Baltimore Ravens miss out on FanSided’s Fandom 250 list in 2017

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 01: Marlon Humphrey #29 of the Baltimore Ravens greats fans after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 01: Marlon Humphrey #29 of the Baltimore Ravens greats fans after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) /
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The purple and black were left off the list that included 16 different NFL franchises but should we really be surprised?

For the second year in a row, Fansided.com has released their Fandom 250 list, ranking the top players, teams, franchises and celebrity figures in the world. With 16 NFL franchises featured on the list, the Baltimore Ravens were not one of them. The purple and black were left off the list again while the Pittsburgh Steelers reigned supreme as the top franchise in the NFL category.

Football is by far one of the most popular sport in the United States, but still, half of the league was left off on the list and the Ravens were included. But if we’re being honest, should they even be there in the first place? If we’re basing it on the past calendar year, I don’t think so.

Before you get worked up about it, just bear with me here. The list focuses more on the fans, not the specifically the teams. If wins and losses were factored in, the Cleveland Browns would be dead last every year but even they made the list. That’s because even through the tough times and hardships of the franchise, the Browns faithful has stuck with their team.

Don’t get me wrong, the majority product the Ravens have put on the field since the Super Bowl has been mediocre at best and that’s shown in attendance. The Ravens have ranked the top-10 in league attendance just once since 2012 and will be outside that mark again this season, despite the high possibility of a wild-card berth for the first time in two years.

I and many others who’ve been to games this season can attest to the lack of attendance. A stadium that was once packed full or purple and black is now mostly empty in the upper decks while blue seats take up most of the viewing space. M&T Bank Stadium doesn’t feel much like a home-field advantage anymore and even Terrible Towels are becoming more and more prevalent every year.

Next: Baltimore Ravens: Everything they did wrong in Pittsburgh

I’d love to see the Ravens on the list next year but my level of optimism will stay low for now. Until there’s more support at games in the Charm City, the Ravens will continue to miss out on the Fandom 250 list for years to come.