As fantasy managers, we know that our teams have exactly one fan. Our families might tolerate our teams, and they might be glad when we win (mostly because we're not moping around) but they aren't true fans. So when our team wins or loses, we're the only ones who really care.
Not so with NFL teams. When they win or lose, it's a big deal. And on Sunday, two long-suffering fan bases were dealt very different fates in the playoffs.
First, the good part: The Detroit Lions are so far ahead of schedule, they're 60 minutes away from a first-ever Super Bowl berth. They aren't just playing with house money; they practically own the casino, and the odds are looking more in their favor than ever before. The 49ers will certainly be favored (as they should be) but nobody will say they Lions can't win.
Fans who have waited their entire lives for a modicum of success have already enjoyed two playoff wins at home. Unless you're eligible for Medicare, you weren't alive the last time Detroit won a league championship, and that was well before the Super Bowl era. Win or lose, Detroit fans can feel good about the present and the future. I have no idea what Dan Campbell's contract situation is currently, but he's more likely to get a statue built in his honor than a pink slip. Basketball notwithstanding, these are good times for Detroit.
And good times for us, too. Amon-Ra St. Brown helped a lot of fantasy teams win titles, Gibbs and Montgomery chipped in plenty of production, and Jared Goff was either a mid-range starter or a very valuable backup. This wasn't garbage-time production like we've gotten from the Lions in the past, either. Detroit is a team to watch for fantasy managers because they're a good team with good players. Guys like Barry Sanders, Herman Moore and Calvin Johnson should be proud.
Then there's the Bills. I'm not from the area, and I have no ties to the team. I was, however, at the Super Bowl when Scott Norwood missed the kick that started the historic string of championship game losses. The game was in Tampa, and I was in a group selling concessions, though I left the booth and just walked around, watching the second half from a bunch of different angles. Also, I was nearly kicked out for getting into an altercation before the game started, but that's ancient history. What was I saying again?
Oh yeah; the Bills. This fan base is so dedicated, they donate money to charity as a group, shovel snow before playoff games, and gather in cities all across the country to watch the team on television screens. Part of me wants to see Buffalo win a title, and I thought they had a good shot to knock off Kansas City. As long as Josh Allen didn't throw costly interceptions, I thought they'd have the upper hand at home.
Alas, despite Allen's play, it wasn't meant to be. Another wide right kick prevented a tie (though Mahomes would have gotten the ball with plenty of time to ruin Buffalo's night a different way) and it was another round of sad interviews after another tough loss. A win wouldn't have guaranteed them a trip to Vegas, or a win if they got there, but it would have shown they're more than a good team. They'd be legitimate title contenders. Instead, they're looking for answers. Again.
And if you drafted Stefon Diggs, your fantasy team might have been doing the same. A hot start to the season ended with one score in the last eight games and no 100-yard efforts past week 2. In fact, not counting week 18, when most fantasy leagues are done for the year, he only eclipsed 50 yards once in his last seven games. James Cook also ran hot and cold, but with more reliability than Diggs. Aside from Allen, whose rushing stats kept his value high, the team disappointed fantasy managers this season. Not as much as the actual team's fans, of course. It's another tough offseason in Buffalo.
And that's another big difference between fantasy teams and the real ones. Our fan base (of one) gets over the results faster. Even if you had a rough year, you're probably past it by now, enjoying the games and you'll be ready to roll next year. Even if you won, the moment has passed, and you'll be moving to offseason activities soon enough.
But it's a different story in Detroit and Buffalo. This season has created memories (good and bad) that will linger for a long time. We can put it aside and move on to next year, but Bills fans will think about it for quite a while. And Lions fans, no matter how their season ends, will remember it for the rest of their lives. That's the impact of what we're watching, and there's more to come. Try to remember that while you enjoy the games.
Which of your fantasy players are still competing? Which teams do you want to win? What are your best and worst memories from this season? Share your thoughts below.