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Refs, jet lag and color red all contribute to home-field advantage

By Peter Keating
ESPN The Magazine

Thursday, January 15, 2009

It's that time of year. NFL teams have battled all season to secure home-field advantage in the playoffs; now, the best squads in the league get to enjoy the comforts of friendly turf. Coaches, athletes and sportswriters all make a big deal about the benefits of home. And fans bring what they can to sharpen their team's edge: face paint, rally towels, lots of screaming. There's a shared glory in being the 12th man. But is the glory deserved? Intuition is one thing; actual evidence is another. ...

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