Top 10 NFL Stadiums That Provide The Best Home-Field Advantage

By Jason Fletcher

Top 10 NFL Stadiums That Provide The Best Home-Field Advantage

Seattle Seahawks — One of the biggest advantages in the NFL, is having a stadium atmosphere that makes it hard on opponents to be successful in that environment. The most obvious factor would be crowd noise, but there are other factors as well, such as climate or altitude. I've decided to put together a list of the 10 toughest stadiums for opponents to play in. There is a common theme: eight of the 10 teams on this list made the playoffs in 2014.

10. Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts

10. Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts — Indianapolis Colts fans have been pretty spoiled over the last two decades. Peyton Manning was the quarterback of the Colts for 14 years, then the Colts had one down year in 2011 when Manning had neck surgery and finished the season 2-14. With the worst record in the NFL, the Colts were awarded the first overall pick in the same year that Andrew Luck was draft-eligible. A consistent winner always attracts a rowdy crowd.

9. Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers — There's nothing quite like watching a Steelers night game, when 65,000 screaming fans are waving those synonymous yellow "Terrible Towels" around. It's certainly a scene to behold. It seems the crowd at Steelers games has improved in recent years with their noise level. If the team can continue improving and make the playoffs consistently, they could very easily move up this list.

8. Ford Field, Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions

8. Ford Field, Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions — Boy, how times have changed. The former perennial losers now have one of the best stadium atmospheres in the NFL. The Lions went 7-1 at home in 2014 and look to be a team on the rise. The defense took a big step forward in the team's first season under head coach Jim Caldwell. If offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi can fix Matthew Stafford's issues, the Lions could be a serious contender in the NFC in 2015.

7. Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles

7. Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles — There are so many ways one could describe Eagles fans, and most aren't positive. I will say that the Eagles' fan base is definitely the most passionate in the NFL. There are former players who describe Philly fans as the most intimidating in football. They are smart when it comes to their football team, and they aren't afraid to let you know. Having fans like that definitely makes Lincoln Financial Field a house of horrors for most NFL teams.

6. University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals

6. University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals — The Arizona Cardinals fans are quickly climbing this list after 2014, where the team went 7-1 inside University of Phoenix Stadium. The most impressive part about that record is the fact that it didn't matter who was playing quarterback. Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley and Logan Thomas all played in 2014, and the team still went 7-1 at home. That's a perfect example of a home crowd making a difference.

5. M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

5. M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens — M&T Bank Stadium is underrated when it comes to the toughest places to play. Since Joe Flacco became the Ravens' quarterback in 2008, the team is 45-11 inside M&T Bank Stadium. I understand that's mostly because the Ravens have had one of the best teams in the NFL over that span, but that's still an impressive record. I also have experience with the Ravens' crowd, as I had beer dumped on me because I was wearing a Panthers jersey.

4. Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

4. Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos — There a couple of factors that make Sports Authority Field at Mile High one of the most difficult places to play in the NFL. The altitude is first and foremost. It's hard for players who haven't played in the thin air to get acclimated to it before it's too late. When Peyton Manning and the offense get into their up-tempo style, most defenses can't keep up. The cold air is a factor also, along with that explosive offense.

3. Lambeau Field, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers

3. Lambeau Field, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers — A good way to prepare for playing at Lambeau Field is to hold practice inside of an ice cream warehouse and use a block of ice as the football. The kind of temperatures that teams have to deal with at Lambeau late in the season are ridiculous. Besides the climate, the other thing that makes it tough to win at Lambeau is Aaron Rodgers. The best quarterback in the league is basically unbeatable at Lambeau these days.

2. Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs

2. Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs — On September 29, 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs fans broke the record for the loudest outdoor stadium when they hit 142.2 decibels, surpassing the Seattle Seahawks fans previous record of 137.6. Arrowhead very easily could've been No. 1 on this list if they had a slightly better team. The Chiefs went 6-2 at home during 2014, but only finished 9-7 overall. Chiefs fans certainly aren't to blame for that record.

1. CenturyLink Field, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks

1. CenturyLink Field, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks — No. 1 was an absolute no-brainer. Since Russell Wilson became the starting quarterback in 2012, the Seahawks have a 22-2 home record during the regular season. It's a perfect combination of an amazing team and a deafening crowd. It's become near impossible for a team to go into Seattle and come away with a win. Expect 2015 to be exactly the same. The Seahawks will likely go 7-1 or 8-0 and win the NFC once again.

Jason Fletcher is a MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.

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