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New England Patriots fans do not forgive easily, nor do they forget.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Don't let the 10-4 record, division lead or No. 2 ranking in the AFC fool you, it's been a pretty stressful season for New England Patriots fans.

The wins came as expected, but they haven't come easy. The Patriots haven't been in a game decided by more than four points since they've blew out the Steelers on Nov. 3. In total, the Patriots have been in three games this season decided by more than one score. Meanwhile, they're 7-4 in one-score games in 2013.

Fans in New England, though, have stuck around through the miraculous comebacks and the disheartening injuries, which have already weakened much of the team's Super Bowl credentials. That's to be expected, though, from the fanbase that was ranked the second-most loyal in the NFL by a 2013 study from Emory University marketing professors Mike Lewis and Manish Tripathi. Dallas Cowboys fans were ranked No. 1.

So, the fans are sticking around. However, that doesn't mean they're handling the close losses or injuries very well.

Another study from Lewis and Tripathi revealed that the same loyal Patriots fanbase ranked as the third-most unstable in the NFL.

The second study focused on measuring fan three factors -- happiness after a win, sadness after a loss and stability -- on social media and measuring fan reactions through the "highs" and "lows" of the 2012 season. After a game, researchers would examine social media reaction from fans and record the sentiment and chart what percentages of the fanbase had expressed certain feelings following a game.

Patriots fans, it turns out, do not handle losses very well.

According to the study, 39.8 percent of New England fans expressed negative sentiments following a loss, ranking them third in the league in negativity after a loss. This, combined with some strong positive showing after wins, has resulted in the Patriots fanbase ranking as the third most unstable in the league, behind Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers fans.

According to the study, the stability rankings were compiled by "looking at the difference between average sentiment after wins and average sentiment after losses."

These rankings were compiled using data from a 2012 season where the Patriots finished 12-4 and reached the AFC Championship Game. When compared to the -- at the very least -- eventful 2013 season, last season appears pretty tame.

Were this study conducted this season, fan sentiment would have to include the team's ability to pull off some miraculous comebacks, which would likely increase fan happiness after games. At the same time, it would also include some late losses, some of which were the result of some controversial calls (or non-calls). That's all on top of the devestating injuries the team has sustained this season, and not to mention the Aaron Hernandez saga or Wes Welker's defection to Denver.

While the stability study focused on looking at social media following games, the fan loyalty study examined "team box office revenues relative to team on-field success, market population, stadium capacity, median income and other factors." In the study, Lewis and Tripathi referred to New England as a "all-around strong fanbase."

Here are some of the expanded rankings from the Emory study:

Fan loyalty

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. New England Patriots

3. New York Jets

4. New Orleans Saints

5. New York Giants

...

28. Detroit Lions

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Arizona Cardinals

31. Atlanta Falcons

32. Oakland Raiders

Happiness after a loss

1. New Orleans Saints

2. Cleveland Browns

3. Oakland Raiders

4. Seattle Seahawks

5. Chicago Bears

Sadness after a loss

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Detroit Lions

3. New England Patriots

4. Miami Dolphins

5. Oakland Raiders

Most stable

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Houston Texans

5. Atlanta Falcons

Most unstable

1. Oakland Raiders

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

3. New England Patriots

4. Detroit Lions

5. New Orleans Saints