Poll Says America Loves to Hate New England Patriots; Tom Brady Polarizing

FOXBOROUGH, MA — A new poll says America loves to hate the New England Patriots and Tom Brady is the most polarizing player in the NFL.

According to new numbers from Public Policy Polling's annual NFL poll, America is united on cheering against the Patriots drive for a fifth Super Bowl championship, with 21 percent of those polled choosing the team as their lease favorite. The second most hated team is the Dallas Cowboys with 19 percent of the vote.

The team's favorable ratings are not that great either, with 43 percent having a favorable opinion of the team, 42 having an unfavorable view, and 15 percent unsure. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons have a 55 percent favorable rating, 19 percent unfavorable rating, and 26 percent unsure.

For Super Bowl LI, fans will be cheering for Atlanta over New England 53 percent to 27 percent, but 52 percent of those polled think the Patriots will win, compared to the 36 percent who think the Falcons will lift the Vince Lombardi trophy.

While 22 percent of respondents said Brady was their favorite quarterback, 24 percent also said he said he was their least favorite QB. Brady led both categories, with Aaron Rodgers coming in as the second-most-loved quarterback and Cam Newton polling as the second least-favorite quarterback.

The results that Patriots fans will love concern NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Only 22 percent view him favorably and 26 percent approve of the job he is doing as commissioner.

In the end, Patriots fans will probably laugh at theses results and revel in the fact that Super Bowl LI is New England against the country. Like former Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins said at the team's send-off rally Monday morning, "Everyone in the nation hates us? Do you know why? They hate us 'cause then ain’t us. They hate us because they want to be us,"

Click here to see the full results from PPP.