Are you ready for some football?
Twitter was ready during last night’s NFL kickoff game, when the @DenverBroncos took down the Baltimore @Ravens, 49-27. Fans who weren’t in Denver for the showdown (and the lightning) cheered on their team — and fantasy players — in 140 character bursts.
Twitter and Vine brought people closer to favorite football legends and fantasy draft picks on game night.
There were 1.4 million total Tweets sent about the game, with Tweets per minute spiking to more than 15,000 during Peyton Manning’s 5th touchdown pass. Other top moments included @WesWelker’s fumbled punt return, and Manning’s 6th and 7th touchdown passes.
The @Ravens, who may have lost the game, came out on top with regard to Tweets, with more than 29,000 team mentions. The @DenverBroncos weren’t far behind, with more than 24,000.
The top tweeted-about players of the game were:
This visualization shows the ebb and flow of conversation surrounding both teams, and the most tweeted-about player, Peyton Manning, as he completed seven touchdown passes.
As the data shows, players and fans eagerly awaited this matchup, and the pre-game excitement was clear:
7 minutes until it begins. John Elway is ready. Are you? https://t.co/P5nwbCFE5Y
— Denver Broncos ( @DenverBroncos) September 6, 2013
Good morning y’all….Football season is finally here!!! #ravensnation
— Torrey Smith ( @TorreySmithWR) September 5, 2013
Wake up! It’s Gametime! #broncoscountry pic.twitter.com/iFp6eeBiR0
— Wes Welker ( @WesWelker) September 5, 2013
This game is finally here. I have been waiting forever for the season I promise you broncos fans I will give you my blood sweat and tears
— Shaun Phillips ( @ShaunPhillips95) September 5, 2013
As the game got underway, Tweets were flying during the most action-packed moments:
DeSean Jackson, Leon Lett… Danny Trevathan joins an esteemed fraternity.
— Ian Rapoport ( @RapSheet) September 6, 2013
Oh wow. Danny Trevathan done goofed.
— Matt Miller ( @nfldraftscout) September 6, 2013
Seven touchdowns. Holy freaking smokes.
— Rich Eisen ( @richeisen) September 6, 2013
A lot of teachable moments to learn from in this game!
— Reggie Bush ( @ReggieBush) September 6, 2013
Peyton Manning just tied an NFL record with SEVEN touchdown passes. He also has 452 passing yards. WOW.
— SportsCenter ( @SportsCenter) September 6, 2013
Light (or lack thereof) has been an unexpected theme in recent @nfl games; last night was no exception:
Last game — not enough electricity. This one — too much. #weatherdelay
— Scott Hanson ( @ScottHanson) September 6, 2013
Switched on the #NFL game to a storm delay? Thought I had hit the @GolfChannel by accident! #pgatour
— Graeme McDowell ( @Graeme_McDowell) September 6, 2013
What’s a few more minutes? We’ve been waiting since February! #Kickoff2013 #BALvsDEN
— NFL ( @nfl) September 6, 2013
I’m gonna say that the lightning delay is just G-D saying “I love football” #NFL
— ashton kutcher ( @aplusk) September 6, 2013
*Editor's note: As of November 2017, Twitter has increased the character count of Tweets in certain languages to make it easier to share what’s happening.
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