KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When Deion Branch stands on the Qwest Field sidelines and watches opposing offenses struggle to communicate, he feels no compassion or sympathy for their plight.
“I don’t feel sorry for any of them,” the Seattle Seahawks receiver said last week, “because we all have to play eight road games (in the NFL).”
One of those will come today, when the tables are turned on a Seahawks team that will be on the other end of a raucous crowd.
Not only does Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium provide one of the most frustrating environments for opposing teams, it’s also proven to be a house of horrors for the Seahawks over the years.
“It’s loud, fans are excited, they make a lot of noise,” said Seahawks fullback Mack Strong, who has gone 1-7 as an opposing player at Arrowhead. “We just have to keep focused. You definitely feel like you’re in hostile territory.”
The Seahawks have won just five times in 24 trips to Kansas City, and they’re 2-18 at Arrowhead since 1980.
Just how bad has it been for the Seahawks? Of the 24 games played at Arrowhead, the Seahawks have failed to score more than one touchdown 13 times.
And they’re not the only ones. Kansas City has a 28-7 record at home since Dec. 2001.
“It’s definitely one of the loudest stadiums,” Branch said.
Added defensive tackle Russell Davis: “It might be one of the top two or three. It’s really loud, especially for an outdoor stadium.”
In a sense, Davis is looking forward to the atmosphere because, unlike home games, the noise will be going on when Seattle’s offense is on the field. When the Seahawks defense is out there against Kansas City’s offense, the crowd will be more tolerable.
“As a defensive player, you like playing on the road because you can hear,” Davis said. “There have been a number of times (at home) where you’re waiting on (middle linebacker) Lofa (Tatupu) to make the call, then you’ll turn around and look at him, and all he can do is point.
“It’s a little easier (on the road). But you love playing in front of your home fans.”
Kansas City’s fans are known to be among the most passionate in the league, with 70,000 people in bright red making things difficult on opposing teams.
“They’ve got a great homefield advantage,” Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson said. “The crowd really supports the Chiefs. They’ve got a lot of tradition there. It’s a great place to play football. The whole atmosphere, with the coaches and fans and players, everybody really loves football.”
Former Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg remembers Arrowhead Stadium as one of the most difficult venues in the league.
“Starting from the national anthem,” he said. “There’s red all over the place. It’s the loudest outdoor stadium there is. Even when it’s cold, and they have gloves on, it can still be loud.”
The Seahawks have always had their troubles at Arrowhead, but the good news is that now they only have to make the visit once every eight years.
Unfortunately for Branch and the 2006 Seahawks, this is one of those years.
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