Ravens will bring the noise to Chiefs, AFC Championship Game،
BALTIMORE — After the Baltimore Ravens' 34-10 playoff victory over the Houston Texans last week, kicker Justin Tucker's wife asked him if it was particularly loud on the field.
“Because it was like the stadium was literally moving,” said Amanda Tucker, sitting in the stands with goalie Kevin Zeitler’s wife. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced the stadium like that.”
When the Ravens host the first AFC Championship Game (3 p.m. ET, CBS) in their 28-year history on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will have to face the 12th man at M&T Bank Stadium, which means about 120 decibels – which This is the noise level measured on Saturday and it is comparable to that of a jet plane taking off.
The Ravens believe their home crowd contributed to the Texans' seven penalties: five false starts, a delay of game and an encroachment.
When asked if the fans were louder in the playoffs, Baltimore wide receiver Zay Flowers replied: “Yeah, couldn't you tell? Houston noticed. We have the best fans in the country . It's hard to get into 'The Bank' because the fans had courage.”
The Chiefs are one of the most disciplined teams in terms of pre-snap penalties. Kansas City has been flagged five times for false starts on the road – the third-fewest number in the league.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes knows it will be a different test playing against the Ravens. On “ManningCast” in November, Mahomes said only two stadiums required him to use silent counts: M&T Bank Stadium and Seattle's Lumen Field.
“It was so loud in those stadiums that the tackles couldn’t hear me,” Mahomes said.
After the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Mahomes said, “This stadium is going to rock. We're excited for the challenge.”
Mahomes isn't the only quarterback who has issues with noise from Ravens fans. This season, opponents have had more false starts (19) and delay of game penalties (nine) at M&T Bank Stadium (regular season and playoffs) than anywhere else in the NFL.
“At this level, you can sometimes take the fans and the atmosphere for granted. It's not the same in the league,” Ravens guard Kyle Hamilton said. “Coming from the South, coming from the SEC atmosphere, you kind of get used to it. The Ravens atmosphere is no different than that.”
The noise level is expected to increase further on Sunday. This is Baltimore's first AFC championship game in 53 years. The last time it took place in this city was 53 years ago, when the Baltimore Colts hosted the Oakland Raiders.
Earlier this week, Ravens coach John Harbaugh instructed fans as if they were his players, telling them to eat a good meal and get a good night's sleep so they would be ready for the game.
“I feel like [the crowd noise] has been up all season,” Hamilton said. “It will be even louder, even more chaotic on Sunday. I can not wait to see it.”
