NFL’s Most Optimistic Fan Bases; Chiefs and Eagles Fans are Up While Texans and Panthers are Down

During the month of July BetOnline.ag took to Twitter to find the NFL's most optimistic fan bases. A semi-scientific Twitter study conducted displays the percentage of total team tweets that discuss positivity around the upcoming season. Wining the Super Bowl, getting to the playoffs, or winning the division this upcoming season. For example, the percentage of all tweets from Detroit Lions fans that discuss them having success this season (SB, playoffs, or winning division). Over 100,000 tweets were tracked. In total, nearly 750,000 tweets were collected. July is the time of the football calendar where optimism is at it's highest. Most team's are still healthy, everyone has a zero in the loss column, and anything can happen in the NFL.

As you can see from the graphic, it's no surprise that Chiefs fans and Eagles fans are on top, given their dominance of last season. However, it is interesting to see the Lions and Jets ranking so high. No doubt due to the Lions strong finish last year, and the Jets acquisition of Aaron Rodgers. Cowboys fans are  always optimistic, so it isn't a surprise to see them near the top. It is surprising to see the Texans and Panthers so far down the list. After all, these are the two teams that took quarterbacks in the first round of April's NFL Draft. I know the team's are not thought of as elite rosters across the league. But being in the NFC South and AFC South gives them a shot at backing their way into the playoffs. Here's the list of the NFL's most optimistic fan bases entering 2023.

Two titles in four years with a loss in the Super Bowl will make any fan base optimistic. Sprinkle on top the best quarterback and head coach in the NFL, and Chiefs fans are not going to lost that optimism any time soon.

Jalen Hurts was a holding call away from having the change to lead the Eagles on a Super Bowl winning drive last year. Philly fans are... unique to start with. Give them a legitimate Super Bowl contender and they turn it up to 11.

Cowboys fans optimistic? No way. For a fan base that hasn't seen an NFC Championship Game, let alone a Super Bowl, since 1996 they might want to lower expectations.

Lions fans are loyal. How else do you explain rooting for a team that has never appeared in the Super Bowl and hasn't won a playoff game since 1991? They ended the year winning 8 of their final 10 games, including a week 18 win at Green Bay that ended Aaron Rodgers' time with the Packers. They're the betting favorite to win the NFC North. Fun fact; they've never won the NFC North. It was called the Central last time they won it.

One of the most talented young team sin the NFL has put the Bengals somewhere they haven't been in a while; in contention. The Super Bowl loss to the Rams a few years ago was tough, but the future looks very bright in Cincinnati as long as Joe Burrow is there.

Clearly the Jets fanbase is sold on Aaron Rodgers and his ability to catapult the Jets to the top of the AFC and compete for a Super Bowl. Beyond the 40 year-old quarterback, the Jets have one of the best young receivers in the game with Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner is already one of the best corners in the league entering his second season.

Can you imagine how high everyone would be on the 49ers if they had a slightly above average quarterback? Brock Purdy was good last year, but there are still questions how he can perform throughout an entire season. This roster has everything else ready to win a Super Bowl. The fanbase should be high on this team every year Kyle Shanahan is strolling the sidelines.

This fan base is figuring out how hard it is to win a Super Bowl... again. They check all of the boxes to get a fanbase excited. And Josh Allen is on the short list for most entertaining quarterbacks in the NFL They didn't do a ton this year in terms of bringing in new talent. But that's because the roster has been built out and now it's about keep guys in the building.

The Fins fanbase was all juiced around the Tyreek Hill addition last offseason. This year they got Jalen Ramsey and Vic Fangio to beef up the defense. Tua is still divisive in the Dolphins fanbase. Not because of his ability, but his durability. The fan base is ready to win. It's been a VERY long time.

IT was a good offseason for Ravens fans. The team's long lasting contractual dispute with Lamar Jackson was settled, they brought in a new OC to take Lamar to the next level, and got two new weapons to throw to with Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers out of Boston College. The Ravens feel like they've closed the gap between them and the Bengals entering the season.

This is the first real head scratcher on the list. The Colts were bad last year. This year they're going to breaking in rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and have Jonathan Taylor and owner Jim Irsay publicly throwing jabs at each other. This roster feels stale, but I guess the fanbase is excited with the young quarterback and new head coach.

Broncos fans have to believe Nathaniel Hackett was the problem and not Russell Wilson. If Hackett was the problem, then they have addressed the issue by trading for Sean Payton. I think the hook is quick for Russ if he is slow out of the gates this season. Not sure they should be a top-12 optimistic fanbase.

I think Jags fans should be higher going into the season. Trevor Lawrence is an elite talent, and he has some very good weapons around him on offense. The offensive line and secondary have questions. But I think the Jags fanbase should have an expectation of winning the AFC South.

Seattle is sold on Geno Smith. His first season in the Northwest saw him post career high numbers basically across the board. The 12th Man is one of, if not the loudest fanbase in the NFL. Middle of the pack feels about right if were matching optimism with expectations.

I am STUNNED the Steelers are this low on the list. This was a team that won 9 games last season with a rookie quarterback and their best defensive player missing 10 games. Maybe Steelers fans are embracing the underdog role and just laying low before punching opponents in the teeth (metaphorically).

Way to go Giants fans. Tempering expectations this season after winning a playoff game last year. Maybe it's because they know the Eagles are probably too far ahead of them to win the division (barring massive injuries). It's a well coached team with a good defense and a below average quarterback.

I know there aren't a ton of Chargers fans since their move to Los Angeles. But come on!!! Justin Herbert leads one of the best offenses in football and they have shown they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league. Disappointed to see Chargers fans not higher on the team going into 2023.

This one makes sense to me. The Vikings defense was nothing short of horrific last season. They didn't do much of anything to address that problem except being in Brian Flores to be the Defensive Coordinator. They lost long time running back Dalvin Cook this offseason too.

Packers fans are not sold that Jordan Love will keep the elite quarterback play left behind by Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre. Fans under 40 don't really remember what it's like to not have good to great quarterback play. It's a different game when 14-point 4th quarter comebacks are off the table.

The first NFC South team on the list comes in at 20. Somebody has to win the division, and I think the Saints have the inside track to do that. With all of the success the Saints have had over the last 15 years I am surprised they are not higher on the list.

How quickly it can fall apart in the NFL. This time last year the Rams were thought of as shoe ins for the NFC playoffs, and one of the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl. Injuries derailed their 2022 season. The Rams optimism going into 2023 is whatever you think about Matthew Stafford and his health.

I know the division is really good, but shouldn't the Brown fanbase be higher on the team this year? At least believe that Deshaun Watson could find his MVP form from his time in Houston. Although that was 2019 and feels like a long time ago. Maybe the constant losing has beat the fanbase down.

Huh? Why are there 8 teams with less optimism that the Cardinals? What is the one thing the Cards to well? Kyler isn't starting the season on the field and the rest of the roster is lacking proven talent.

DAAA BEARS! The Bears fanbase knows that they have potentially the best quarterback in franchise history on their roster in Justin Fields. I have been really high on the DJ Moore offseason addition as well. It's a beaten down fan base, but they should have higher expectations I think.

The defense is still good, even though they lost a few pieces. The offense has a pair of really good receivers with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but the line was terrible last year and didn't get any better on paper. Because they are in the NFC South they have a chance.

Not a lot to be optimistic about in Vegas this year. The defense is really bad, so is the offensive line. Devonte Adams is still one of the best receivers in the league, and so is Josh Jacobs for running backs. But they need to get Jacobs back in the facility if they are going to be competitive this season.

The Falcons have a bunch of young talent of offense and acquired a bunch of experienced talent on defense this offseason. I think Falcons fans should be higher on their team going into 2023.

This is what happens when the standard was Super Bowl or bust for 20 years, then you still don't have your long term answer at quarterback 3 seasons later. Mac took a big step back last year, and they once again settled for B and C level free agents at receiver on offense. Match all that up with 6 games against the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins and it makes sense why Patriots fans aren't too high on their team this year.

Commanders fans should be higher on the list solely based off the fact that Daniel Snyder is finally gone. It's tough to get behind a young quarterback who wasn't drafted in the first round. It's just the way it is, and that what Washington fans have with Sam Howell. I think the defense has the potential to keep them in the playoff hunt should the offense not improve under Eric Bieniemy.

This team feels like they're past their window, and the fan base agrees. Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis, and Will Levis are all "meh"- or at least that's the way I am reading into this. They are still good enough to compete with Jacksonville for the division though.

Come on Houston! The team has the second and third overall pick from the last draft. That should inject enough juice into the fan base to get a few to start talking division title. I don't think the Texans will be in the playoff picture come Thanksgiving. But I do think they will be better than the last couple of seasons.

I think the additions of Bryce Young. Adam Thielen, and Miles Sanders on offense should have the Panthers higher. Frank Reich has shown he knows how to get the best out of young quarterbacks. He had Carson Wentz in the MVP race before blowing out his knee. I think Panthers fans are sleeping on their team going into 2023.