The Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs have been in a battle to have the loudest crowd roar at an open-air sports stadium. On Sept. 15, Seahawks fans reached 136.6 decibels to set the new Guinness World Record. Then, on Oct. 13, the Chiefs broke that record by reaching 137.5 decibels at a home game versus the Oakland Raiders.
Why is this important? Well, when it comes to football it is key to have solid communication between the sidelines, quarterback and the rest of the players on the field. During games you can see flustered quarterbacks trying to yell out play calls, then they end up having to call a timeout because fans prevented them from being able to communicate clearly.
The”12th man” is a term used for fans at a sporting event who help out their team from the stands. They chant,boo the refs and heckle specific players to help their home team get ahead.
This past Monday night, the Seattle Seahawks re- claimed the record for loudest crowd in their game versus the New Orleans Saints at CenturyLink Field in Se- attle. The 12th man reached 137.6 decibels during their 34-7 victory over the Saints under the Monday Night Football lights.
I have been to countless NFL games and been able to witness the crowd playing a key part in the home team’s victory. So, do not count out the 12th man’s ability to be a game changer.
Heading into week 14, the season is winding down and teams are hoping to continue their pursuit of a potential playoff berth. There are several key games to watch this weekend.The Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints will face off to see who will stand atop the NFC South. The Seattle Seahawks will play the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
The Seahawks and 49ers game has significance because if the Seahawks win, they will clinch their division and have a home game during the playoffs. This all comes back to the importance of the 12th man. If the Seahawks win and secure a home game during the playoffs, they will have their 12th man to back them up during an intense playoff game that could lead them down the road to Super Bowl XLVIII.
