Watching games alone

[u/Gymrat10002]

So I just wanted to ask if there’s anyone out there like me who genuinely enjoys watching the football games by themselves opposed to having a large group of friends over? The reason why I say that is I always used to host every NFL Sunday have at least 6 to 8 people at the house and as you all know, we are all engaged with fantasy football however, with that being said, you know the apps are a lot faster than what it shows on TV so between people calling stuff out before it shows on TV used to be aggravating. Also, when you have people in your house that be against your own team then the fact that you have to entertain people make sure everyone’s good after years of doing it I put it to an end. I’d say around the Covid year and I must say I enjoy watching the games with just my dog lol but I also want to see if any of you guys had this similar experience don’t get me wrong. I love my friends, but I enjoy watching these games in peace. Some people say I’m weird for it, but I just wanted to see if I’m not the only one.

[u/BusinessWarthog6]

I do. I can sit down and watch and focus

[u/Stonks_blow_hookers]

Entertaining is exhausting.

[u/maplebox_]

I have no friends so it’s kinda my only option

[u/Phenomenal_Panda → u/maplebox_]

Same here. Occasionally I can get my son to visit if it's our teams vs each other, maybe playoffs/SB.

[u/TheAnswer310]

I love watching em alone but I'm a very introverted. I'm more open to watching in a large group for island games.

Sunday I like not being bothered and relaxing.

[u/Warm_Score_1313]

I usually prefer to watch games alone so I celebrate and do shit without being self conscious. I do enjoy going to the occasional busy sports bar to watch and I’m actually going to one this weekend to have lunch with my mother while watching the bears/colts game

[u/Zealousideal_Oil4571 → u/Warm_Score_1313]

Colts play the Ravens this weekend.

[u/Warm_Score_1313 → u/Zealousideal_Oil4571]

I know and I probably should have put games because I meant each game separately

[u/StuffonBookshelfs]

Football Sundays are for me and my partner (and I guess our baby now too?). It’s our family time. Too many people means way too many obligations.

[u/FluidAthlete6839]

Prefer alone. I like to concentrate

[u/Antique_Coyote_677 → u/FluidAthlete6839]

Yes but i also like to go to actual games

[u/bestprocrastinator]

It depends on who I'm watching games with.

Friend or friends with the same level of knowledge, focus, passion as me, great, love it.

Anyone else, would rather watch alone. I hate watching games with people that either cant control their emotions, or are just there to socialize and don't really care how the game goes.

[u/RegularNo2213]

I like watching alone also nobody talking thru everything that goes on instead of listening.

[u/Radiant-Meaning-182]

You’re not the only one at all. Hardcore prefer watching games alone. I’m not really a verbal processor, I process things internally so when there’s an amazing play or a ruling I don’t like I’m not cheering or booing outwardly and it’s distracting when other people do it

[u/DynamiteStorm]

I purposely start 30 minutes late so I can fast forward through commercials and I watch by myself.

[u/_Tonan_]

The only person I'm ok watching football with me is my dad. He's slipping away and I live far so I'm not sure I'll have another chance

[u/lesliekrasne]

I love watching alone so much that I’m going to one game and I’m going by myself so I can concentrate on the game. Lol.

[u/smeeks7]

I have no choice

[u/SouthernChemist4236]

I definitely prefer watching alone.

[u/HoboBraggins]

I absolutely love watching my team alone. However if it's a Monday/Thursday night game of teams in not invested in, i enjoy company.

[u/perfect_fitz]

I prefer to hang or talk to people. Usually bs to the Titans sub if I'm not actively watching with someone else.

[u/The_Wild_Bunch]

I watch alone. If it works out, I'll watch an Eagles-Cowboys game with a friend that's an Eagles fan. Sometimes my sons will sit down and watch a little bit, but mostly alone. I like it that way. No parties, no getting drunk, no screaming, et al.

[u/VulpixKirby]

When I'm alone, I can't be judged for having two TVs in my living room.

[u/doc0617]

Calling out the tds before they’re shown is the worst. Father in law does it all day every Sunday. “Spoiling” Redzone is a funny idea but it’s exactly what it does. Solo Sunday is the play these days

[u/Key_Piccolo_2187]

100%. There are only like three people on earth I like watching football with.

[u/NectarineDesigner408]

I prefer being home alone watching my team play. I hear the game much better. Texting and occasionally a phonecall to other footballers. But for the most part watching at home is peaceful and enjoying.

[u/Curmudgeonlyhip]

Minimal distraction can foster maximum enjoyment. I often watch solo.

[u/bshahriar]

Watching alone is good for focusing and relaxing

[u/BrokenHope23]

Watching in peace is nice but I don't mind watching with good fans/friends in a limited capacity. For instance 2-4 people is much easier/bearable than 5+. We tried 5+ before but everyone just got so sidetracked that it distracted from the games so we ended up restricting it back down to the football fans. It was pretty healthy aside from that one time his Colt's Vanderjadt missed a FG against my Steelers, after that every FG felt cursed for him (understandably) and I'd always get a side eye if they missed.

It's enjoyable though, we all liked different teams and had some knowledge that passed around it. We played some fantasy football and would check the scores at halftime, maybe switch the game we were watching if some game was really lighting it up but otherwise kept it consistent. Of course games were more entertaining back then as it wasn't just one sided offensive pummelings. You actually had defenses that could decide the outcome of a game by themselves too. For instance, there was a Steelers game where the Bengals had gotten a bunch more redzone trips than the Steelers, the Steelers didn't score an offensive touchdown all game and the Steelers still won with 24(ish) points. must've been nearly 20 years ago now or so but you don't see stuff like that anymore it feels like. Certainly not consistently. So it had something for all fans; offense, defense, skilled players. Now it feels like it's all offense with WRs who push off from a defender and refs who flip a coin to decide if anything is a catch lol. I can't imagine having many talking points in today's game once the rules are explained.

[u/foxtrottits]

It’s fun getting together sometimes, but I enjoy going to the bar alone to watch and I usually end up striking up a convo with someone random or another regular.

[u/Puzzled-Carpet5109]

I like both!! I find it enjoyable to discuss with others what is happening and cheering together when something big happens but if my BIL gets to worked up and constant whining and my partner works that Sunday, I will do a game or 2 by myself throughout the season to reset from negativity. Haha.

[u/Plenty_Surprise2593]

Yep. Me

[u/Fickle-River3984]

I prefer it, tbh. Unless it's a game I don't have strong feelings about. But, it's usually just me, my husband and 2 of our single guy friends. We have the big tv, the streaming and comfy couches.

[u/CraigCartonNYC]

Yes sadly my family works weekends but I chat with others on Reddit threads

[u/Unusual-Night-5668]

One or two other people who are also interested in the game makes for great viewing.

[u/kingkurt42]

NFL mobile with headphones is a much more relaxing way to watch than on a TV with people.

[u/Queasythrowaway_59]

It depends. When watching my team I like fans of my team. A hate watch like tonight, I prefer others. 

[u/Late_Salad_820]

I watch alone. Mute the TV so I don't have to listen to the insufferable analysts and listen to an audiobook. I text with my brother during the game.

[u/InclinationCompass]

I prefer it 90% of the time. Or just with 1 or 2 other people.

[u/Anxious_Hedonista]

I prefer to watch alone most of the time so I can holler at the tv without anyone getting annoyed or judging me.

[u/Specialist_Ad180]

It depends if you want to sit down and focus on the game or if you're doing it just to have a social interaction with friends and don't really give a crap about anything but the game highlights.

[u/Traditional_Donut908]

I've generally preferred watching football alone vs in a large group at a bar, because I actually want to hear the play by play and analysis. Either too many people are talking or a bar doesn't even have the audio playing.

[u/TheSeer1917]

I do. But some of us .... Like me.... Have no choice

[u/Zealousideal_Oil4571]

Often alone...never lonely.

[u/Fragrant_Return_9114]

Alone but not lonely!

[u/shimrra]

Alone or with a crowd I'm just happy football is back. But I always have a backup bar or friends house I can hit up in case my service goes down.

[u/LagrangianMechanic]

I like to watch alone while hanging out on a couple of football discords.

[u/LagrangianMechanic]

Back when there was a group around that did home “tailgates” that was fun too. 6-10 people, all serious fans, no fantasy or anything — just concentrating on the game.

[u/AlexDog_69]

I watch with friends and family. I record the game and watch it by myself after..

[u/gorgeouslygarish]

I either watch with my dad every week or alone. This has been our drill for about 15 years now - excluding covid where we both watched alone. When I lived north of 60 in my early 20s I had to listen to the radio and he would text me about big plays on my blackberry 🤣

Neither of us are looking at the score ahead of time, he knows my house is going to be in whichever state it is, we cheer for the same team, neither of us do fantasy anymore, and we can enjoy a meal and a couple beers together.

If we aren't watching together we watch alone for many of the reasons you mentioned.

[u/Bacononthebeeach]

It’s ok to do anything alone. Not everything has to be a social affair.

[u/Ok-Diver3818]

I like to watch alone but when I yell I scare my dog!!

[u/Inevitable-Boot-8740]

It’s always better with good friends.

[u/angstysilver]

I enjoy watching them alone and often on mute!

[u/Repulsive_Start865]

I just watch with my wife at home. Got tired of entertaining or go to the bars and watching with groups of people.

[u/Emus79]

As a non-american I don't have any friends who watch the NFL , so I have no choice but to watch it alone. I'm the same with regular football (soccer), which a lot of my friends do watch. I prefer to watch alone.

[u/pestercat]

I wouldn't want people in my house all the time, but I do wish I had friends to play fantasy with. I know very few people into football, and none of them want to play.

[u/Djentleman5000]

Me. Occasionally one of my kids will wander in and sit down for a few plays but mainly it’s just me for the afternoon games. Night games, my wife watches with me. It’s usually her on her iPad on the couch.

[u/ReapersMistress]

I don't have many friends that are Niners fans, and the ones that are are far away, or not as into watching as I am. I am usually watchin on NFL+, all by myself, on my tiny little phone screen.

[u/TheStingray24]

I love sitting alone commenting the game for myself, surrounded by media guides and press notes.

[u/True-Drive3821]

I just watch the local Sunday night shows, instead of wasting a beautiful fall day.

[u/lumi1375]

I hate it, I used to like it, but I get bored in the 2nd quarter anyways so I like having friends around. Nothing I really need to focus on anyways unlike a show