The science points to “social identity theory.” Humans are wired to form “in-groups,” and when we root for a team together, we build community. When your team loses, you’ll often “cut off reflected failure,” subconsciously distancing yourself from others to protect your mood. In other words, a winning season can literally improve your mental health, while being stuck with the worst record in the league (hi again, Panthers) might do the opposite. The bottom line: Watching sports is good for you, but watching a team that occasionally wins is even better. So if your Sundays revolve around heartbreak, science says bandwagoning isn’t the worst self-care strategy.