"Are You Ready For Some Football?"

Well, it's January 2, 2011. The final game of this year's NFL Regular Season. For the team I happen to adore with all my heart, the New England Patriots, the outcome of today's game doesn't matter. They are in the playoffs with the best record in their division.  This means they get to sit out the first round of said playoffs AND every playoff game they are in, save the 'Big One', will happen at Gillette Stadium.  Today's worry will be injuries. 

Each NFL Season seems to pass like a jar of peanut butter. Humor me here.  In September, the jar is opened for the first time and in front of you is an untouched, never before seen expanse of peanutty perfection. For me, the beginning of the NFL season is just the same and it's a beautiful thing. When the season opens, there are sseventeen weeks of games laid all out in front of you; Oh, and look, there's your 'Game Day Jersey' just the same as you left it at the end of last season.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that, even if you detest Football (though incomprehensible to me, there are those who do), you would enjoy football Sunday at our house. Why?  It's mostly about the food, that's why.  Sixteen weeks of football meals consist of everything from Ribs to Loaded Nachos to Beef Stew to Crab Cakes. It is directly influenced by factors such as the current opponent and location of the game. 



Now it's time to dress for the game. In our home, each of us has his or her own particular apparel to be worn during the game. There is no discussion about nor alteration to this plan (see "jinxing" below). It simply does not change unless, of course, the player depicted on your jersey becomes a traiterous rat who decides more money with a different team is more important than loyalty to the team who got him where he is in the first place.  Not that I'm bitter but I have a BRAND NEW Adam Vinatieri, Pats 'home' jersey that will remain packed away now until such a time, if there ever is one, that it becomes useful again.  Ahh, such a fine line between love and hate.

Game Time!  Here are a few categories of game watchers for you...

The Warrior:  My husband falls in to this category and will root himself in a livingroom chair and stay there for the entire game with the following exceptions:  Bathroom, Beer, Food, or irreparable damage within the game.  He knows the rules, inside and out, and can pick out a penalty faster than 'the guys in the booth'. 

The Worrier:  This would be someone who likes a more active role in the game, even if that role is only in her head and, yes, I fall in to this category.  If I'm in the livingroom and the Pats are doing well, I stay put.  If things start to go sour, I head for the kitchen and those in attendance can expect a new item of food to appear soon afterward.  While in the kitchen, audible updates are conveyed from my husband when anything pivotal happens.  This is just one of the funny little habits that comes from decades of being a Boston/New England sports fan.  I can sum it up in two words:  Jinxes and Superstition. Anyone who has been a New England sports fan for more than a decade knows EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

The Coach:  This is the person who attempts to predict plays and "help" the coaches from their chair.  We all know people like this...  'nuff said.

With game day sorted, it's time to get back to that peanut butter/football season analogy:
Week One - Open the jar and peel back the seal.  It looks and smells amazing and is completely untouched, dare I say, virginal.  Anything is possible.
Week Two - There is evidence of a swipe or two across the top but still plenty of unchartered area left.
Weeks Three through Seven - Similar to Week Two but the feeling gets less and less pronounced.
Week Eight - This is a tough one.  The Jar is half full or empty dependent on your team's record as well as your own inclination toward either optimism or pessimism. 
Weeks Nine through 14 - This is where the peanut butter hits the toast.  You're becoming more and more conservative with your peanut butter, particularly if your team is doing well.  You do NOT want to jinx anything by taking your peanut butter all 'willy nilly' and using it without regard.  After all, you could run out and not have enough time to get to the store for more by the end of the season.
Remaining weeks in the regular season - You either have enough or you don't and there is no mistaking or going back at this point.  You survive the remainder of the season with whatever you've got. 

If you have managed the season properly, even though a 'near' empty jar can be a depressing sight, you know you've used your peanut butter appropriately and it has served you well.  A jar well spent, so to speak.

So, if you are someone who loves NFL football, "Football Sunday" and peanut butter as much as I do, I say 'good luck' regardless of your team preference.  For those of you who could care less about the game, I say find a good movie to watch and 'eat up'.