Do Defenses Play Better at Home? (1 Viewer)

[tombonneau]

When it come to choosing a starting FF defense, if I have two teams that I deem to have equal matchups, but one is home and one away, I will always choose the home team.

It's just an instinctual maxim of mine that all things be equal go with the home defense.

Does anyone know if there is any statistical data to back of this line of thinking, or is it just nonsense?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Either defenses play better at home or offenses play worse on the road. Either way, there's about a three-point difference overall.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

YES. Crowd noise makes a difference.

 

[JMJ]

YES. Crowd noise makes a difference.

Crowd noise inspires the defense while making it harder for the offensive players to communicate audibles and such at the line of scrimmage.Unless your defense is Pitt, or Chicago, or Carolina, etc. Always start a home defense over an away defense.The same can be said for QBs. Unless your QB is Peyton, or Palmer, or Brady, etc. Always start a home QB instead of an @ QB.HTH.

 

[ericttspikes]

This is a great topic. Is there stats to back this up? It sure seems to be the case.

 

[Chase Stuart]

YES. Crowd noise makes a difference.

Crowd noise inspires the defense while making it harder for the offensive players to communicate audibles and such at the line of scrimmage.Unless your defense is Pitt, or Chicago, or Carolina, etc. Always start a home defense over an away defense.The same can be said for QBs. Unless your QB is Peyton, or Palmer, or Brady, etc. Always start a home QB instead of an @ QB.HTH.

I'd be careful about that second one. I know Aaron Brooks has equal home and away numbers over his career (I know this because I looked it up recently). I think most QBs though, perform just as well fantasy wise on the road as they do at home.

 

[PahtyTom]

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...=258097&hl=

 

[JMJ]

YES. Crowd noise makes a difference.

Crowd noise inspires the defense while making it harder for the offensive players to communicate audibles and such at the line of scrimmage.Unless your defense is Pitt, or Chicago, or Carolina, etc. Always start a home defense over an away defense.

The same can be said for QBs. Unless your QB is Peyton, or Palmer, or Brady, etc. Always start a home QB instead of an @ QB.

HTH.

I'd be careful about that second one. I know Aaron Brooks has equal home and away numbers over his career (I know this because I looked it up recently). I think most QBs though, perform just as well fantasy wise on the road as they do at home.

Just did some real quick research of the following QBs. Most numbers were significant:QBs with better career numbers at home:

Peyton Manning

Tom Brady

Trent Green

Donovan McNabb

Matt Hasselbeck

Marc Bulger

Dante Culpepper

QBs with better career numbers on the road:

Carson Palmer

Jake Delhomme

Jake Plummer

All I had time for .......

 

[tombonneau]

Thanks for the replies guys. Good to see there is actual proof (3pt swing). Though I guess it makes sense: If Vegas gives a home team 2-3 in baking the spread, it must be true.

 

[Remus]

I'm starting the Eagles D @ Houston this week. Anyone think crowd noise will actually be a problem? Cause I don't...

 

[a_f13nd]

Crowd noise is a big factor, but I think travel is arguably more. Many teams that have to fly east to west or vice versa have rough games. I like starting defenses going up against cross-nation opponents.

As for the Eagles @ Houston, a 3-pt differential and you're still probably looking at a good fantasy performance from sacks alone...

 

[pizzatyme]

YES. Crowd noise makes a difference.

Crowd noise inspires the defense while making it harder for the offensive players to communicate audibles and such at the line of scrimmage.Unless your defense is Pitt, or Chicago, or Carolina, etc. Always start a home defense over an away defense.The same can be said for QBs. Unless your QB is Peyton, or Palmer, or Brady, etc. Always start a home QB instead of an @ QB.HTH.

I'd be careful about that second one. I know Aaron Brooks has equal home and away numbers over his career (I know this because I looked it up recently). I think most QBs though, perform just as well fantasy wise on the road as they do at home.

In my opinion, this has something to do with the act that a road team stands a fair chance to be behind on the road. Therefore, they could be moved to more passing situations. If you're playing at home with a lead, then you might be running more.Make sense?