All NFL stadiums are loud. All NFL stadiums attract staggering amounts of fans and make a whole lot of noise on gamedays.
But not all stadiums are created equal, and GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium stands alone in just how loud it can get.
The Kansas City Chiefs even set a Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium, hitting 142.2 decibels during a Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots in 2014. As the Chiefs established their reputation for success – making 10 straight playoff appearances from 2015-2024, currently the longest active streak in the NFL – they also created a reputation for having one of the most hostile home environments in the NFL.
Needless to say, the Colts know what they're in for this weekend. They feel ready for it.
"Obviously they mention the noise, the volume level there a ton," Jonathan Taylor said. "That's going to be awesome though. I know that's going to be a challenge, but it's almost like in college when you have those big games in those loud stadiums and it's like 90-plus thousand people there, it's exciting. But of course, at this level, you've got to make sure that we're on our alignments and assignments. But communication's going to be key, especially with what I've heard of how it's a hostile environment."
Whether it's practicing with amplified crowd noise or preparing with different cadences, the Colts are putting even more emphasis on ensuring they're prepared for the noise on Sunday. The offense has been operating like a well-oiled machine for much of the season to this point, consistently on the same page, and they intend to keep it that way.
The Colts also got a taste of playing in a difficult environment when they took on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
"I think communication is key anytime you go into an away stadium, especially one like this," Daniel Jones said. "I thought we did a good job from a communication standpoint in Pittsburgh, and this will be similar to that. It'll be loud and we'll have to communicate. I think that's stuff we'll practice throughout this week and make sure we're all squared away on."
That communication will also be crucial in beating a Chiefs defense who, regardless of the team's 5-5 record, is still a force to be reckoned with. With players like Chris Jones and George Karlaftis leading the way and coaches like Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo working on the sidelines, the Chiefs have everything they need to be a dominant defense. And backed by a raucous crowd, who knows what they might pull out?
"You just want to have all scenarios under your belt throughout the week," Taylor said. "So whatever you get on Sunday, you understand that we've prepared for it throughout the week."
Thursday's practice report:
