Though unlike years past, where the Penguins players who either grew up in New England or went to school there would root for the Patriots and/or Tom Brady, there's only one guy with a real connection to this matchup.
That's Michigan native Bryan Rust, who's cheering for Stafford, the longtime Detroit Lions quarterback who was traded to Los Angeles in the offseason and is now playing for a Super Bowl for the first time in his career.
"I'm a diehard Rams fan for one game because of Matt Stafford," Rust said.
Rust is about to feel the type of stress that guys like Dumoulin, a Maine native who went to Boston College and loves the Patriots, have experienced on a few different occasions.
"He's been a big fan of Stafford," Dumoulin said. "Obviously, he's seen him a lot, gone through the wars with him as a Detroit Lions fan (laughs). He's definitely riding with him and wants him to win."
And while Rust joked that he hopes the final score is "Rams by a million," he actually would like it to be Rams 41, Bengals 31 so he can win the team's Super Bowl squares. That's one of the bets all of the Penguins take part in, along with the anthem and sometimes Gatorade color, halftime score and final game score.
Meanwhile, Brian Boyle's prediction was simply "Joe Burrow." The Bengals quarterback who was drafted first overall in 2020 out of Louisiana State University has incredible crossover appeal, winning over the football world and beyond with his playing ability, authentic personality, confidence and swag.
What impresses Dumoulin about Burrow, looking to lead the Bengals to their first-ever Super Bowl in just his second NFL season, has bounced back after tearing his ACL and MCL in the middle of his rookie year.
"He's got a lot of confidence and I don't know, I feel like he has backed it up," Dumoulin said. "He dealt with a lot last year, being injured and then coming back and playing really well. He's put that team on his back, and he obviously has a great connection with his receiver Ja'Marr Chase. It's been cool to see what he's done. Right now, he's at the top of the world. But we'll see how it goes. Obviously, you gotta win it. If you don't, then that's a huge disappointment."
The Penguins are in New Jersey to play the Devils Sunday afternoon, with puck drop scheduled for 1:30 PM. After the team lands back in Pittsburgh, the guys will be heading straight to their captain's house to watch the big game together, as Sidney Crosby has hosted his teammates a number of times over the years.
"I think it all depends on where we are," Dumoulin said. "Sometimes in the past, we've watched at a bar. But usually if it works out - especially now since we're going to be coming off this trip - it just works out great to go to Sid's and have everyone there. It's always a fun time."
