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You hear it repeatedly when listening to analysts talk about Sunday's game against the Chiefs. The Jets have their work cut out for them. The Chiefs have a huge home field advantage. Kansas City is a really hostile environment. It's super tough to come out with a victory. So goes the narrative. But do the facts back up that narrative?
Consider the following chart. It lists the NFL teams that have experienced the most regular season success over the last three years.
|
Team |
Home/Road Win Differential |
Home Record |
Road Record |
Overall Record |
|
|
|
|
|
. |
|
NE |
8 |
22-2 |
14-10 |
36-12 |
|
CIN |
5 |
19-4-1 |
14-10 |
33-14-1 |
|
DEN |
5 |
21-3 |
16-8 |
37-11 |
|
PIT |
5 |
17-7 |
12-12 |
29-19 |
|
ARI |
4 |
19-5 |
15-9 |
34-14 |
|
CAR |
4 |
19-5 |
15-8-1 |
34-13-1 |
|
GB |
4 |
17-6-1 |
13-11 |
30-17-1 |
|
KC |
3 |
17-7 |
14-10 |
31-17 |
|
SEA |
3 |
19-5 |
16-8 |
35-13 |
|
IND |
2 |
16-8 |
14-10 |
30-18 |
The teams are ranked in order of their home versus road win differentials. As you can see, out of these top 10 NFL teams over the last three years only Indianapolis has a lower win differential than Kansas City, and only Indianapolis has fewer home wins than Kansas City.
So is it tough to win in Kansas City? You bet it is. A 17-7 record at home is no joke. However, it's tough to win in Kansas City primarily because the Chiefs are a good team, and it's tough to beat them anywhere. The home field advantage for the Chiefs is relatively minor. Among the NFL's best teams, Kansas City has actually been among the friendliest of venues for visitors. Even teams as bad as the 2-14 2014 Tennessee Titans and the 6-10 2015 Chicago Bears have recently gone into Kansas City and emerged with a victory.
The Jets will likely not have an easy time this Sunday. But if the game is a tough one, if the Jets should lose, the venue likely won't be the culprit. Kansas City is tough on visitors because the Chiefs are a good team, not because the city is such a tough town to play in.