My day on the Sports Dividing Line

I stopped at 3 bars yesterday during the Eagles - Giants game. The results of what I saw were as unpredictable as the result of the game itself.

My journey started at the Dublin Square in Bordentown. Then, we went northwest to my hometown of Ewing at the Firkin Tavern. Finally we drove south (through PA) & finished at the 45th Street Pub in Edgewater Park.

First, I have stated here before that Bordentown, in Burlington County is safely Philadelphia sports territory. I still stand by that. If you were to go to Bordentown High School, it would be pretty evident. However, because Routes 206, 130, 295, 195 and the Turnpike all intersect in or near Bordentown and because the town has three great sports pubs right next to each other, these establishments are often filled with many Mercer and Monmouth County people - which means more Giants fans. This was obvious at Dublin Square, where I counted 17 people in New York gear and only 4, including myself, in Philadelphia apparel. There were others there, including the Boston guy, but it gives you the atmosphere.

We then trekked to Ewing in Mercer County, which was 6 - 4 Eagles in terms of apparel. But most of the people were Eagles fans. When the Giants scored to finish out the first half, only those four people (pictured) cheered. It was like a funeral in the bar and was a completely different atmosphere from Bordentown. Even though Ewing is further north, it is kind of isolated along the Delaware River if you look at the roads. All you've really got is the Interstate 95's infamous gap to PA and Route 29 to Trenton and Lambertville. The Firkin was an Eagles bar. The four Giants fans also looked like TCNJ students.

We finished by going 95 South through PA and hitting up Edgewater Park. This was safely Eagles country. There were two loud Giants fans at the bar and that was it. I got some locals to pose for a picture, but this was before the big comeback. They reluctantly agreed, but by the end of the game, we are all hugging and high-fiving each other. It was quite a sight. It was quite a game.

It was quite a fun travel day through the sports dividing line of New Jersey.

Where in NJ to watch the Eagles at Giants

This Sunday. 1pm. It's the Philadelphia Eagles at the New York Giants.

Most experts predict whoever wins this game will win the NFC East Division title and stamp their ticket to the playoffs. For the other team, they'll likely be looking at the last spot or worse - they'll be out of the playoffs all together.

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If we follow the New Jersey sports dividing line, below is a list of some bars that will have divided crowds.

So get out the people watching binoculars, get your jersey, pick your side and enjoy this VERY rare occasion. It's too often the NFL schedules these two opponents at night. While it's great for TV at home; it's not the same at the taverns. This Sunday is going to be special.

Get off the couch and out to one the following places this Sunday.

Warren County

Gunnar's Landing - Belvidere

Pinstripes - Alpha

Mercer County

Wildflowers - Pennington

The Firkin Tavern - Ewing

Burlington County

All Starz Sports Pub - Bordentown

Dublin Square - Bordentown

Chickies & Pete's - Bordentown

Ocean County/ Monmouth

Plumsted Grill - on border of Cream Ridge/ Plumsted Twp.

Ocean County

L.A.'s Restaurant- Manahawkin

Doyle's Pour House - Tuckerton

The BIG DAY

After seeing the Arizona Cardinals shock the Carolina Panthers, I think it is safe to say this game today is for the Super Bowl. No disrespect to the Cardinals - I just think the Giants AND Eagles are both relieved to see the Panthers out of the way.

Anyway, enjoy the game today. I have to work later on - so I might be drinking coffee and not beer, but I may be up in Hightstown, Exit 8 off the turnpike, at the Tavern on the Lake (1o1 N. Main St.) for the first part of today's game. If you want to see a 50/50 divide of Eagles & Giants' fans - go there (though I think it will be more like 60%-40% Giants).

And finally, we were mentioned in the New York Daily News today and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Enjoy reading!

New Jersey divided between 2 NFL Football Teams

In North Jersey - they will be rooting for the New York Giants. And in South Jersey, they'll be pulling for the Philadelphia Eagles. However, there will be about 3 - 4 New Jersey counties in the "central areas" where you can see a 50/50 mix of Eagles & Giants' fans at the nearby tavern for next Sunday's NFL playoff game. However, each county distributes their sports loyalties differently.

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Warren County is pretty much Giants' territory now - except for some mixture in the southwestern river towns centering around Phillipsburg - but these days - it's all leaning Giants.

Hunterdon County is Mostly Giants - except there is a mixture along the river towns. In the southern part, there continues to be some Eagles' dominance.

Mercer County is pretty evenly split and it is the only county in NJ with no clear territory in any town. The northern towns lean toward the Giants & the southern towns lean toward the Eagles.

Ocean County has many of its municipalities leaning toward the Giants, though there is strong Eagles in the far south and in Plumsted Twp.  However, it is the only county that has all 4 types of loyalties  (Solid Giants, Leaning Giants, Solid Eagles & Leaning Eagles).

Middlesex & Somerset Counties are solid Giants' counties.

Monmouth County has the two townships in the panhandle that are a mixture, but there aren't many good taverns in those areas to compare here.

Mapping the Dunkin' Donuts' Dividing Line

For a while now, you probably have seen the "Box & Cup of Joe" available at Dunkin' Donuts which featured NFL football teams as the designs. What you may not have known, though, is that in the State of New Jersey, your box will be different depending on what county you happen to be in. Some counties have Philadelphia Eagles' boxes and some have combined New York Giants & Jets' boxes.

Every county's seems to be uniform and it appears that Dunkin' didn't divide any county (though a colleague of mine swears that in Phillipsburg, they have Eagles' boxes . . . two phone calls failed to confirm this). It pretty much follows the media market each county tends to be included in: New York or Philadelphia.

It somewhat follows our Sports' loyalty dividing line (you'll have to see the film for that), but we do have a message for Dunkin' Donuts: People prefer choice. In Princeton and Manahawkin, we have met plenty of people near these "border lines" that can't bear to drink out of a hated team's mug or box. Don't know how cost effective it would be offering a choice, but Dunkin' would have happier customers, surely.

Here is the dividing line in the state based on where you would have found the NFL Box & Cup of Joes. Red indicates Philadelphia Eagles' places and Blue indicates: New York Giants and Jets.