Determining who are the worst feeling fanbases is a combination of what their expectations were for the team and how they had performed recently. It is not just about a team’s record, as a fanbase that expected their team to lose would not feel as down as a fanbase that thought their team had an easy win and lost. Injuries can also be a factor, if your team had a crushing injury that could propel that team on the list. Ultimately, the worst thing is the feeling that your team’s season just ended, losses or injuries that lean a fanbase into thinking that way are the teams at the top of the list.
Honorable Mentions
Steelers: 10-16 loss to the Dolphins. The season is starting to feel like a loss cause, Kenny Pickett is not looking great, Najee Harris still sucks. And the Steelers still had a chance to move to 3-3 and be in the thick of it, but they lost, putting a serious blow to their playoff odds. At least George Pickens looks like a beast!
Lions: 6-24 loss to the Cowboys. A disappointing loss after it looked like the Lions might steal it after being down only 6-10, early in the 4th, with first and goal on the 1. But they fumbled the next play, and turned the ball over the next 3 possessions. Classic Lions but still crushing for the fans and after falling to 1-5, their playoff dreams are very nearly over. Barely missed the list due to not many people expected them to even compete with the Cowboys or make the playoffs.
Buccaneers: 3-21 loss to the Panthers. After a crushing 20-18 loss to the Steelers, this should have been a get right game. But instead another very demoralizing loss to the lowly Panthers who just fired their head coach and traded Christian McCaffery. Falling to 3-4, the Buccs would have been on the list except for the fact their division is so bad, that they are still currently winning it.
#3 Colts
10-19 loss to the Titans. The Colts losing to their division rival Titans to fall to second place, never feels good. But the reason why they are in the top 3 is injury. The report is Matt Ryan is hurt and is being shut down for the rest of the year. Losing your starting quarterback is an absolute blow that may sink the rest of the season. Just the prospect of potentially starting the worst quarterback in the NFL every week is a very damning feeling for Colts supporters. For a team that expected to make the playoffs before the year started, and looked to have been turning their season around with two straight wins, this is a massive blow. This would have been higher if the Colts had higher expectations or Matt Ryan was playing better, there’s always hope the dropoff isn’t too severe.
#2 Packers
21-23 loss to the Commanders. The Packers, recently, have not been good. Coming off of a blowout loss to the Jets 10-27 and a blown lead loss to the Giants 24-27 where they had a 14 point lead. This game was supposed to get them back on track, playing a bad Commanders team who just lost their starting quarterback and let the Bears rush for 237 yards the previous week. But it was not to be, after falling down 14-3 the Commanders took control of the game scoring 20 straight points and held on for the win. The Packers offense was bad all night, only scoring 14 points (was helped out by a pick six) and never converting a single 3rd or 4th down. Their second touchdown drive at the end of the game only happened due to 2 defensive penalties on third down and an 18 yard pass interference call. The offense looks worse than ever, and now 3 losses behind the Vikings, and on the outside looking in in the playoff picture. On top of it, Allen Lazard, the Packers only good receiver got hurt and might miss time. The only thing not making them number 1 is their record isn’t terrible at 3-4, they still have the trade deadline to upgrade their team, and Aaron Rodgers always gives them a chance.
#1 Broncos
9-16 loss to the Jets. Oh boy, another lousy offensive day by the Broncos. Coming into the year, no one thought the Broncos would be this bad. The Broncos have the worst offense in the league, they have now scored over 16 points just one time this year, a 23-32 loss to the Raiders week 4, and are averaging just 11.3 points over the last 3 weeks. After losing their 4th game in a row, the Broncos are in danger of falling out of the playoff race. A stunning turn of events, after having Super Bowl aspirations before the season started. This drastic fall from being considered one of the best to one of the worst teams comes with it, a very sour feeling in the fanbase.