Denver Broncos are now America's team
Dubbed "America's Team" for years, the Cowboys actually are only America's fourth-most popular team according to a new Harris Poll conducted in mid-September.
The top dogs? The Denver Broncos, who hadn't ranked higher than eighth on their list between the time John Elway retired and when Peyton Manning joined the team.
In a recent Harris Poll(September 10-17) which surveyed 2,543 adults who follow professional football, the six year reign of the Dallas Cowboys as the most popular NFL team came to an end. The Cowboys dropped to fourth in the poll. At the time of the survey, Dallas was 1-1 with a win over the Tennessee Titans and a weak effort in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the opener.
Denver QB Peyton Manning is poised to break the NFL TD passing record of 508 which is held by Brett Favre. Manning has 506 touchdown passes. Peyton ranks first in most Fathead wall posters and is second behind Seattle QB Russell Wilson in most popular jerseys in the NFL. While Peyton may trail his younger brother, Eli in Super Bowl rings, his Broncos edged out the New York Giants for the top spot in popularity.
Rounding out the field were : Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints in 10th place. The bottom feeders were the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Timing is everything with these surveys. If the poll had been taken following the Sunday games, the Cowboys would have knocking on the door of supremacy while the New York Giants would have been closer to Jacksonville following their 27-0 drubbing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. "What have you done for me lately?"
The Denver Broncos have sold out every home game since 1970. This is second longest streak in the NFL, trailing only the Washington Redskins for that distinction. The name of the stadium is now called Sports Authority Field at Mile High. On August 16, 2011, Sports Authority paid $150 million for the naming rights, but it will always be known as "Mile High." Broncomania is alive and well and ranked number 1.
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