The Top Five: Best Fanbases in the NFL

In the most recent Top Five segment done by NFL Network, Jamie Dukes was given the task of counting down the top five fanbases.

He said the teams were chosen based on home field advantage, memorabilia sales, how well they travel, and a couple other factors.

His top five went like this:

5. New England Patriots
4. New York Giants
3. Dallas Cowboys
2. Green Bay Packers
1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Now, while I don't have a problem with the Giants, Packers, or Steelers being on here, the fact that the Patriots and Cowboys are on here is insane.

How in the world can you put two franchises on this list with perhaps the most front-running fanbases in not only the league, but in all of sports?

How many Patriots fans, outside of New England, were there up until around 2001? Four, five, six at the very most, and that's being generous.

The New England Patriots were an afterthought on the national level. No one cared about the Patriots, again outside of New England, until they started winning Super Bowls.

Teams like the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs have been more loyal while their teams were losing than Patriots and Cowboys fans were when they were winning.

So right away, those two teams get knocked off because they're nothing but a pack of front-runners and closet fans while the team is losing.

Pittsburgh is nearly as guilty of this, but there are quite a few people in Pittsburgh and around the country only now putting on their Hines Ward jersey and letting out a resounding "Woo!"

Individually, great fans. As a group, however, not so much.

So who does deserve to get on this list? Well, it's pretty hard to leave out the wonderful fans of Philadelphia.

How can they leave out the only city that threw snowballs at Santa Claus? Not only that, we also threw batteries at J.D. Drew.

We're the most knowledgeable, meanest, and most loyal fanbase in the country. Hands down, no questions asked, it's the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles. Not even an argument.

Want the proof?

Had Dukes given that top five in the Linc, I'd bet my last dollar that he'd be at the bottom of the steps.

You know, after someone "accidentally" tripped him.

Then someone "accidentally" threw beer on him, threw out a few choice words not suitable for this website (we're child-friendly), and "accidentally" kicked him once or twice or 19 times.

Want the real top five fanbases? Well, here we go. Sit back because you're in for a treat.

5. Oakland Raiders Fans

No one has stuck by their team through more nonsense and losing over the past 10 years (that is, barring any Lions fans that are left).

No matter how the season is going, you can bet that there will be a sea of black when Oakland is in town. 2-14? No problem—let's put on spikey shoulder pads and scare the bejesus out of some Broncos fans.

4. New York Giants Fans

Dukes got this one right. We may hate them almost as much as the Cowboys, but their fans are loyal and are always there to cheer their team on while the Eagles whip them in the playoffs year after year.

Plus, they're starting to come around to Eli Manning and may actually be in favor of keeping him around for the next 10 years. Go for it—we'd love to continue to whup him.

3. Chicago Bears Fans

One of the original NFL franchises, they've been selling out and selling jerseys before it was cool to own one and wear it backwards like Nelly.

Bears fans are a crazy bunch, and even through the years of mediocrity after losing in the Super Bowl, they've stuck by their team and never shy away from a good debate. The team isn't all that good, but ask a Bears fan, and they'll have you convinced that they'll win the Super Bowl for the next five years.

2. Green Bay Packers Fans

The Packers may have the smallest media market in the league (I'm not sure, I don't have access to the dollar figure or a census, so what, sue me) but still have one of the biggest fanbases.

Not only that, but they also have some of the best names in football: Brett Favre, Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, and the like. Notice I left out Reggie White—that's because he's ours, dammit. Anyway, perhaps it's because they have a stake in the team; I'm not exactly sure. All I know is these people are everywhere.

1. Philadelphia Eagles Fans

This is an absolute no-brainer. Even for fans of other teams, this is obvious. Along with the reasons I stated before, the Eagles also have one of the longest waiting lists for season tickets (over 100,000), are consistently in the top 5-10 in merchandise sales, and have a following all over the country.

Most Eagles fans are spoiled now, but I remember the 3-13 years, and even then there wasn't a single Eagles fan hiding that he/she was in fact a fan. They'll show you their tattoo and the Bobby Hoying jersey still hanging in their closet.

Oh, and the finger that fell off when they went to the Vet in December in -9 degree weather just to see Hoying throw 35 interceptions and lose 216-7 to the Cowboys.

Steelers? Patriots? Cowboys? Please. Nothing compared to Philly.

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