As a Redskins fan, I couldn't bring myself to answer the Cowboys question. If you want to read something logical and unbiased, stop reading now. I have never seen a more inappropriate nickname. A large number of teams have been around longer. Bob Ryan was referring to the popularity of the team during a snapshot in history (1978). America tends to root for excellence, which has been absent from the Cowboy's organization since 1995. Tony Romo? Really? The perennial underachiever is my favorite player in the NFL because he always breaks Texas hearts, but is guaranteed to remain. America is a democratic republic. Jerry Jones is a totalitarian tyrant. Maybe they should be North Korea's Team. Hey Jerry - have any minions clean your glasses lately? The Packers are older, have more people, and are owned by the fans - much more deserving of the nickname. Go Skins - I'm out!
There's no such thing as America's Team. It's a meaningless term with no defined metric by which it can be defended. By my reckoning, if you had to define a metric (one for which data can actually be looked up), it would probably be the team that draws the biggest crowds for their road games. Higher percentage of butts in seats = higher degree of fans scattered to the four winds across the country. Evaluating that metric back through 2006 (the first year ESPN has good road attendance data for all teams), the rankings would be: 1. Chicago 2. Dallas 3. Pittsburgh 4. NY Giants 5. Green Bay 6. Philadelphia. But keep in mind, we're talking about less than 1% of difference between Chicago and Philadelphia. So take that FWIW.
you are taking it too seriously. did the vikings actually eat people? No. were the bears actual monsters? No. it's a name that some people have given to the team, and it's recognizably associated with that team. no one is saying that it's the most popular or that they represent more people. just a nickname
chucktizzle - You're probably right that the moniker came at a particular point in time, but you had to be there. The Staubach/Landry era, along with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were pre-cable and pre-internet. If the spectacle was widely reported by the TV networks and newspapers that's all America saw. With the disparate sources of information today, there will be no consensus opinion.
I agree with the long list of commenters above who believe Twelfth Man should be an acceptable answer. Was only trying it on a hunch & figured I had it wrong, so never even attempted 12th Man.
And then there's the Fearsome Foursome (LA Rams defensive line of the late 60s), the Over the Hill Gang (1972 Redskins defense), Air Coryell (late 70s SD Chargers offense), Ground Chuck (LA Rams/Bills/Seahawks running attacks under coach Chuck Knox), Doomsday Defense (1970s Cowboys defense), Killer B's (1982 Miami Dolphins defense), the Ain'ts (woeful 1980 NO Saints), Kardiac Kids (1980 Browns), and my favorite, the Electric Company (1970s Buffalo Bills offensive line, who blocked for OJ Simpson, in effect, turning on the Juice).
Raider Nation?? Please... that's probably the easiest one on their. Change it to "The Black Hole," the more appropriate name for the team, since the Raiders are falling into a hole of sadness. Yes, the Black Hole is an actual thing, look it up.