nets…it doesn't even exist to a lot of them. The thing about Jets/Giants and Mets/Yankees, despite not being in the same league, there are more of us that can't stand each other."
Evan noted that the Subway Series typically held the top spot, but that rivalry between the Yankees and Mets has become "dormant" after both teams were highly disappointing in 2023, so the path has been cleared for the Jets and Giants to take center stage.
