I am one of the biggest sports fans I know. I watch almost every Caps and Redskins game, and regularly keep up to date with the Nationals, Orioles and Wizards. I tend to know about major sports news the day that it happens and ESPN.com is the most visited website on my computer. And, up until this year, like every other good sports fan, I had never watched a Superbowl alone.

It wasn’t by choice, but I wound up watching the Superbowl with my two new best friends for the night; a box of tissues and a hot cup of noodles. Every year, I have spent Superbowl Sunday at a party, be it with friends or family, but I had have never watched the Big Game alone. At 6 p.m., when the game started, I figured it would be one of the worst experiences of my life. Boy, was I wrong.

About 10 minutes after the game was over, I realized that watching the Superbowl alone was one of the greatest things I had have ever done. Maybe it was because I was doped up on NyQuil and sleep-deprived, but I had my reasons. When Tom Brady threw the ball away for a safety on the Patriots’ first play from scrimmage, I didn’t have 15 people jumping around and screaming that it was the right or wrong call or that Brady sucked and was an idiot. When Mario Manningham hauled in “The Catch pt. 2,” I didn’t have anyone in my ear analyzing the 20 plus instant replays and telling me whether, based on their football expertise it was a catch or not. When Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski fell just short of catching Tom Brady’s last second Hail Mary, I didn’t have a room full of people throw plates full of food at me while jumping from their seats in jubilation or frustration. It was just me and my tissues, soaking in the moment as it happened.

In hindsight, I would to have loved to go to a Superbowl party and watched the game with my friends. All I’m saying, though, is that it wasn’t that bad watching it alone.