FanSided 250: The Ravens fans are ranked 133rd. Here are three big things to think about:
1. Where do Ravens fans stack up against their division rivals?
In FanSided 250 the Ravens Flock ranks 133rd overall. Baltimore fans are the 13th hottest fandom in the NFL. It may surprise you to hear that the Cleveland Browns fans rank 30th overall on the list and are the third hottest fanbase in the NFL.
Browns fans are loyal and have stood by their team through a lot more bad times than good. They have to get credit for that, however is their fanbase that much better than that of the Ravens? The Browns fandom spent the entire offseason excited to tell everyone that they would be the new rulers of not just the AFC North, but the NFL.
They spent the offseason telling Ravens fans that Baker Mayfield was the next big thing and that Lamar Jackson wasn’t in his league. All I have to say is that the Ravens are 11-2, Lamar Jackson is the MVP and the Browns are 6-7. Cleveland deserves a ton of respect as a fan base, but they didn’t have realistic expectations for their team.
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After an offseason of premature celebration, the Ravens Flock doesn’t want to hear excuses. Browns fans are still excited that they won “Their Super Bowl” against the Ravens. Baltimore was focused on the actual Super Bowl all year long.
The coolest thing about FanSided 250 through a Ravens fan perspective is that it has purple and black over yellow and black. The Ravens are seven spots ahead of the Steelers on this list. Steelers fans get so much love from the commentators just about every week because of how well they travel. Steelers fans seem annoyingly ubiquitous so to have the hotter fandom is awesome for Baltimore. Being on top of the Steelers is always a priority in Baltimore.
2. Ravens Fans are on the rise:
Tickets are getting more expensive, the sports talk shows actually talk about the Ravens, the buzz in Baltimore is only going up. Lamar Jackson is one of the most entertaining athletes in all of sports. He does things that nobody else can and he’s one of the best people in sports. Jackson has charisma and is so genuinely a team first person and his fanbase is multiplying. People outside of the Flock used to get lured in by all-stars like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Now, Jackson is the biggest reason to become a Ravens fan. Whether you call it a bandwagon effect or not, the Ravens Flock is on the rise.
This conversation makes me think about the video from the game in Cincinnati where John Harbaugh told Lamar Jackson that he was going to inspire kids all over the country to wear the number eight. Jackson is going to energize a new generation of Ravens fans. He’s an easy player to root for.
"You changed the game, man."
— NFL (@NFL) November 11, 2019
This exchange between John Harbaugh + @lj_era8 is incredible. (via @ravens)pic.twitter.com/8qR0HKiwNn
He’s a player who was doubted in the NFL Draft process. He worked hard on his faults and he improved his strengths. Jackson is the kind of player that kids can grow up idolizing. They may not be able to replicate his speed and athletic prowess but they can practice his humbleness and his positive mindset. If the Ravens win the Super Bowl this year or in the years to come, the fanbase is going to grow.
The Ravens are now relevant to the casual NFL fan. The AFC could go through Baltimore in the postseason. The Ravens are expected to get more prime time games next season. The Ravens Flock has never been this excited in the regular season (and that’s saying something). The team is on an upward trajectory and the fandom is as well.
3. It’s an honor to be ranked:
There are only 23 of the 32 NFL teams ranked on FanSided 250. Some of the most historic franchises are behind Baltimore. Pittsburgh ranks 14th among NFL teams. The San Francisco 49ers fandom ranks 15th among NFL teams on the list. The Ravens are also ahead of notable teams like the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. As long as their are rankings there will be debate. The Ravens Flock is underrated yet, they are very much respected by FanSided 250. To be 133rd out of 250 followings across sports, television, movies and music, that’s a good thing.
The Ravens fandom ranks ahead of some pretty A-list company. Fans the T.V. show Friends ranks in at 191. Ravens fans are ahead of Robert Downey Jr. fans. (We beat Iron Man, guys!). The fandom of the Lord of the Rings are ranked 162nd. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a musical theater genius and his fandom only got to 220th on the list. College Sports have an unbelievably passionate fandom. Ravens fans rank ahead of fans of the Michigan Wolverines, Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns. That’s an incredible achievement for the fans of the purple and black.
The Ravens haven’t made FanSided 250 every year, so this is a big deal. The Ravens fanbase has been recognized for their passion, energy and commitment. That’s something worth celebrating. As of the time of this writing, the Ravens are getting ready to play the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. The Ravens are about to put on a show and so is Baltimore! Sing the fight song with me: “For Baltimore and Maryland, we will go on to Victory!”