This is my formula for who to root for once my team is eliminated
1. Team in your division
If your team doesn't win, it's nice to keep the le within the division. Also, everyone wants a crack at the defending champs next season, so a division rival winning the championship ensures you get two chances to prove you're better.
2. Team in same conference
If your team is eliminated by a division rival, then back another team in the conference. Most players back their own conference in the Super Bowl, and I don't have a problem with that unles...
3. Root for the team that doesn't have any/has few assholes
I didn't want to see Rodney Roids, Deadbeat Dad Brady, Straight Cash Homey, or Darth Hoodie win last year, so I rooted against them all the way until the end. I backed the Giants and I couldn't have been happier with Super Bowl 42 unless the Colts had won it. Similarly I wouldn't back Complainian Tomlinson in the Super Bowl. I would actually root for him to get owned up the way Montana owned Marino.
4. Root for the underdog
If the team that eliminated your team is eliminated in a later round and you have no rooting interest in either team, root for the underdog. The Giants unlikely win over the Patriots is a better story than seeing all of those Beantown ets win a 4th le. Remember, if the Pats had gone 19-0, Tom Brady and Belichick would have had their heads put in those jars like in Futurama and people in 3008 would still be hearing them talk about how great they were for going 19-0 first. The Football Gods did us a great service by letting David Tyree catch that ball on his head.