Possible Referee shenanigans in upcoming game?

[FrodosFinger]

the refs will suck and steer games no matter who is playing. I don’t expect anything different in our game.

Not to the obvious point where it affects the outcome. Most calls are highly scrutinized especially in a playoff game. Not sure the refs have any stake in the games

 

[NoGain]

Actually, the Rams have one of the smaller fan bases in the NFL. The NFL is frustrated by the lack of traction that the Rams and the Chargers have had in LA. I live in LA, and I think this is just not a football town.

Recently, at least by some measures, the Seahawks surpassed the 49ers to become the 7th most popular team in the NFL. Patriots, Steeler and Chiefs are the top 3 in the AFC with the Cowboys, Eagles and Packers the top 3 in the NFC (with the Seahawks 4th).

By most measuring sticks, the Seahawks are among the most followed teams in the NFL, and in every ranking, the Rams are in the bottom half. If there was a conspiracy, the NFL would prefer the Seahawks over the Rams in the big game.

I think Seattle fans, maybe have a lingering feeling of insecurity that isn't really warranted anymore. No one is ignoring the Seahawks just because they're in Seattle. In this day and age, you can live in Florida and be a Seahawks fan. Geography is no longer as big a factor as it used to be.

Digital Fan Culture: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams by Social Media Popularity and Support

Ranking the 32 NFL teams by their number of followers could be quite a challenge, but who better than social media to lend a hand? Here, we’ll show you how the franchises stack up in the digital league.

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Counting down the top 10 most popular NFL teams - ESPN The Zone 105.9

Counting down the top 10 most popular NFL teams The NFL isn’t just about football games; it’s...

www.thezone1059.com

Yeah, LA has always seemed to me a Dodgers/Lakers city more than anything else. Hell, I bet USC generates as much fan interest as an NFL team when they're at or near the top. It seemed kind of dumb to me in some ways when LA went from no NFL team to two. I mean, I get why it happened, but I can think of other Metropolitan areas more wanting and deserving of a team. I'm a little surprised that the NFL hasn't maneuvered to get a franchise into Canada yet, like one in Toronto. Seems like an easier first step toward the internationalization of the league.

I think the Seattle/popularity/fan resentment thing comes from the real and perceived lack of national media attention. But we're not the only fan base that gets sick of hearing about the Cowboys, Packers, Steelers, Patriots, Chiefs all the time. And there is something to be said about fan interest becoming less tethered to geography. I wonder what are the biggest factors involved in adopting a team as your favorite when you don't live in the area? I bring that up because of what keasley said about Germany.

Anyway...interesting post.

 

[keasley45]

Yeah, LA has always seemed to me a Dodgers/Lakers city more than anything else. Hell, I bet USC generates as much fan interest as an NFL team when they're at or near the top. It seemed kind of dumb to me in some ways when LA went from no NFL team to two. I mean, I get why it happened, but I can think of other Metropolitan areas more wanting and deserving of a team. I'm a little surprised that the NFL hasn't maneuvered to get a franchise into Canada yet, like one in Toronto. Seems like an easier first step toward the internationalization of the league.

I think the Seattle/popularity/fan resentment thing comes from the real and perceived lack of national media attention. But we're not the only fan base that gets sick of hearing about the Cowboys, Packers, Steelers, Patriots, Chiefs all the time. And there is something to be said about fan interest becoming less tethered to geography. I wonder what are the biggest factors involved in adopting a team as your favorite when you don't live in the area? I bring that up because of what keasley said about Germany.

Anyway...interesting post.

I think the Seahawks / Germany tie stems from one of their national teams having ties to the Seahawks... Maybe something that goes back to the European League days.

Rhein Fire enters into cooperation with NFL team Seattle Seahawks - European League Football https://share.google/Pgsi5yGXgqlkXepay

It was made formal in 2024 but even before that I think there was a connection that generated direct fan interest in the Hawks.

We had a LB from the international pathways program in Germany on the roster in 2022 when they played in Munich - Aaron Donkor.

Rhein Fire sign former German Seattle Seahawks pro Aaron Donkor - European League Football https://share.google/MOIWXGjmmry32yLE3

The defunkt EFL is now an independent league run and sponsored entirely by the European Union - the European League of football.

I can tell you what though, as much as we may feel like it's still 1989 and the team gets no respect, it's quite the experience to be here in Germany where I am now and almost everyday see someone in Hawks gear. The geographic market may be forever tucked into the corner of the US, but our fans are everywhere, and here in Germany more than any other franchise.