Is Having Home Field A Big Advantage?

With one more win the Packers lock up home field for the playoffs.  My question is: Is it that big of an advantage for the Packers?

Obviously we want it, but with our offense based so much on Aaron Rodgers throwing the ball weather becomes such a big factor.  Last year we won 3 games on the road, @Philadelphia, @ Atlanta and @ Chicago.  The cold weather Chicago game was only sealed because of BJ Raji making a great interception and return for a defensive TD.  The offense only scored 14 points that day.  Also a few years ago when we had home field, we lost to the NY Giants for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

I'm not saying we don't want home field, but I do wonder how much of an advantage it is having home field in January.  IMHO it is an advantage, but not as big as people seem to think.

Aside from the obvious advantages of climate (being somewhat use to the cold) and time saved from not travelling, I don't see home field being a significant factor in a team's success.  Being prepared, well coached, focused and Aaron Rodgers make the difference when it comes to winning big games.  We did it last year on the road for those very reasons and we need to bring this same intensity to the park this year.

I can't help but think of the phrase that boxer, Mike Tyson used when describing boxing strategy.  He said that "everyone has a strategy - until they get hit".  When I watched our playoff games last year, I couldn't help but think that we came into enemy fields, punched them hard and took homefield out of play.  If you aren't ready to play and mentally tough, your field or theirs doesn't amount to much.

Go Packers   

Of course it does, it helps with review angles, crowd noise, familiarity. Being cheered, more time to prepare, no travel time.

A lot of depends on who we are playing.  Again obviously it is an advantage, how much depends on who we play.  If playing the Saints it is a monster advantage, because Drew Brees and their offense is totally different outside the dome.  If playing the Falcons, not as much as an advantage because they pound the ball so much with Michael Turner no matter where they are and our offense performs well in a good climate.  I still think we are built for fast pace football so I am hoping for a warm January, no blizzards or -5 degree games.

I think its a big advantage, esecially with the Jennings injury, the first round bye will give him an extra week to get ready for crunchtime. However I do remember the '07 playoff loss to the Giants but that was with Brett "The Pick" Favre, I wouldn't put too much stock into that game. This is a different year with an even better team and a way better QB. I have more faith in Aaron Rodgers than I ever did with Favre. Home field is a bonus with this team, trust me. Yes they have defensive issues that would worry me against a team like the Saints but this team has done nothing but win all year and I don't think that will stop, regardless of home field being an advantasge or not.

Go Pack!!!!!!

IT's a HUGE advantage.  Before Favre started chucking it up at crucial times, the Packers had never lost at home in the playoffs. 

There are many reasons:

1) Crowd noise.  While the Packers do a very good job of dealing with crowd noise due to very good chemistry, most teams don't handle it as well.  How many false starts did the Raiders have on Sunday?   Crowd noise is a big factor, especially in a playoff atmoshpere.  While good teams compensate for noise, it still puts them in a position where they have to adjust for it.  And there are bound to be a few noise related miscues throughout the game...which means, if it's a close game, those few miscues could be huge.

2) They don't have to travel.  Think about how you feel after getting off a plane.  Like crap.  They arrive the day before, but having to get on a plane, stay in a hotel, etc, has an effect, even if it's a small one.  Spending the night in a hotel instead of with your family at your home in your own bed...it certainly has an influence.   

3) Familiarity with the field and the surroundings.  How the grass responds to a cut, how a region of the field is more windy, being in their own locker room pregame, etc, are the little things that allow the Packers to be more comfortable and at ease. 

4) Weather to me is somewhat of a non-factor, although I think the Packers do benefit when playing against dome teams.  On Sunday, there was a really hard to predict wind that was whipping around in different directions depending on where you were on the field.  Windy and/or cold conditions are an advantage even though the Packers are a timing and rhythm team, mainly because Rodgers has arm strength to overcome most conditions.  If the Packers were forced into a slogging grind it out game due to really bad conditions like snow or rain (think back to the 49er playoff game in '96), I think their defense could dominate against the run game and I still think Rodgers could complete short passes and run with the ball, but obviously that would be the worst case scenario that would be most equalizing.

5) Replay system, as mentioned above.  I'm not sure how much this matters, but when the Packers were trying to decide on the challenge Sunday, they played the replay at least a dozen times while McCarthy jawed with the official.  They don't show it at all when it's the opposing team.  I think that should be illegal in the NFL, but as of right now, it's allowed and it provides more chances for throwing the challenge flag, especially if the questionable call comes on offense. 
The Raiders aren't a terrible team and they're fighting for their playoff lives, but the Packers whacked them like they were the Colts.  Look at their scores at home this year compared to on the road.  42-34, 49-23, 24-3, 45-7 (against a Vikes team they beat 33-27 in Minnehaha), 35-26, 46-16.  The Saints game ended up coming down to the last play, and they are a team that could beat the Packers, but like was mentioned, home field would really benefit the Packers against them. 

I think the 49ers are the scariest team that they'd face.  The Packers haven't faced a top defense all year and obviously a team that is physical on offense and defense is more unlikely to be affected by weather.  But, beyond bad luck with really bad weather, I think the Packers big X-factor...experiene with do or die situations...will carry them through the playoffs. 

In 6 home games so far, the Pack has scored 42+ in 4 of them.  For all six home games our average score is 40.2 points scored to 18.2 points given up, some of those points given were long after the issue was decided.  In short, I'd have to say I like our chances of winning 2 games even in mid/late January.  Least I remind everyone Aaron threw for 404 yards and 4 TDs 52 weeks ago against a Giants team fighting for their playoff lives.  The temperature was 25, not nearly as cold as it could be however that would be close to the average temp even for January.  The bottom line is, Aaron and company will get it done.

Is Having Home Field A Big Advantage?

Not if your starting QB is from California.  I still see GB getting back to the SB, if they dont however, I think cold weather will be what ultimately hinders them from their goal

Not if your starting QB is from California.  I still see GB getting back to the SB, if they dont however, I think cold weather will be what ultimately hinders them from their goal.

Uh-huh, and his predecessor was from Mississippi but that didn't stop him from being the finest cold weather QB in the game until he got too old. It's not about where you're from it's about mental toughness, arm strength and grip. I wager if you crunched the stats of QBs and how well they play below 20 degrees that Rodgers would be among the best in the league if not the best.


  

I think Rodgers is fine in cold weather.  Of course, I would prefer to see them play in a dome atmosphere.  But, I think for all the "lack of production" GB has on offense in colder weather, or the potential for lower potential, the defense plays much better at home.  Most defenses tend to do better in cold weather because some of the life gets sucked out of the football.  The Pack's D is giving up just 16 ppg at home this year at 24 ppg on the road.  If the defense gives up 16 points, I like our chances 99% of the time.

Just imagine the Packers sweeping the playoffs on the road, one being the NFC Championship against the Bears, then the next year sweeping the playoffs at home on the way to a perfect season. I could die happy.

With the current NFC playoff contenders, I think it would be a huge advantage to be at home.

With the current NFC playoff contenders, I think it would be a huge advantage to be at home.

Great point.  Let's be honest, New Orleans is the primary threat to Green Bay.  I know the Saints have run the football very well this year, but I just don't believe they would play very well in a cold weather environment, on the road, and perhaps most importantly, on grass.  I really like GB's chances a whole bunch at home vs New Orleans.  

The Giants, 49ers, etc, they're all quality teams - but they don't have the same punching power the Saints do.  Homefield advantage for Green Bay is the worst case scenario for the rest of the NFC IMO. 

To me, it`s been looking like a rematch with Green Bay, New Orleans in the conference championship game. And remembering how bad the Saints looked in the play-off game, in the elements in Seattle. I`d say Home Field advantage is Pretty Big. But, aren`t the 49ers the only team that could take that away, since Green Bay owns the tie-breaker over New Orleans?

To answer your question NO --- i use to think that when GB went on that long home winning streak between 1996 & 97 but if it did mean awhole lot then we'd have a different SB last year and GB wouldn't be the champs. Do some teams play better in domes .... sure ... GB is horrible in domes  ( which is why i despise going to Dallas, New Orleans ex.. because of how bad we do there and how easily it is to get injured do to the artificial turf ) but you can say the same for teams that play in domes ( or in warm weather ) and have to play at frigid Lambeau Field .  But what matters is how that team plays that particular day --- if today taught us anything its ANY team is beat able at ANY given time ...

As I see it, it is.  The defense seems to respond better at home to adversity.  And the offense tends to play better at home as well.  Not to mention the several other factors which make home field advantage a big advantage (like challenging penalties and the subconscious propensity of refs to favor the home team, etc)

Uh-huh, and (Aaron Rodgers) predecessor was from Mississippi but that didn't stop him from being the finest cold weather QB in the game

One reason Aaron Rodgers will never be Brett Favre...

Favre sucked later in his carrer in cold weather games..he wanted no part of it. Rodgers was off on some of his throws Sunday and hes definately not as good in cold weather but, he layed a perfect pass to jennings in the endzone that jennings dropped. The dropped balls by crabtree,finley,starks all were drive killers. I dont care what McCarthy says he did not have his team ready.

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Is Having Home Field A Big Advantage?

Apparently Not.

Yeah, it's safe to say I have egg on my face after that detailed post about all the things that didn't happen.