The Monday Bangover: The best NFL fan bases

This list is going to really piss some people off. How do I feel about that? I feel great about it, actually. I’ve lived all over this country. I’ve watched games in bars and restaurants in more states than I can remember. I’ve been to quite a few stadiums. I’ve observed pretty much every team and its fans as they’ve visited Arrowhead over the years. I’ve frequented NFL message boards ever since my introduction to the Interwebs. I’ve been debating this question with my brother and others for two decades now. After doing some serious research, I’m more than qualified to drop this list on you.

The Top Ten Best NFL Fan Bases (in alphabetical order):

• Buffalo Bills -If you have a problem with this pick, I suggest that you get on Netflix or go to Blockbuster and rent Buffalo ’66 (Christina Ricci!). After that, if you still have a problem go screw yourself. Bills fans are some of the NFL’s best fans who routinely fight off both the elements (gloves help) and boredom to give their squad home field advantage.

• Cleveland Browns – This is another nomination which needs no explaining. Browns fans were named No. 1 in “fan loyalty” in a somewhat recent study. That makes sense to me, as Dog Pounders have been given every reason to stop caring about their Browns over the years, yet remain some of the best fans in the league. Take that, Art Modell. – BizJournals “NFL’s most loyal fans”
  
• Dallas Cowboys – It pains me to do this, but I have no choice. Even Cowboys fans who started out as bandwagon fans during The Triplets era seem to have transformed into die-hards, despite the teams recent struggles. The ‘Boys have great fans spread all over the country, and the locals are pretty damn gung-ho about the team and its new QB as well.
  
• Denver Broncos – I hate the Donks, so this definitely isn’t getting any easier for me. The Broncos are routinely in the top five in attendance, despite the meteorological hazards (you pussies cold?) of Mile High. The Broncos — not the Avalanche, Nuggets or Rockies — come first in Denver. Broncos fans also travel well, as they commute to Arrowhead better than any other opposing fan base (the Lambs and that pussball three-hour drive don’t count).
• Green Bay Packers – Sundays are a religious experience in Wisconsin, and not just because of the sabbath. Furthermore, Brett Favre has turned this group of fans into one of the NFL’s largest. Pack fans are loyal, knowledgeable and willing to face the elements. Hey, Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons fans don’t even show up to watch their respective squads play under perfect weather conditions. The Green Bay faithful are also some of the NFL’s healthiest heartiest fans.

• Kansas City Chiefs – Am I a Chiefs fan? Yes, I am. Am I biased? Yes. I don’t give a fuck — Arrowhead rocks harder than any stadium in pro sports. The team had the second-best attendance in the league over the past decade despite its location in the sixth-smallest and seventh-coldest market overall. Arrowhead sells out every Sunday, when it transforms into an 80,000-fan sea of red and the loudest stadium in the NFL. The Chiefs attendance is amazing considering the team hasn’t won a playoff game since ’93, and hasn’t made an appearance in the Super Bowl since 1969 — the year Woodstock went down. Not only are Chiefs fans loyal and rabid, they are also knowledgeable and the best tailgaters period.
• Miami Dolphins – From dealing with these fans on a regular basis due to my contributions over at RealFootball365, I can honestly tell you that they are possibly the NFL’s most stubborn delusional fans. It’s like they still think they’re better than the rest of us because their team had a perfect season 35 years ago around the time of prohibition. Still, they’re insanely loyal. Maybe the most impressive aspect of Dolphandom is how devoted the non-local Phins fans are. You can hardly ever go to any sports bar in the country on NFL Sundays without running into some serious teal (that just sounds gay).
• Philadelphia Eagles - Iggles fans, the pleasant group of folks cold-blooded bastards that they are, definitely belong on this list. Other than Broncos fans — who have less distance to travel and a rivalry as additional motivation — these fans travel to Arrowhead better than any other team’s base. And City of Brotherly love my ass — Iggles fans are nasty. Still, they know a great deal about their Eagles and the NFL, and are probably the second-loudest group in the league (I’m telling you, make the trip to Arrowhead). I just wouldn’t ever want to break my neck at The Linc.
• Pittsburgh Steelers – Stillers fans annoy the shit out of me. Seriously, they’re annoying as hell even without those stupid yellow dishrags (look at those heffers!) they swing around like they were in a Petey Pablo video. Nonetheless, these fans always have both Heinz Field and American sports bars rocking on game days. Stillers fans almost were left of this list, however, due to the fact that they aren’t even in the top ten among NFL teams when it comes to filling the seats.
• Washington Redskins – The Redskins lead the league in attendance, and even though FedExField is the largest stadium (which has a capacity of at least 10,000 people higher than Arrowhead, Cleveland Browns Stadium and The Linc) that’s still quite a feat. The ‘Skins have pretty much blown for most of the past decade, making the team’s lead-leading attendance even more impressive. I still have a problem with the base’s enabling of obese crossdressers , but I digress. Very solid fans.

That’s the list. My apologies to 49ers, Giants, Jets, Texans, Ravens, etc… fans but the numbers don’t support your claim, and I just couldn’t roll with any team that hasn’t played in its city for at least two decades.

Disagree with my list? Then leave a comment and call me names, tell me how you feel, etc… give me a piece of your mind. The NFL’s top ten worst fan bases will drop next Monday.