Sunday open thread: Should Lions fans root for Matt Patricia in Super Bowl LII?

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, Pride of Detroit. The Big Game is finally here, and if you’re like me, you aren’t as much anticipating the game as much as you’re anticipating the end of it. Because when it’s all said and done, the Detroit Lions will finally be able to officially hire their 27th coach in franchise history. The Matt Patricia Era will finally begin.

But since there’s a game on today, and because there is no football on the horizon afterwards, we may as well watch the game and try to enjoy it.

Saturday, we discussed if Lions fans like rooting for the underdogs who have never won a championship before. 68 percent of you do like seeing teams end their championship drought, suggesting you may be rooting for the Eagles today. But today’s Question of the Day tackles the other side of the issue.

Are you rooting for Matt Patricia in his final game with the Patriots?

My answer: This is a complicated question, so here’s my complicated answer.

First, I don’t care how the Patriots defense does. My opinion on Patricia will not change no matter what happens during the Super Bowl. His resume is good enough, and his current roster is bad enough that it wouldn’t surprise me if they struggled a lot against the Eagles.

That being said, it’s hard to look at this guy:

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

... and not root for him. He may not be the Lions’ coach yet, but for all intents and purposes he already is. And to see him go out on top with the Patriots would be a special moment for him. It would be a definitive end to that chapter in his life.

HOWEVER, ultimately that would mean rooting for the Patriots and I just can’t do that to myself. So, instead, I view this game as a win-win. I’m rooting for the Eagles simply because they aren’t the Patriots, but if New England wins, we get a great story for Detroit’s next coach.

Your turn.