111 NFL gamers rank the hardest locations to play

When gamers exit the cramped visiting locker room inside Kansas Metropolis’s Arrowhead Stadium, make their means down a slender hallway and put together to enter the sector to face the Chiefs, they’re greeted with a stern reminder of what they’re about to face.

It is extra of a warning, actually. The message is plastered on the wall that faces the hallway’s exit: “Welcome to Arrowhead — The Loudest Stadium within the World — 142.2 DB.”

The final half is a reference to Guinness measuring the decibel stage in 2014 and declaring it a world report. The noise is produced by a fan base that has been tailgating for hours, no matter how excessive the temperature. There’s the thudding drumbeat that accompanies the controversial “struggle chant.” And the roar that conjures up and celebrates the Chiefs’ highlights, which have been quite a few since drafting quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017.

“I simply assume the aura, and the followers are nuts,” Tennessee Titans defensive sort out Sebastian Joseph-Day stated. “They’re so loud, you possibly can’t even hear your self assume at occasions.

“And clearly Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are an awesome duo. They feed off that power, and their protection feeds off it, too, Chris Jones and them. The environment is loopy.”

Joseph-Day is not alone in these sentiments. ESPN requested 111 gamers to rank the hardest place to play within the NFL, and Arrowhead got here in first place. The distinctive design of Seattle’s Lumen Subject, the “Skol” chant in Minnesota’s U.S. Financial institution Stadium, and the rowdy followers at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Monetary Subject and Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium additionally earned votes. Some described the charged atmospheres as enjoyable, others talked about being on guard with raucous followers, whereas others lamented the shortcoming to speak, however the widespread denominator is the hardest locations normally housed the hardest opponents.

Chicago Bears huge receiver DJ Moore picked Detroit’s Ford Subject among the many hardest due to an incident he had with a fan. He wasn’t the one one to have an sudden fan interplay in Detroit. Inexperienced Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur had his personal pregame incident earlier this season, and the Lions revoked the fan’s season tickets.

“We had a heckler,” Moore stated. “He simply would not shut up. He was behind the bench, and he was going loopy the entire time, it doesn’t matter what.

“After we had been up, he was nonetheless going loopy. I am similar to, ‘There’s one thing unsuitable with you.’ I informed him I used to be going to attain on that drive, and I really did. And I stated I will give him the ball. I wrote ‘shut up’ on it. I should not have, however it was enjoyable within the second.”

Gamers submitted their picks, some anonymously, and the tabulations had been performed with a ranked voting system: 2 factors for a first-place vote, 1 for second place and .05 for third. Listed here are the stadiums throughout the league that gamers thought had been the hardest to go to, in addition to a division that is likely to be known as the friendliest within the NFL.

Tier 1: The highest 3 can depart you ‘scarred’

Kansas Metropolis (57 factors)

Seattle (41.5)

Minnesota (28.5)

It was a snowy, mid-December recreation in 2019, and Denver Broncos rookie tight finish Noah Fant figured the weather would make an influence on the group at Arrowhead.

“You figured it is a blizzard, will not be as many followers there,” stated Fant, at the moment with the Seattle Seahawks. “And it was nonetheless tremendous loud, and so they had been going loopy.”

Not solely are they loud, however a number of gamers stated Chiefs followers are educated in regards to the recreation and the best way to make issues troublesome on the opponent. It is likely to be due to the a number of playoff runs they’ve witnessed. The Chiefs have not missed the playoffs since drafting Mahomes, and so they’re attempting to grow to be the primary group in NFL historical past to win three Tremendous Bowls in a row. After a first-round bye, they’re going to be internet hosting a divisional-round recreation.

The Seahawks had been eradicated from playoff competition Sunday, and so they’re not as profitable as they had been throughout their “Legion of Increase” days a decade in the past, however Lumen Subject stays a tricky location. The gang is named the “12,” as a result of it serves as a twelfth man, however Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu stated it’d as properly be known as 13 or 14 contemplating the influence it makes.

“The way in which the stadium is formed, the noise simply comes proper again down on high of you,” 49ers tight finish George Kittle stated. “I additionally assume they’re louder in opposition to us as a result of they hate us essentially the most, which is superior. I believe that simply provides to the atmosphere.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean remembers being thrust right into a beginning function due to a teammate’s damage at Seattle, overlaying DK Metcalf, as a rookie in 2019. He stated the environment contributed to his jitters in a 40-34 loss in time beyond regulation.

“It makes your nerves unhealthy,” Dean stated. “I lastly understood the saying, ‘Be ready, as you by no means know when your time goes to return up.’ And I used to be not ready for that second.”

Minnesota’s U.S. Financial institution Stadium is an indoor facility, however even with out the climate, the environment is uncomfortable for opponents.

“You’re feeling it,” New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton stated. “As quickly as you stroll in there, every thing is purple.

“You’re feeling such as you’re misplaced there. That’s what a superb environment does. It makes you are feeling such as you’re within the unsuitable place. In case you’re in a special colour, you are feeling like you do not belong in there.”

“You’re feeling such as you’re misplaced there. That’s what a superb environment does. It makes you are feeling such as you’re within the unsuitable place. In case you’re in a special colour, you are feeling like you do not belong in there.”

Darius Slayton

San Francisco 49ers All-Professional linebacker Fred Warner stated the followers in Minnesota had a profound impact on him.

“They made me assume in another way about how I method simply being on the sideline, simply staying centered on the sport and never worrying about every thing else,” stated Warner, who’s 0-3 at U.S Financial institution.

One AFC South participant who wished to stay nameless remembered what it felt like when the Vikings jumped out to a fast lead.

“I heard that ‘Skol’ chant early and infrequently,” he stated. “Type of scarred from that. Nevertheless it’s a cool place.”

Tier 2: Hostile environments

Philadelphia (18.5)

Buffalo (18)

New Orleans (16.5)

Carolina Panthers defensive finish Jadeveon Clowney stated Philadelphia Eagles followers do essentially the most jawing. They ship direct messages on social media, and so they remember, as evidenced by the response to his hit on former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz in 2020.

“I received the warmth from that for like a yr,” Clowney stated. “They had been like, ‘You messed our quarterback up,’ and he wasn’t even on their group [anymore].”

Kansas Metropolis All-Professional defensive sort out Chris Jones helped knock Buffalo out of the playoffs in two of the previous three seasons, together with final yr’s divisional recreation at Highmark Stadium. Jones is acquainted with the “Payments Mafia,” and he respects the fervour.

“I fully take pleasure in taking part in in Buffalo,” he stated. “Their fan base, similar to ours. Very in tune, very captivated with their group.

“I do know once we go up there, it isn’t solely the Payments we’re taking part in however their followers additionally. It makes that recreation extra fascinating and thrilling realizing we’re going into that environment that is much like our personal crowd.”

The New Orleans Saints have not been to the playoffs since 2020, however the Superdome doesn’t lack environment.

“It is simply straight-up noise,” Moore stated. “They do not shut up. It is like a celebration there.”

Tier 3: Altitude, noise and ‘Renegade’

Denver (12.5)

Inexperienced Bay (11.5)

Pittsburgh (10)

Detroit (9.5)

Baltimore (8)

Cleveland (8)

The Saints’ 6-foot, 324-pound defensive sort out Khalen Saunders picked Denver because the hardest place to play, however not essentially due to the followers or the Broncos.

Saunders performed for the Chiefs from 2019-22, which meant yearly journeys to Denver.

“It is horrible,” he stated. “I’ve received bronchial asthma, and I am chubby, it isn’t a mixture to be in excessive altitude.

“I made it, however I needed to get oxygen and inhalers for certain. Nevertheless it’s not a enjoyable time taking part in in Denver, particularly not when it is chilly, as a result of the air is even thinner.”

New York Jets tight finish Tyler Conklin additionally introduced up the altitude.

“It is horrible. I’ve received bronchial asthma, and I am chubby, it isn’t a mixture to be in excessive altitude.”

Khalen Saunders

“The blood-oxygen stage, that is actual,” he stated. “That is science. You are going to get drained faster.”

Three AFC North opponents cracked this tier, together with Pittsburgh, which fires up the group with “Renegade” by Styx within the third quarter.

Inexperienced Bay’s mixture of climate and discipline circumstances was famous.

Detroit’s Ford Subject was once a much less formidable place, however now that the Lions are the most effective groups within the NFL, that period is over.

“My first few years in Chicago, Detroit was quiet as s—,” Atlanta Falcons huge receiver Darnell Mooney stated. “However final yr we went on the market, and the primary drive, I stated, ‘Yo, I’ve by no means heard that.’

“I could not even hear our quarterback speaking. It was loud. I used to be like, ‘Rattling, that is lit. However I am unable to hear s— proper now.'”

Tier 4: The friendliest division in soccer

There are powerful locations to play soccer, after which there may be the AFC South. Not one of the gamers selected the stadiums in Tennessee, Jacksonville, Houston or Indianapolis.

Since 2021, visiting groups have a .563 profitable proportion in opposition to AFC South groups, the best for any division, in line with ESPN Analysis. To distinction that, the AFC North has been the toughest division to play at with a .387 profitable proportion for visiting opponents.

For Jacksonville Jaguars working again Travis Etienne Jr., the reason being easy: Loud followers come to look at good soccer groups. Over the previous 4 seasons, the AFC South has a mixed report of 108-158-2 (.407).

“I really feel just like the followers within the NFL, they help winners,” Etienne stated. “You already know, you have to win in your followers to return out, and we have to do a a lot better job at house.”

All 32 NFL Nation reporters contributed to this story.