The Indianapolis Colts have been a juggernaut this season, rolling through the NFL to a 14-0 record (and 23 straight regular season wins dating back to 2008). With just two games remaining, against the Jets and at the Bills -- and their combined records of 12-16 -- a perfect season not only seems likely, but nearly inevitable. Or is it?
Why Buffalo Poses A Real Threat To The Colts And 16-0
↵The Wall Street Journal’s Daily Fix points us toward some numbers that would indicate the Colts are headed for a 15-1 finish. And they can blame it all on their pesky domed stadium.
↵↵When dome teams visit cold-weather teams without a dome late in the season, the home team wins between 85% and 90% of the time, according to a 2007 study by Brian Burke of Advanced NFL Stats. That profound home-field advantage for the team more familiar with braving the winter elements could give otherwise inferior Buffalo a lot of help against the Colts in the season finale on Jan. 3 — if the Colts can beat the Jets this Sunday at home.
↵↵Perfect record or not, Indy already has home field locked up for the playoffs, but it’s there that Lucas Oil Stadium may again prove to be more of a disadvantage than an advantage.
↵↵Cold Hard Football Facts noted earlier this month that dome teams have been slightly worse than average at home in the playoffs. The three dominant dome teams this season, the Colts, Saints and Vikings, are just a combined one game over .500 playing at home in their domes during the playoffs, compared to a leaguewide home-field advantage of 70%.
↵
See More:
