Written by Mia Herz and Sophia Shen

Eagles, Giants, and Jets: all untalented teams in the 2023/24 season who are not in the championship, but who our Rye Country Day School faculty members still worship. With the LVIII Super Bowl coming up on Sunday, February 11th, fans are solidifying their predictions and opinions. The Kansas City Chiefs (AKA Taylor Swift’s team) play against the San Francisco 49ers (they are not known for anything special). With Swift making her mark in the NFL, there will be record setting Super Bowl views.

One of the most amusing parts of the Super Bowl is hearing the predictions, especially from our top three RCDS football experts: Mr. Heintz, a devout Eagle fan, Mr. Bates, a Giants fanatic, and Dr. Danziger, who may come as a surprise as a Jets enthusiast.

All three experts were rooting for the Detroit Lions in the NFC championship, especially Danziger because she “really like[s] their uniforms.” When asked who he favored in the semi-finals, Mr. Heintz replied “the Eagles,” although they did not make it past the wildcard round. Sadly the unanimous favorite, the Lions, did not advance to the championship. 

Heintz and Danziger agree that the Chiefs are bound to win, while Bates has faith in the 49ers. These teams are worthy opponents and will make for a fantastically close game. Although the Chiefs are the favorite among our experts, in terms of style, Danziger says they are “old news” and their colors clash with the 49ers. “There’s too much red in the uniforms as a whole, though” and she likes “more of a contrast.” Not only have the Chief’s been victorious one too many times, but they are also ruining the fashion sense in the NFL. Danziger was devastated when Alix Earl and the Miami Dolphins were beaten by the Chief’s because the influencer, along with the teal and orange uniforms, carried the aesthetics and pinterest-y feel of the NFL. 

With the addition of Taylor Swift, the world famous singer-songwriter, in this year’s Super Bowl, there has been new controversy over the excessive attention she is given during the NFL broadcastings. As predicted, the three football experts all have a different take on the pop star’s presence. While Mr. Heintz agrees that Swift has attracted a new demographic that wouldn’t have otherwise watched football, he shares that he is in the cohort that is “annoyed [that] she is constantly shown at games.” He has also forecasted a Swift-Kelce breakup in the near future, and encourages Swifties to write her new breakup lyrics. Danziger sides with Heintz, calling herself “a little Taylor Swift-ed out.” After all, she’s trying to watch the NFL, not the Eras Tour Pt. 2.

Once again, Mr. Bates provides a clashing viewpoint from the other two football enthusiasts claiming that “Taylor Swift is awesome.” Well if Bates, an RCDS college counselor, supports the “Love Story” (from the Fearless album), Swift and Kelce’s relationship must be worth something. When describing the appeal, Bates even compared them to “Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe from the 50’s,” calling both the old and new duos a “power couple.”

Taylor once said that the phrase “Taylor’s Version” means she owns it, so does that apply to the NFL jerseys, sweatshirts, and merchandise now having “Taylor’s Version” on it? What are her plans to overtake football and should we change the NFL to TFL – Taylor’s Football League?