September 26th, 2024
After a summer fixated on soccer thanks to UEFA Euro 2024 and the Copa America, attention turned back to the gridiron on August 25th, initially to the NCAA. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets upset the number ten ranked Florida State Seminoles to claim the curtain-raising Aer Lingus Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Now, it's the time for the big league to take center stage.
The reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs will raise the curtain on the new campaign as they host the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium in a repeat of last season's conference championship game. The Chiefs Kingdom will do their utmost to ensure that their fabled atmosphere riles up the visiting Lamar Jackson to help their side to victory. But where do they rank on the list of the league's best fan bases? Let's find out.
Bills Mafia
At the top of any discussion about devoted NFL supporters is the Bills Mafia. The Buffalo Bills faithful are synonymous with loyalty and resilience. Despite the harsh winters and a playoff drought that lasted 18 years, the New York State supporters fans have consistently filled the stands, creating an electrifying atmosphere at Highmark Stadium. And the fact that they continue to do exactly that despite the heartbreak they have suffered over the decades is as big a testament as we could ever give them.
In the early 1990s, the Buffalo Bills became the first team in history to reach four straight Super Bowls, with quarterback Jim Kelly and his no-huddle offense causing chaos throughout the league. However, they inexplicably lost on all four of their trips to the big game, and they haven't returned to it since. They remain one of just 12 active teams to have never lifted the Lombardi, despite their numerous trips to the championship game.
As mentioned, they had to endure an 18-year drought without reaching the playoffs between 1999 and 2017, however, things have changed for the better since the drafting of former University of Wyoming star Josh Allen. The mercurial quarterback has led his side to the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, four of them as AFC East Champions. However, he has continually come unstuck against Patrick Mahomes and his dynasty-like Chiefs, suffering eliminations at their hands in three of the last four campaigns.
In recent times, Bill's Mafia continually braves the elements despite the years of pain. Not only are they notoriously raucous, but they are also a charitable bunch. They have frequently turned the spotlight onto causes close to their heart, raising substantial funds for charities, most notably celebrating Josh Allen's late grandmother’s memory by raising over a million dollars for a local children’s hospital.
Chiefs Kingdom
Arrowhead Stadium, home to the Chiefs Kingdom, is one of the loudest venues in the NFL. The fan base has been continually hailed as the 12th man for the reigning champion KC, and their boisterous support has been evident in the postseason. The Chiefs have lost just one playoff game in front of their adoring public in the last five years, winning nine in the process. The Kingdom is known for creating a sea of red on game days, and they - along with the atmospheric Arrowhead - hold the record for the loudest crowd roar at an outdoor stadium, reaching an ear-splitting 142.2 decibels during a 2014 clash against the New England Patriots.
With such fervent support on the side, it should come as no surprise that the Chiefs have emerged as the NFL's latest dynasty. They have reached four Super Bowls in the last five years, winning three of them including the most recent Super Bowl LVIII, which was their second triumph in a row. This season, they will have the chance to make history by becoming the first team to ever lift the Lombardi in three consecutive seasons, and the bookies think that they are up to the task.
Fred Jackson x Super Bowl LVIII Q&A - YouTube
The latest odds from the Bovada sportsbook make the Chiefs a +500 favorite to lift the trophy once again this season. For the Chiefs Kingdom, they will be hoping that the bookies are correct in their estimations, allowing them to celebrate yet another triumph long into the Kansas City evening next February.
The Cheeseheads
No discussion of NFL fan bases is complete without mentioning the Cheeseheads, the iconic supporters of the Green Bay Packers. With a team owned by its fans, the bond between the Packers and their supporters is unique and deeply personal.
Lambeau Field is a historic venue where fans brave freezing temperatures to cheer for their beloved team, and in recent years, they have been able to do plenty of cheering.
Last season, expectations were at an all-time low courtesy of the departure of long-time quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP and future hall of fame opted to move to the New York Jets and many predicted a downfall for the Packers.
But with the Cheeseheads on their side and the emergence of superstar quarterback Jordan Love, Green Bay managed to make it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, beating their rival Dallas Cowboys - on enemy territory no less - in the process.