Ranking All 32 NFL Fanbases: Who Was Loudest in 2011?

The NFL lockout was supposed to drive away the raucous fans, and stadiums would only be half-filled. This didn't come to pass, as some of the rowdiest crowds on record created enormous home-field advantages.

Who has the loudest fans may seem like a debatable topic. It isn't, because this definitive list is based on the same science that Brian Fantana utilized. 

Whether your team is first or last, remember, they've done studies.

32. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raheem Morris is the perfect symbol of letdown for 2011. His face was etched with a permanent expression of foreboding.

The fans could sense it throughout the season. The crowds avoided the pirate ship at all costs.

If no one is in the stadium, it's pretty difficult to get loud.

31. The San Diego Chargers

San Diego is always bathed in sunshine, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and filled with beautiful people.

The San Diego Chargers were one of the most frustrating conundrums in the entire league. Philip Rivers took a giant leap backwards, looking nothing like the quarterback that has been torching secondaries for the past few years.

Where would you rather be?

30. The Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins fans suffer from many of the same issues that "plague" San Diego. 

The major difference is that the Dolphins have a history of quality football. They are still able to attract a few fans on tradition alone.

In addition, they did have a nice midseason winning streak to get the fans excited.

29. The Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars faithful have not forgiven the franchise for passing on Tim Tebow. Regardless of any reservations about Tebow as a professional quarterback, their team would be relevant.

The Jags have been in flux as they transitioned to a new owner. Shahid Khan has said that he will keep the team in Jacksonville but refuses to make any real commitment.

Moving this team to Los Angeles will give it some serious exposure. Since the Minnesota Vikings are no longer a candidate, there is a void to be filled.

28. The Washington Redskins

Would you get excited if your quarterback was Rex Grossman? How about John Beck?

The Washington Redskins have been mired in mediocrity for at least a half-decade. They haven't been terrible, nor have they been good.

The Redskins are essentially the white bread of the NFL.

27. The Buffalo Bills

Is there anything more soul-crushing than sitting in cold seats watching an exposed team? The Buffalo Bills began the season hot, but their flaws were quickly shown to the world as the season spiraled out of control.

The Bills have been even more frigid to the fans by moving one game to Toronto. That is quite the slap in the face.

However, with the product they have been pushing, it is a blessing to not have to pay for the extra game.

26. The Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have been underwhelming since their return from extinction in 1999. Considering the level of play that exists in the NFL, it is astonishing how poorly they have performed.

The culture of ineptitude is so prevalent that being sick is an acceptable excuse not to play.

Frankly, the fans have no reason to lose their voices. It'll be needed to complain about the team later.

25. The Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals defense have led an unsuspected resurgence in the Queen City.

Still, the fans are having a difficult time getting over their scorn towards owner Mike Brown. Players have been reduced to pleading for fans to support the team when the Bengals had a chance to clinch a playoff spot.

If A.J. Green scores a touchdown and nobody is there to witness it, there is nobody there to cheer.

24. The St. Louis Rams

This may be too kind of a ranking for team as abysmal as the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams may be going through an uneasy transition to a new regime, but they still play in a dome. The amplification of a few people is still bound to be louder than nobody at all.

At least the fans got to witness a beatdown of the New Orleans Saints.

23. The New York Jets

For as loud and boisterous the New York Jets have been, it's curious that their fans are the opposite. Perhaps they have grown tired of the same routine that has regressed in its production.

In fact, things have gotten so bad that there was a genuine concern that the New York Giants would have home-field advantage despite the Jets being the home team.

It doesn't help that the New York teams now share a cavernous monstrosity.

22. The Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton has brought a little electricity back to Carolina Panthers. His play and personality have sparked a modest national interest.

Superman's numbers haven't translated to too many wins, though. Without victories, a franchise cannot sustain any real momentum.

The fans won't be inspired to cheer for a lifeless squad.

21. The Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans season was akin to a motor that wouldn't turn over. They kept trying to rev things up, but they couldn't get anything going.

Chris Johnson's holdout set the tone for the the entire team. His return failed to have any positive impact, as his play was uninspired.

20. The Atlanta Falcons

Nobody has made the statement that they are scared to go into the Georgia Dome. The Atlanta Falcons have boasted a decent squad, but they haven't been able to get any wins in the postseason.

The Falcons disappointed again this year, leaving their fans in what is becoming an indifferent haze.

When it's known that a team lacks the ability to push through, there is a tangible lack of a vibe present at the scene.

19. The New York Giants

MetLife Stadium wasn't built to funnel noise onto the field. It was built to house as many paying patrons as possible.

However, the New York Giants fans were able to make some noise during their recent playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Yet it never appeared that Matt Ryan couldn't hear the play, even though there were two fourth-down attempts.

18. The Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings fans are a raucous bunch, but they didn't get much to cheer about this season.

Donovan McNabb began the season as their starting quarterback. Toby Gerhart ended the year as their starting running back.

When there was a reason for optimism, these fans blew the roof off the Metrodome. There just weren't too many glimmers of hope.

17. The New England Patriots

Gillette Stadium is similar to MetLife Stadium in that it wasn't built to emphasize crowd noise. The fairly new structure fails to provide the type of home-field advantage that old Foxboro did.

Regardless, the New England Patriots fans have had plenty to get excited about over the years. They haven't wasted any time following Tom Brady's advice.

16. The Indianapolis Colts

Despite the preseason loss of Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts faithful still turned out in droves to support their squad.

They were second in the league in attendance, filling the stadium to 102.9 percent capacity.

Naptown still got loud for its beloved Colts. Inside Lucas Oil Stadium, that noise can get intense.

15. The San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have taken on the persona of their rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh. He's a hard-charging, physical presence who does not temper his emotions.

The fans have picked up on this same trait.

The Niners won't excite the crowds with explosive offensive displays, but they will provide a winner.

In addition, they give the crowd plenty of opportunities to affect the game by forcing many third downs.

14. The Philadelphia Eagles

Lincoln Financial Field is home to some of the most passionate fans of any sport across the world. They don't mess around with showering their team with love or disapproval depending on the situation.

The Philadelphia Eagles provided them chances to do both in equal measure this season. The Eagles were expected to win the Super Bowl, fell out of favor early and then made a late charge at the NFC East crown.

You can bet that Philly fans were vocal about each up and down.

13. The Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals fans have taken to University of Phoenix Stadium with a fervor.

The season did not look promising with Kevin Kolb under center. However, the fans found someone to rally around in John Skelton.

The fans may not have had much to get excited about, but when they did, they brought it.

12. The Chicago Bears

If Devin Hester gets a hold of the ball, Soldier Stadium always stands at the ready to explode.

The Chicago Bears provided plenty of excitement for the fans until injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte cut the season short.

The fans brave whatever the elements may bring to keep the stadium rocking. Look at the cameras on a key third down, and you'll notice that the cameramen are having difficulties keeping them steady.

11. The Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have the largest stadium in the NFL by a wide margin. This means that there are thousands of extra voices dying to make themselves heard for "America's Team."

While that self-appointed moniker is debatable, there is little doubt that Cowboys fans actually comprise a nation. They are everywhere.

10. The Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens provide plenty to cheer about.

The offense can occasionally be electric if Joe Flacco is on his game. Even if his performance is lackluster, Ray Rice always seems to pick up the slack.

Additionally, is there any unit that charges up a crowd more than the Ravens defense?

Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis could motivate people to run through walls. Therefore, making noise isn't much of a problem.

9. The Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders faithful had a reason to stay invested down to the final play. Their team may not have made the playoffs, but they had a chance on the last Sunday of the season.

The "Black Hole" certainly made their presence felt.

It's not as if they should exert any energy rooting for the Golden State Warriors.

8. The Pittsburgh Steelers

Opposing teams know that going into Heinz Field will provide a challenge.

The Pittsburgh Steelers teams aren't always elite, but those fans are always vocal. This year was no exception.

They weren't given a chance to alter a playoff game. However, they were still a top-10 crowd.

7. The Kansas City Chiefs

Any season that ends with Kyle Orton as the starting quarterback did not go as planned.

The Kansas City Chiefs persevered through plenty of major injuries to gain some relevancy. It wasn't enough to save the season, but it did provide hope for next year.

The fans appreciated the fight the team exhibited at times, winning four games in a row after dropping the first three.

Lastly, the home crowd inspired Tamba Hali and the defense to a victory over the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers.

6. The Denver Broncos

Have you seen how wild people go for Tim Tebow?

With all the Tebow-mania, the (sometimes) dominant defense gets lost in the shuffle. However, the fans know where their seeds of success are sown.

The Denver Broncos' playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers proved this was a top crowd in 2011-2012. The place was rocking with an intensity reserved for a team with a winning record.

5. The Houston Texans

Houston finally got its football team back in 2002, and it's making sure that no one ever takes it again.

Reliant Stadium was rocking for the Houston Texans' first-round win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Closing the roof only served to amplify a city that was beyond excited to be back in the playoffs.

4. The Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have no shortage of fans, and they make their presence felt inside historic Lambeau Stadium.

The Packers returned the love this year by turning in one of the best seasons in NFL history.

Rest assured that the fans will continue to reward the team in the playoffs and beyond.

3. The Detroit Lions

Detroit has been waiting a long time for a winning team to occupy Ford Field. The wait is over.

The Detroit Lions hosted a Monday Night Football game for the first time in a decade. ESPN should have developed some sort of earthquake-ready camera to handle all the noise generated by the long-suffering fanbase.

The Lions were the recipients of numerous false start penalties due to the crowd noise.

It's a wonder that the domed stadium can keep in all that noise.

2. The New Orleans Saints

Southerners love football. This isn't an opinion.

SEC country doesn't get excited for just its college football teams. The Cajuns come out in droves to cheer on their beloved New Orleans Saints.

In return, Drew Brees and the Saints provide plenty to get the fans rowdy, as evidenced by their undefeated home record this season.

1. The Seattle Seahawks

The designation of the Seattle Seahawks' 12th man will be treated like an instant-replay review. Unless there is indisputable evidence to the contrary, Seattle fans will continue to hold on to the top spot.

The Seahawks provided the same record as last season. However, that was not nearly enough to keep pace with the San Francisco 49ers.

Regardless, these fans won't be quieted.