If there is one thing that seems to remain true from sport to sport, it is that teams generally love to play in their home city! NFL teams are no different.
That said, not every NFL squad has the same advantage when they welcome an opposing team into town.
Let’s take a look at every NFL team’s home-field advantage—and rank them from worst to best!
Which NFL teams play their best games at home?
32. Tennessee Titans – Nissan Stadium
While you might think that the rowdy atmosphere of the Music City would make for a strong home-field advantage for the Titans, that Broadway vibe doesn’t exactly carry over to Nissan Stadium. One significant issue is inconsistent fan attendance and engagement—because while Tennessee has a relatively loyal fanbase, with all of the other activities going on in the happening city, it isn’t uncommon for attendance to waver, especially when the team is having a down year.
Another challenge is very literally the nuts and bolts of the venue, as it doesn’t have any of the architectural features that amplify crowd noise found in other NFL stadiums, resulting in a less hostile and distracting environment for opposing teams
31. Jacksonville Jaguars – EverBank Field
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While EverBank Field has been on the up and up compared to its darker days when the Jags had to put tarps in the empty sections, it isn’t a particularly challenging stadium for teams to come in and compete in.
Early in the season, Jacksonville can get some extreme heat, which at times has played to their advantage when they face off against teams that have been training in domes, but that’s really it.
This isn’t to take a shot a Jags fans… there is a hardcore group that has been all-in-riding with this team since the NFL added them as an expansion franchise in 1995… But with the NFL’s continued flirtation with sending the Jaguars to London and the team’s inconsistent performance, that group has been dwindling—right alongside their home-field advantage.
30. New York Jets – MetLife Stadium
It is tough to get worse than it does for the New York Jets in terms of having home-field advantage. They do have a diehard fanbase, but with how hard the team has “died” the last few seasons it is not entirely surprising that it has gotten a little bit more strained for the fans in the Big Apple.
To make matters worse, they have to share the facilities with the Giants.
MetLife Stadium doesn’t exactly offer a strong the same menace that other teams around the league do. After all, the Jets do have the worst record at home over the last five seasons in the entire league at 16 and 26.
That’s a far cry from the home-field advantage that the sportsbooks, analysts, and the teams themselves generally tout.
29. New York Giants – MetLife Stadium
Like the Jets, the Giants share MetLife Stadium, but they seem to have a stronger foothold with the locals, which gives them the edge—but not by much! After all, they, too, have one of the worst records at home over the last five years at 17, 23, and 1.
28. Los Angeles Chargers – SoFi Stadium
It has been tough for the Chargers in recent years on a number of levels, in no small part because Fan attendance and engagement have been inconsistent since the Chargers moved to Los Angeles in 2017
Sharing SoFi Stadium with the Rams further complicates the situation. It is a beautiful, state of the art stadium, sure, but they are tenants and have really struggled to carve out any sort of identity in the city.
27. Houston Texans – NRG Stadium
NRG Stadium’s retractable roof offers a controlled environment, which the Texans could theoretically leverage against their opponents, but that’s the extent of their home-field advantage. They are growing in popularity in Houston, but as a relatively recent expansion franchise that hasn’t had a ton of success throughout its history, the team still plays little brother to the Cowboys in Texas—and, at times, in their own city.
Also Read: All 32 NFL Teams’ Head Coach Mount Rushmore: Which 4 Coaches Made It For Your Team?
26. Carolina Panthers – Bank of America Stadium
It is tough to fairly assess Bank of America Stadium with how terrible the team has been over the past few years… because we have seen it get somewhat rowdy in years past.
The Panthers definitely have a dedicated fanbase—as they were starved for football in the city until the NFL announced Carolina as an expansion franchise, but as it stands—just not one of the stadiums that opposing teams are scared to walk in and try to win a game.
25. Cincinnati Bengals – Paycor Stadium
While the Bengals’ recent success has energized their home crowd, Paycor Stadium still doesn’t rank high for home-field advantage. The fans in Cinci love the team and are no doubt dedicated to the cause, but ownership hasn’t but the kind of investment into the stadium that would make it among the league’s most daunting for visitors to play in.
24. Atlanta Falcons – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is best known for its reasonable concession prices… so maybe it makes sense that the crowd is more relaxed there than at some other domes around the league. Atlanta is just 18 and 23 at home over the last five years—maybe ownership should hike up the prices and work the fans into a fury!
23. Washington Commanders – Commanders Field
FedEx Field, erhm, Commanders Field—for the time being— has seen better days, I mean just a couple of years ago it was quite literally caving in on opposing players… but I guess in a twisted way, that along with the stadium’s bad reputation for injuries creates a home-field advantage—because opposing played simply don’t want to play there.
I guess that goes for the Commanders players themselves, too, but you have to think that they are more used to the horrendous conditions.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Raymond James Stadium
While Raymond James Stadium does have some notoriety amongst the public, it is largely for its iconic pirate ship and it being one of the cheaper, better-weather cities to catch a game.
Uncoincidentally, that public acclaim is a big part of the reason that Raymond James Stadium hasn’t historically provided a strong home-field advantage. A lot of the Tampa Bay population simply have better things to do than go to a football game, meanwhile, it is fairly common to see an influx of opposing fans who are eager to plan a warm-weather vacation around a game.
That said, we did see it get pretty raucous during their Super Bowl run with Brady a couple of years back.
21. Arizona Cardinals – State Farm Stadium
State Farm Stadium’s retractable roof helps combat the intense Arizona heat, but it doesn’t create an intimidating atmosphere. The Cardinals have struggled with consistency, and the stadium’s playing surface received poor reviews during the 2023 Super Bowl (Pro Football Network).
20. Chicago Bears – Soldier Field
Once Bear weather rolls into the windy city, opposing teams are none too excited to play at Soldier Field, regardless of how up or down… usually down… the Bears team itself is. Those cold and windy conditions are just no fun to play in.
Plus, Chicago has a rich tradition of diehard fans, who are loyal and loud as they come, making it a tough setting for visiting teams.
19. Los Angeles Rams – SoFi Stadium
Unlike their roommates, the LA Rams have managed to compete with the other draws that the City of Angels possesses and built out a respectably dedicated fanbase. Granted, the Chargers didn’t do themselves any favors with their core fans when they ripped the team out of San Diego, but I digress.
When Sean McVay’s offense is humming, So-Fican becomes electric and challenging for opposing teams to play fast.
18. Indianapolis Colts – Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium features a retractable roof, which has comedically emerged as Jim Irsay’s favorite personal toy, and a modern design, making it a rather comfortable place to play in terms of conditions. The Colts fans can get extremely loud, making it challenging for opposing offenses to get calls in and run their sets correctly in big games.
17. Cleveland Browns – Cleveland Browns Stadium
Cleveland Browns Stadium’s cold weather and passionate fanbase provide a challenging environment for opponents, as indicated by the Browns’ impressive 28 and 14 record at home over the last five years. We certainly see this with other franchises as well, but the Browns just look like a completely different team when they are playing on their home turf in front of the Dawg Pound.
16. Las Vegas Raiders – Allegiant Stadium
Allegiant Stadium is known for its state-of-the-art facilities and—let’s call them—enthusiastic fans, but what really makes the Raiders a home-field advantage is the city that which the venue was built. There are a lot more family men in the NFL than there used to be, but that doesn’t mean that the temptations of Sin City don’t sometimes get the best of a visiting team eager to see what the strip has to offer.
15. Detroit Lions – Ford Field
Ford Field provides an indoor environment that shields opposing teams from the midwestern city’s often brutal winters during the heart of the season, but it also makes for a heck of an echo chamber when the team is playing well.
Now that Dan Campbell is calling the shots and the Lions have turned into a legitimate NFC contender, Ford Field has quickly become one of the loudest and more challenging places for visiting teams to play and they have won 11 of their last 17 there!
14. Miami Dolphins – Hard Rock Stadium
The heat and humidity of Miami can be challenging for opponents, and the Dolphins’ fanbase is enthusiastic. The Dolphins have also been known to deploy a rather nefarious strategy of putting visitors on the sunny side of the stadium during their warm-weather games, which can be brutal for the opposition to adjust to.
13. New England Patriots – Gillette Stadium
While Gillette isn’t the same buzzsaw that it was to walk into during the Brady and Belichick days, it is still none too fun for opposing teams. The New Englanders know how to heckle with the best of them and the weather conditions can be brutal.
If Robert Kraft can divert his attention away from soiling Belichick’s reputation and focus on building a contender, we could see this venue start climbing the list again in a hurry!
12. Philadelphia Eagles – Lincoln Financial Field
There are a few places more dangerous… yes, literally dangerous for a team to go and try to win a road game than Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia has a fanbase that is known not only for its passion but also its willingness to step well beyond that line into rowdy, degenerate behavior. After all, these are the fans who throw batteries, fight on a weekly basis, and have beef with Santa Claus.
Talk about a hostile environment to play in!
11. Minnesota Vikings – U.S. Bank Stadium
While U.S. Bank Stadium has a roof that shields teams from the frigid Minnesota weather, the indoor environment also amplifies crowd noise, making it extremely challenging for opposing offenses to operate – and giving the Vikings a considerable home-field advantage.
The team has posted an impressive 24 and 17 record on its home turf over the last five years.
10. New Orleans Saints – Caesars Superdome
The Superdome has long been renowned for having one of the best crowds in the league. The environment is electric, which, I guess, ought to be expected with the enthusiastic crowds wandering in from Bourbon Street.
In any case… playing at home gives the Saints a significant edge. Despite being extremely mediocre the last five years, they were well over .500 when they played in NOLA, posting a .585 winning percentage. That’s pretty impressive, considering they’ve largely been a franchise in flux.
9. Baltimore Ravens – M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium has quietly—or… not so quietly become one of the hardest places to play in recent years. The city loves football and has developed a unique culture and traditions, such as the playing of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, that gets the fans and, subsequently, the players fired up to win games.
8. Denver Broncos – Empower Field at Mile High
Well, this one kind of speaks for itself. Of course, when the team is good, Broncos fans are as dedicated as it gets—and the infamous altitude at Mile High poses a unique challenge that you can literally see affect visiting teams’ stamina as they gasp for oxygen in the thin Denver air. What is unique about Denver’s home-field advantage is that there is really no way to prepare for it other than to train at altitude, making it extremely sustainable.
7. Dallas Cowboys – AT&T Stadium
Ah, Jerry World! While we’d love to take a shot at Jones, Dallas has been rather impressive at home over the last five years, posting a 30 and 11 record. Their home-field advantage was extremely evident last year when the Cowboys looked like two completely different teams, depending on whether they were in front of their home fans or not.
6. San Francisco 49ers – Levi's Stadium
Levi’s Stadium benefits from having a loyal fanbase, “the 49 Faithful,” as they are called, have undeniably been a huge part of the 49ers’ legacy of winning. They are as loud as it gets in the NFL and always add an element for opposing teams to try and make them feel unwelcomed.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers – Acrisure Stadium
I’m not sure what makes Acrisure Stadium harder to play in: the raucous fanbase whipping their terrible towels around and working themselves into a frenzy or the vicious weather conditions, most notably, the trademarked swirling winds.
Honestly, the only thing Pittsburgh has gotten wrong in terms of their gameday venue was letting Heinz lose the naming rights! Acrisure still just doesn’t sound right!
4. Buffalo Bills – Highmark Stadium
Buffalo has quickly become one of the most challenging cities to win a road game in. The Bills have had a .738 winning percentage at home in the last five years, only trailing Green Bay.
Bills Mafia brings the chaos and the energy, meanwhile, the weather is something that very few visiting players truly want to play in. Winning a road game in Highmark is no small feat these days!
3. Green Bay Packers – Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field’s frozen tundra is legendary. Plain and simple. It is one of the few venues that can strike opposing players with awe based on its reputation alone. Think about this… The Packers are 113, 46, and 2 at home over the last 20 years… Talk about sustained success!
2. Seattle Seahawks – Lumen Field
Though the “12th Man,” has been tamed slightly in recent years with the team’s struggles, Lumen Field is still undoubtedly one of the rowdiest crowds out there and regularly disrupts opposing offenses. That plus the unique climate of the Pacific Northwest creates a really challenging dynamic for opposing teams.
1. Kansas City Chiefs – Arrowhead Stadium
It doesn’t get any tougher than playing at Arrowhead Stadium, especially nowadays with the Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid regime running roughshod on the league. The team has gone 36 and 11 at home with their star under center, which is simply ridiculous.
The stadium itself is renowned for its deafening noise levels, it even holds the record for decibels recorded at 142.2 and the weather can get nasty. Just not a place where you want to play a road game.
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