Return Of Crowds Did Little To Boost Home Advantage In NFL
Jan 5, 2022, 3:59 PM
A detailed view of two NFL footballs with Baltimore Ravens logos are seen on the field before the preseason game between the Washington Football Team and the Baltimore Ravens at FedExField on August 28, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
(AP) – The cheering fans returned to NFL stadiums this season, forcing road teams into silent counts and other coping mechanisms to deal with the noise.
The home-field advantage that could be expected over road teams that have to deal with travel, time zone changes on occasion, and the din from the loud crowds has once again been missing.
A trend that began the year before the pandemic and continued last season when games were played in mostly empty stadiums has been evident once again in the 2021 season.
Week 18. This is the #NFLSeasonFinale. pic.twitter.com/ymTNYM9OfE
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Home teams have posted a .510 winning percentage this season for the third-worst mark since the merger.
