No 12th man for Seahawks this time
Quiet. That’s a word that would never, ever be used to describe CenturyLink Field.
When the Seattle Seahawks play at home, it’s generally an upset if the noise level doesn’t reach a deafening 137.6 decibels.
Patriots defensive back Jason McCourty, who has had made the trip to Seattle a few times during his career, said it gets so loud there players have to scream at each other on the sidelines to be heard.
In 2020, there will be no need to shout. CenturyLink Field, one of the toughest places for visiting teams to play thanks to all the noise, has been muzzled.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the stadium that the Guinness World Record book at one time listed as the loudest outdoor stadium in the world, won’t have its raucous 12th Man.
Seahawks fans won’t be making the Patriots uncomfortable on Sunday night, and prompting tons of false start penalties that have become the norm for visiting teams.
Given the cross-country travel for the Patriots, and time adjustments, the Seahawks still hold a home field edge. But their trademark sound won’t be a factor, which benefits the Patriots.
Cam Newton, who has had a crash course in learning the offense during the past month and a half, won’t have to negotiate as many silent counts and deal with that as he continues to get a handle on the playbook.
There will be piped-in noise, of course, but it’s not likely to make the stadium shake like it does when 72,000 fans are filling the seats.
So are the Patriots relieved they won’t have to face Seattle’s famous 12th man?
“Nah, I would say disappointed,” said McCourty. “I think, just in general, (I’d be disappointed) for any game being played, for our game Sunday, this past Sunday not having any fans. Going to Seattle, I’ve been there, where you’re sitting on the sidelines and you’re trying to talk to your teammates about the last series and you’re just screaming at one another, because it’s that hard to hear.”
Players actually enjoy competing at some of the hostile road atmospheres. They draw energy from the noise. They’re not as fond of the fake, and muted versions, which is what they’re getting now.
“I think those atmospheres, playing in front of that type of energy, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what you dream about, you get a chance to go out there and compete at the highest level in those type of atmospheres,” McCourty said of venues like The Link. “Obviously 2020 has been a different year so we’ve all had to adjust to that part of it. So I think all of us as players right now are disappointed that we can’t have fans in the stadium and we know they mean so much to the game so they’re definitely missed on game day.”
Many Patriots players who haven’t gotten to experience the 12th Man factor in Seattle are actually bummed they won’t get the full effect Sunday night. Patriots receiver Julian Edelman was so taken by what he heard about playing in Seattle, he made a special trip out there when he was 18.
“I kind of wish they were there. I never got to play there,” said Edelman. “I actually went to a game like in 2004, a playoff game, to experience it. The energy of the crowd is a huge part of this game.”
Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots are 1-1 against the Seahawks in Seattle. Overall, the mark is 3-2, including the 28-24 victory in Super Bowl XLIX when Malcolm Butler made the pick heard ’round the world. But that was in Arizona, not Seattle.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels called CenturyLink “one of the most electric places on the planet” to be during an NFL season.
Only the electricity will be short-circuited. McDaniels concurred with McCourty about missing out on the CenturyLink experience.
“If there could be people in every stadium, I think we’d all prefer that,” McDaniels said during his video conference Tuesday. “It’s a great challenge to go out there, one, because they’re extremely well coached. They got really good players, and a great scheme. Their program has been successful for a long time, and two, it’s one of the most electric places on the planet earth to play a football game. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a big challenge when people are there. Obviously, it’ll be a little different.”
Even without the noise, Pats defensive end John Simon still expects it to be a “tough environment” to play in.