FACES IN THE CROWD

Atlanta family at odds when it comes to Rams, Pats

Two years ago, with the Falcons leading 28-3, Liam Patel, 4, made a bet with his father.

If the New England Patriots won Super Bowl LI, his father, Darsit Patel, would take him to Boston to get a Tom Brady jersey.

With Tom Brady at media day Monday at State Farm Arena, Liam, now 6, cheered — wearing his blue Tom Brady jersey. In many ways, that 2017 Patriots win strained family relationships.

Darsit and Ketal Patel met in the early 2000s as students at UGA. They instilled in their children — Liam and 8-year-old Ava — a strong love for the Atlanta Falcons.

“We are b ig Fa l cons f ans and we raised them as Falcons fans,” said Darsit Patel. “But Liam became a Patriots fan and Brady fan when they played the Falcons.”

The Patels also raised theirchildren to love the Georgia Bulldogs. But Bulldogs graduate. Watching the draft, Ava Patel became a fan of the Cleveland Browns and Nick Chubb.

“She is the ultimate Chubb fan,” Ketal Patel said.

Still, former Bulldog Todd Gurley stars in the backfield for the Rams, which is partly why the women in the family are for the Rams.

Former Dawg Sony Michel stars for the Patriots, which is where the men’s allegiance leans. And of course there is Brady.

“All he does is tell us how many rings Brady has,” Darsit said of his son.

CONTRIBUTED The Patel family, dad Darsit (from left) son Liam, mom Ketal and daughter Ava are die-hard Georgia fans, which has caused an odd split in their Super Bowl alliances. The women are rooting for the Rams, while the men are going for the Pats.