Jacksonville Jaguars could benefit from lack of fans in Week 10
The Jacksonville Jaguars might benefit from playing without a crowd.
Playing at their home stadium might’ve given teams an advantage in previous seasons but 2020 has been different. Up until last week, home teams had won just one more game than road teams according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. This could benefit the Jacksonville Jaguars in their Week 10 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
David Smith cites the lack of fans on the stands as the main reason why playing at home hasn’t probably carried an advantage this season. He says that it’s hard for a visiting quarterback to call signals when the home fans scream so hard that it’s they can’t hear anything but crowd noise, and not having them nullifies that.
The Packers already released a statement in which they say they won’t be allowing fans in Lambeau Field due to the high levels of COVID-19 infections in Wisconsin. If that’s the case, the Jaguars will basically be playing on a neutral field, something that could give them an edge in Week 10.
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Jake Luton might be the biggest beneficiary.
Head coach Doug Marrone said in a recent sitdown with the local media there will totally be less pressure for rookie quarterback Jake Luton to play without fans in Week 10. If the Jaguars want to have a chance to pull an upset, they will give as much help as they can, and playing at a neutral site could provide the ‘Jags’ a slight advantage.
The Jaguars have lost three games at home and four at other stadiums. It’s unclear how much of an edge they will get without fans on the stands, but Lambeau Stadium is notorious for its passionate fans. Although Luton has been nothing but professional according to Marrone, he will surely not mind playing at an empty venue.
Next. The Jaguars could've drafted these 4 with the 42nd overall pick. dark
Luton will be making his first second start ever against the Packers. In Week 10, he went 26-of-28 for 304 yards, one passing touchdown, and one rushing touchdown. If he has that kind of production and the Jaguars defense can force a couple of turnovers, the team’s odds of pulling an upset will increase. Playing without fans could help them do so.