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ESPNTheMag.Com Presents: All-World Power Rankings

by Ted Bauer

Getty Images
Says it all.

FOR MOST PASSIONATE NFL FAN BASE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE GREEN BAY PACKERS

[Ed's note: Not sure what All-World Power Rankings is? Please click here.]

Since we're rolling out "The Fan Issue" currently and since the Super Bowl is this Sunday, we thought it a good idea to rank the most passionate NFL fan bases. List has been done by some other people, but fear not, ours will differentiate itself. You should check out ESPN The Magazine's 2008 Franchise Rankings, here sorted by NFL teams and here by "Fan Relations" ranking. Please remember: this isn't a list of most passionate fan bases in sports; everybody knows college football would be all over dat thing. Also: every NFL fan base is passionate. We missed a few. Create a dialogue! If you disagree, holla at us.

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
1 (6) GREEN BAY PACKERS FANS This is the top Google hit for "Green Bay Packers fans." Cool. Packers fans are iconic: decades-long waiting list, The Lambeau Leap, cheeseheads. Tremendous stuff. (Watch this.) Question for debate with your friends: if Kevin Harlan had followed his dad to the Packers instead of hitting the broadcast booth, would the Pack have more rings?
2 (10) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES FANS Everybody hates on these guys, but they're super passionate. (This was a little awkward, though.) If you want something interesting to read on the topic of Iggles fans, click here. Question for debate with your friends: when does Andy Reid's leash run out?
3 (7) PITTSBURGH STEELERS FANS The first line of the Steelers Fan Zone website says: "…always been the most loyal and dedicated (fans) in all of sports." Quite possibly true. Question for debate with your friends: if they take down Arizona, are they the best NFL franchise ever, or is that San Francisco/Dallas/maybe New England?
4 (19) CLEVELAND BROWNS FANS Haven't been great of late, but doesn't this picture say it all? Question for debate with your friends: how many times have magazines pitched Maverick Carter to get LeBron James to watch a game in The Dawg Pound for a "photo essay?"
5 (16) OAKLAND RAIDERS FANS Eh, there's a strong case for them at No. 1. True story: we watched the "Tuck Rule" game with one of our boys, who's a Raiders fan. When the ruling went final, he calmly walked over to the Pats fan in the room, dropped him with one shot, and walked away grinning. That's intense. Question for debate with your friends: what the ever-living heck is going on with this franchise right now?

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
12 (39) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS FANS Sleeper pick. It's really loud at Qwest Field. The 12th Man thing is cool. (Texas A&M kids just stalked our Facebook page.) Question for debate with your friends: are they upset they locked into Mora?
21 (35) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FANS Sixth-smallest market in the NFL, yet second-best attendance across the past decade. That's awesome. We hear their tailgating is ridic, too. Question for debate with your friends: is Mike Shanahan dragging his feet on this gig because he knows the Cowboys job will likely be open next year?

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT WHAT
NEW YORK JETS FANS (Always been passionate, but we think Rex Ryan will fire 'em up even more.)
DETROIT LIONS FANS (No wins gotta hurt.)


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