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In our September issue, we rounded up local bars to watch NFL games featuring (and rooting for) teams other than our beloved Broncos. We only included teams—and their fan-base watering holes—in the states from which the highest number of people are fleeing to move to Denver. To narrow the playing field (pun intended), we chose the team with the better, last-season record for states that hold two or more NFL teams. But there are still many more hideouts representing home squads. Grab your jerseys and a pint of your favorite beer—it’s game time.
Scroll down to check out our fan-bar map.
Atlanta Falcons
Go Here: The Fainting Goat Pub, 846 Broadway, 303-945-2323
Eat This: Pay tribute to former quarterback Donovan McNabb by eating his eponymous sandwich, made with grilled chicken breast, avocado, pepper jack cheese, and bacon.
Drink This: With the John Daly, Atlanta natives can drink all three of their favorite beverages (sweet tea vodka, lemonade, and soda) at the same time. All it’s missing is bourbon.
Cincinnati Bengals
Go Here: The Irish Snug, 1201 E. Colfax Ave., #100, 303-839-1394
Eat This: Your goetta is long gone, former Cincy residents. Yet the bangers and mash of pork bangers, mashed potatoes, and onion gravy at Irish Snug are the closest thing you’ll get to that strange sausage mash.
Drink This: The Irish seem to always be in a jovial mood; maybe luck will be on your side if you ask the bartender to make you a Cincinnati cocktail: half a pint each of your favorite brew (there’s an extensive list) and soda water.
Detroit Lions
Go Here: Candlelight Tavern, 383 S. Pearl St., 303-778-9530
Eat This: A classic Detroit-style Coney dog topped with chili (we suggest adding onions and mustard).
Drink This: The Lions aren’t quite as bad as they used to be (good riddance, 2008), but the $3 Bloody Marys here will help you recover if they start heading down that road again.
Green Bay Packers
Go Here: Swanky’s Vittles and Libations, 1938 Blake St., 303-297-2399
Eat This: The Packer faithful can honor one of the greats, former nose tackle Gilbert Brown, with the Gilbert: a half-pound angus beef and hickory smoked bacon burger that’s stuffed with fresh cheese curds and topped with cream cheese, bacon, a fried egg, and—the Denver touch—green chiles.
Drink This: A Schlitz Gusto lager, which uses the 1960s-era formula of the then-Milwaukee-based Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company (once the largest brewery in the world).
Minnesota Vikings
Go Here: Cap City Tavern, 1247 Bannock St., 720-931-8888
Eat This: There’s very little on the menu that resembles Minnesotan cuisine, so we’re going with the truffle mac and cheese (featuring Gruyère and cremini and Portobello mushrooms) because you should always order truffle mac and cheese when it’s on the menu.
Drink This: When you beat the Packers, the least you can do is buy a Wisconsin-brewed beer to keep the peace. That’ll be two Summer Shandys on me, cheesehead.
New England Patriots
Go Here: The Elm, 5001 E. Colfax Ave., 303-336-5763
Eat This: The out-of-towners will go for the Cape Cod Clams or lobster roll (which are admittedly delicious), but the true Boston-bred will order the Elm’s Roast Beef sandwich for stacks of black angus roast beef piled on a brioche bun with American cheese and house-made barbecue sauce.
Drink This: Toast one of the founding fathers with a Samuel Adams draft.
New Orleans Saints
Go Here: Stoney’s Bar & Grill, 1111 Lincoln St., 303-830-6839
Eat This: With this combination of melted ghost pepper jack cheese, habanero and jalapño peppers, and ghost pepper aïoli atop an angus burger, your mouth will truly be screaming “Who dat?”
Drink This: See if the bartender will make you a hurricane for old time’s sake.
New York Jets
Go Here: The Lazy Dog Sports Bar & Grill, 1346 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-440-3355
Eat This: Driving up to Boulder may seem like a bit of a trek just for the game, but you’ll regret nothing when you chow down on the best New York strip steak (topped with Gorgonzola cream, sautéed mushrooms, and caramelized onions and served with garlic smashed potatoes) you’ve ever had in a pub.
Drink This: A cocktail featuring iX Mixer, a fruity, vitamin-infused drink that helps to prevent hangovers (!) so you can party like a true New Yorker—all day and night.
Philadelphia Eagles
Go Here: Pat’s Downtown Bar & Grill, 1624 Market St., 303-534-1333
Eat This: Although there’s plenty of sandwiches to fit your Italian fancy here (meatball hoagie, Pat-astrami, the “Godfather”), we still recommend the original Pat’s Phatty, a cheesesteak of thinly sliced ribeye steak, grilled sweet peppers, and onions, topped with New Yorker white American cheese or the classic choice, Cheez Whiz.
Drink This: Philly craft brews haven’t made their way to this classic joint yet, but between its $8 domestic pitchers and $15 buckets of domestic bottles, we’ll give them a pass.
(Didn’t see your one-and-only? Find other bars for major NFL teams here.)
READERS: Tell us which bar is your favorite gametime space, and we’ll add it to the map.
Follow editorial assistant Mary Clare Fischer on Twitter at @mc_fischer.