NFL Power Rankings: 10 Most Die-Hard Fan Bases in the NFL

We have all spent lazy Sunday afternoons in front of our TV watching NFL football games from start to finish.

But while we sit back on our recliner and listen to Joe Buck and Troy Aikman tell us how good the Dallas Cowboys should be this season, we have no idea what is actually going on in that stadium where the game is being played.

How wild does it get inside Hines Field for a Sunday afternoon game in the middle of November?

No matter the weather, no matter the teams' records, there are those NFL die-hard fans that make it a top priority to be there and root on their home team on Sunday afternoons.

But of all the NFL teams, which one has the most dedicated fan base?

Let's break this down and take a look at the 10 most die-hard fan bases in the NFL today.

10. Tampa Bay Bucs

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 16: Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans show their support ina game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on December16, 2007 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

If you're thinking about going to Raymond James Stadium to watch an NFL football game, you better prepare yourself for one giant party.

Starting at the crack of dawn, Tampa Bay Bucs fans fill the parking lots outside of the stadium to create what very well might be the largest tailgate in all of professional sports.

Dressed from head to toe in red and white, Tampa Bay loves their football team.

If you think back to how bad this team was when they first came into the league, that's really saying something.

The fan base survived some of the worst football years of any NFL franchise, and they still come ready to rock every Sunday afternoon.

9. New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 26: Saints fans watch the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons at the Louisiana Superdome on September 26, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Who dat?

Let us not forget that before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, there were discussions about this team possibly being re-located.

Ever since that happened, the Saints have sold out every home game they have played and the team has become one of the top rallying points for the entire city or New Orleans.

"Who dat nation" has been rocking the Superdome as of late, making it one of, if not the loudest dome in all of football. 

Keep in mind that the well-known Bourbon Street is nearby to the stadium, so true fans began partying Friday night and just keep a 48-hour party going as they fill the Superdome to the brim.

We all saw the images of the fans after the Saints won the Super Bowl. It really doesn't get much better than that.

8. Washington Redskins

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LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 6: A fan of the Washington Redskins cheers against the New Orleans Saints at FedExField on December 6, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Saints defeated the Redskins in overtime 33-30. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

When you have totaled over 300 consecutive sellouts, you darn well know that you have a die-hard fan base.

The Redskins are part of heated rivalries with the Eagles and the Cowboys, and when it comes to fans that truly hate the Dallas Cowboys, this team has to be right near the top.

Despite losing seasons, constant coaching changes, and always having quarterback issues, the Washington Redskins' fans seem to stick with this team through the bad and the ugly.

This past year was a horrible one for this team, but they not only sold out every home game, they also bring more fans to away games than any other team in football.

Redskins fans seem to always pack a stadium with their face paint, wigs, pig noses and feathers sticking out of their hair no matter the circumstances. 

With how bad this team has been, we really can't explain it, but fans simply love their hometown Washington Redskins.

7. New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: A fan of the New England Patriots holds up a sign that reads 'Go Pats!' prior to the start of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Gett

Not only do the Patriots seem to rule the NFL on a yearly basis, but they also sport one of the most die-hard fan bases in the league.

I guess that's what happens when you have as much success as this team does.

The main reason that the Patriots make it on this list has to be because the organization has sold out every game played in Gillette Stadium since it first opened.

The fans in New England love to see their football team succeed, so much so that they join a season-ticket waiting list that is around 50,000 deep.

We have all seen what a football game in New England looks like come winter time. Snow fills the stadium so much that we can't even see the yard lines on the field.

But that doesn't matter. In fact, that just energizes these fans in New England, because they know how good their team plays in the snow.

It would be interesting to see if this fan base would continue to be as die-hard if the Patriots weren't so successful all the time, but with the way it sounds, nothing is going to stop this rowdy group from rooting for their home team.

6. Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Receiver Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs is congratulated by fans as he jumps into the stands after making a 75 yard touchdown catch during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead S

When it comes to loyalty, Kansas City Chiefs fans are right on top of the list.

This isn't the biggest city in the US, but they certainly have one of the biggest fan bases, and those fans love their NFL football team.

Come game day, parking lots all over town are filled with Chiefs fans that are tailgating before their team takes the field.

When game time approaches, Arrowhead Stadium turns into a deep sea of red and white, and the noise level is indescribable at times.

The Chiefs have not exactly been one of the better teams in the NFL over the past decade, but that doesn't matter, fans still go crazy for their team. So much so that Arrowhead has sold out 141 consecutive games, which is near the top of all NFL franchises. 

5. Oakland Raiders

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 12: A fan of the Oakland Raiders cheers during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on December 12, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

If this was a list of the scariest fans in all of football, then the Oakland Raiders would be right on top at spot No. 1.

But crazy goes along with die-hard, which is why the Raiders come in here, holding down the fifth spot on this list.

No other cheering section in all of football quite makes an impression like Raider Nation. Decked out from head to toe in black and silver face paint, skulls, spikes, chains, you name it and this group has it.

It looks more as if they are dressed to go to a Halloween party, rather than a football game.

But the reason for this whole big show is because these fans sincerely care about their football team.

Despite having one of the most dysfunctional organizations in all of professional sports, fans still pack the house every time the Raiders take the field.

They call their cheering section the Black Hole because they pride themselves in making sure that once visiting fans come to their house, they won't be coming back ever again.

4. Cleveland Browns

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3 Oct 1999: A 'Dawg Pound ' sign hangs on a rail during a game between the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns at the Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Patriots defeated the Browns 19-7. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport

How can one team be so consistently bad, but still have such a massive fan base? Your guess is as good as mine, but somehow, that is the case with the Cleveland Browns.

If you were born in or near the city of Cleveland, you are going to be a Browns fan, and that's just how it's going to be.

Keep in mind that this is a team that folded and lost their franchise to Baltimore back in the mid-90's. But once they came back into the league, they continued the tradition and are as loud and obnoxious as ever before.

They refer to their cheering section as the "Dawg Pound," and it has been well documented that fans will throw dog biscuits and or bones at opposing fans in rage.

Outside of Raider Nation, this is probably the scariest looking group of fans that you will find around the NFL.

But just like the Raiders, it's all because this city has some serious love for their football team, no matter how bad they are.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 01: A fan of the Philadelphia Eagles cheers his team on against the New York Giants on November 1, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Giants 40-17. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty I

There is no team in all of the NFL that has more hatred towards one opponent as the Philadelphia Eagles have towards the Dallas Cowboys.

The reason for that is simply because Eagles' fans care so much about their home team.

Fans love their team in Philadelphia, and rain, snow, sun, fog, it really doesn't matter, you know for a fact that this city will be packed with Eagles fans come game day.

The city of brotherly love can either be filled with a lot of love, or a lot of anger and hatred depending on the outcome of an Eagles game.

People have always said that there isn't another team in the league that can really dictate the mood of their city like the Eagles can.

If they win, it is a huge party.

If they lose, well the other team and their fans better exit the stadium as soon as possible, because Eagles' fans are known to have a bit of a mean streak to them when the game doesn't go their way. 

2. Green Bay Packers

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: Fans of the Green Bay Packers support their team against the Atlanta Falcons during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome on January 15, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

As if these fans didn't love their team enough before this season, imagine what it is like now that the Packers are fresh off winning the Super Bowl.

When talking about dedicated fans, there aren't many that can beat this group.

There really isn't anything more enjoyable for Packers' fans than standing in the freezing tundra at Lambeau Field in order to see their team play.

So much so, that the Packers have sold out every single home game they have played since 1960.

That's 269 straight sell-outs to be exact.

And after bringing home a Super Bowl title, something tells me that streak isn't going to come to an end anytime soon.

Green Bay isn't the biggest city around, but come game day, it would be hard to find anyone who isn't wearing the classic green and yellow.

The Packers are to Green Bay as Michael Jackson was to pop music. The best-of-the-best, and there won't ever be anything better.

Come on, what could possibly be cooler than getting a chance to try on one of those fashionable cheese heads? Well, maybe taking a Lambeau leap.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

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DENVER - JANUARY 22: A fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with a 'terrible towel' after the Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on January 22, 2006 at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The Steelers defe

How long would you be willing to wait in order to get Pittsburgh Steelers season tickets? Would you wait six years? Because as of now, that is exactly where the season-ticket waiting list stands.

No team in the NFL has more die-hard fans than the Pittsburgh Steelers do.

Not only is the season ticket waiting list outrageously long, but as an organization, the Steelers have sold out an eye-popping 299 straight games, including playoffs. 

There are a few factors that go into making this such a die-hard fan group, but one of the main ones has to be how much success they have had in their history.

In 42 years, the Steelers have won six Super Bowls and only gone through three coaching changes. How can you top that?

The terrible towel is the most well-known fan accessory in all of football, and when the Steelers take the field on a cold Sunday afternoon, there might not be a better sight in all of sports than seeing thousands of fans standing up and waving those yellow towels in the air.

It's kind of fitting how the top two fan bases in football were the two teams that played in the Super Bowl this year.

Well, cheese heads or terrible towels, you take you're pick.

We're giving the slight edge to the terrible towels in this battle of fan dedication.