When someone hails from the area near Cincinnati, Ohio, everyone in your family considers themselves, pretty much automatically, a Bengals fan. And our team--although we've been participants in three Super Bowls--has yet to win one. It's a tough reality, trudging along and standing with the "Bungles," but the AFC North team's fans are far from alone in their misery as National Football League (NFL) fans..
If you're a regular reader at RedState, you probably picked up on the fact that my colleague Thomas La Duke (who goes by Duke) lives in the state of Michigan. My guess is that he might have some thoughts over the next few weeks on his hometown NFL team, the Detroit Lions, continuing to surprise the other teams (with a 12-5 record and leading the NFC North division). But they have never won a championship, either. More on them in a minute.
Like many of you, when I was growing up, the Dallas Cowboys carried the nickname "America's Team," as they stormed their way to five Super Bowl appearances (two of them wins) during the 1970s. Until recently, there was still a chance they could punch a ticket to another one this season (they're first in the NFC East right now, and also are 12-5). But, some of the team's fans are a bit miffed over not only the embarrassing loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but that the management has decided not to fire their coach.
Then there are the NFC West champs, the San Francisco 49ers and--you guessed it--they're 12-5.
Here's what it sounded like during the winning play Sunday for the Lions, with a highly enthused Dan Miller making the call:
Here is Dan Miller on the call for the Detroit Lions first playoff win since 1992. pic.twitter.com/HX7E3m3kwI
— Detroit Sports Center (@DetroitSC2020) January 15, 2024
The fans inside Ford Field were undeniably a part of the win--take a look at the decibel level captured on Sunday:
Think you can top this Sunday, #OnePride? 🗣🔊 pic.twitter.com/eGscDYcMDt
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 19, 2024
To make a comparison, 133.6 is louder on the decibel scale than "loud orchestral music, in audience" (110), "amplified rock music; near jet engine," (120), and "artillery fire at close proximity" (130). The latter level is known as the "threshold of pain." Not something you want to mess around with.
Now, the numbers are in, and it appears the fans might have chosen a new "America's Team" ... that hails from Michigan.
Over half the country rooting for the Detroit Lions to win the playoffs, according to data. https://t.co/CA6q1WnQ0K
— Detroit Metro Times (@metrotimes) January 18, 2024
Now, The Detroit Metro Times recently picked up the surprising story after the Lions won their first playoff game on Sunday ... in over 30 years.
Everyone loves to root for the underdog, and after 32 years of not winning a playoff game, the Detroit Lions finally did it last Sunday. Plus, with a 13-5 record, the Lions’ 2023-24 season is going way, way better than it has been in recent memory.
And now, over half of the country is rooting for Detroit to win it all.
How do they reckon that's the case?
According to social media data compiled by Bet Online, a site that uses trends software to create sports-based graphics and maps, the Detroit Lions are the most popular choice in the nation to win the 2023-24 NFL playoffs.
Following the announcement of the divisional round matchups, over 200,00 social media posts were tracked, showing that 27 states are rooting for the Lions. In second place was the 49ers, with only seven states, so Detroit is winning by a long shot.
The map was created based on data from the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) over the last week tracking fan hashtags in every state, such as “#OnePride” (Detroit Lions), “#GoNiners” (San Francisco 49ers), “#BillsMafia” (Buffalo Bills), “#WeAreTexans” (Houston Texans), “#RavensFlock” (Baltimore Ravens), “#GoPackGo” (Green Bay Packers), “#ChiefsKingdom” (Kansas City Chiefs), and “#GoBucs” (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
Will the Lions finally make it to the Super Bowl? We'll know in a couple of weeks. America's next chance to cheer on its team is this Sunday, at the Lions' home stadium, Ford Field, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For Michiganians' sake, it will likely be a welcome distraction from their progressive Democrat governor, Gretchen Whitmer. And whatever you do, don't ask about the state of the GOP there.
Editor's note: This article was edited for clarity after publication. In error, we wrote that the Cowboys were still in the playoffs and able to get back to the Super Bowl this season. There was also an error on the number of wins in the big game versus appearances. It has now been corrected.
Related:
RedState Sports Report: NFL Finally Finishes First Playoffs Weekend
