10 toughest NFL stadiums to play in for road teams

2. CenturyLink Field, Seattle Seahawks

When the Seattle Seahawks moved into their new home in 2002, they hoped they could build not only a winning a franchise there, but a franchise that the city, and region (no other NFL teams in the Northwest), could be proud of — and would follow.

And they have done that, and then some, beyond their wildest dreams. In 2002, the team was middle-of-the-road, typically on the outside looking in at the playoffs (one playoff appearance from 1989-2002), and seemed to be struggling to get any better.

But that has all changed now. Now, the team has only missed the playoffs four times since 2003, and is one of the best franchises in the NFL, with one of the most passionate fanbases. And they owe a lot of that to their home-field advantage.

In fact, ESPN attempted to use advanced metrics to prove that Seattle boasted the best home-field advantage in the NFL. And the praise is well deserved and earned. Since the franchise’s resurgence over the last decade, the fan base has become absolutely radical — populated, loud, and always there. Due to the energy and noise they bring to the field every, single game, the fanbase has been dubbed “The 12th Man” by the franchise.

And the noise has not gone unnoticed, as the Guinness Book of World Records recognized their 137.6 decibels as the loudest noise every generated at an “outdoor” stadium. According to The Sports Drop, “The stadium even registered seismic activity following a touchdown by the Seahawks in January 2011; now that’s some serious noise.”

It’s loud, it’s often cold, it’s often wet — it’s a nightmare for opposing teams.