The FINANCIAL — The 2014-2015 football season is in full swing, and while off-field stories have been occupying as much of the news cycle as on-field drama, that doesn’t seem to be detracting from interest in the sport overall. Viewership has been up for the season so far, and the majority of U.S. adults (55%, up slightly from 54% last year) continue to say that they follow professional football. A few of them may have changed which team they’re following most closely though, as the Dallas Cowboys have dropped to the #4 spot this year, after spending six years as the favorite team of adults who follow professional football, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Replacing them at the top of the list are the Denver Broncos, moving up two spots. They’re followed by the NY Giants (who have moved up two spots to 2nd) and the Green Bay Packers (who dropped one spot to 3rd). Rounding out the top five favorite football teams are the Pittsburg Steelers, up two spots from 7th to 5th.
The Seattle Seahawks have really taken off this year, soaring up six spots to the 6th position on the list. The San Francisco 49ers have risen one spot to 7th, while the New England Patriots have dropped three spots to 8th. Completing the top ten are the Chicago Bears, falling three spots to 9th, and the New Orleans Saints, rising one spot to 10th, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are at the bottom of the list for the fifth year running, though at least this time around they’re not alone – they share the spot with the Tennessee Titans this year.
Early favorites for the big game
There may be plenty of games left to play before the Super Bowl arrives, but it’s never too early for fans to have a pick for the big game. Nearly three in ten of those who follow professional football (28%) say the Seattle Seahawks will be the Super Bowl champs in February, while roughly two in ten (19%) say it will be the Denver Broncos. Just under one in ten (9%) believe the San Francisco 49ers will win the Super Bowl.
Who follows pro football?
No matter what goes on behind the scenes, America’s love of football carries on. It was once again crowned America’s favorite sport a January Harris Poll, and as stated earlier, 55% of U.S. adults say they follow professional football, on par with last year’s 54%.
As might be expected, men are more likely than women to say they follow professional football (69% vs. 43%). Regionally, those in the Midwest (61%) are more likely to follow professional football than those in the East (52%) or the South (53%). Additionally, those with children under 18 in their households are more likely than those without to follow pro football (61% and 52%, respectively), according to Harris Interactive Inc.
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