5 Most Intimidating Home-Field Advantages in the NFL in 2012

In the NFL, one of the biggest advantages teams can have is the home crowd, which is often referred to as the "12th Man."

Many teams have had successful games in their own home turf, thanks to their fans. Often loud and rowdy, visiting teams don't tend to do well in certain stadiums because of the electrifying atmosphere in some stadiums around the league.

In this slideshow, we will visit the seven stadiums in which the fans not only give their team an advantage, but create an intimidating setting for opposing teams.

5. CenturyLink Field

Location: Seattle, Wash.

Team: Seahawks

Capacity: 67,000

Opened: 2002

Even though CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, has the 21st largest stadium in the league, it still comes off as one of the loudest. The "12th Man" in Seattle is recognized by visiting teams the moment they step on the gridiron.

Seahawks fans enjoyed an interesting season in 2010 where they won the NFC West with a 7-9 record and defeated the reigning champions, the New Orleans Saints, in their own stadium in the postseason. It was a game where the media thought it would be the Saints way, with ease.

The 2012 forecast is unclear to Seahawks fans, but regardless, they will come out to CenturyLink, loud and ready to kickoff the season.

4. O.co Coliseum

Location: Oakland, Calif.

Team: Raiders

Capacity: 63,132

Opened: 1966

The Oakland Raiders might have the most intimidating fanbase in the league. Raiders fans welcome to visitors to their stadium and are not afraid to speak to their mind.

Even though the Raiders have not played in the postseason for almost a decade, O.co Coliseum has still been one of the most difficult venues for opposing teams to play in. Raiders fans are good at showering a heavy load of boos for visiting teams.

3. Arrowhead Stadium

Location: Kansas City, Mo.

Team: Chiefs

Capacity: 76,416

Opened: 1972

Arrowhead Stadium has been referred to as the loudest stadium in the NFL, even during their recent down years. Visiting teams don't go into Arrowhead expecting to beat a Chiefs team, even at their worst.

Kansas City Chiefs fans play a huge role in contributing to the team's success. Many teams have been forced to burn timeouts to avoid delay of game penalties. Players have also found themselves penalized for a false start penalty because they can't hear the snap count clearly.

After a huge victory over the Green Bay Packers at home last season, fans hope to see more big wins at home this year.

2. MetLife Stadium

Location: East Rutherford, N.J.

Team: Giants and Jets

Capacity: 82,566

Opened: 2010

MetLife Stadium is one of the newest NFL stadium with its opening coming in 2010. MetLife not only hosts games for two teams, but it is also the largest stadium in the NFL.

The New York Giants and New York Jets are in one of the most energetic parts of the country. Fans in the New York-New Jersey area will not hold back their thoughts. But on game day, Giants and Jets fans are ecstatic at MetLife.

With Tim Tebow on the Jets, who knows what could happen. As for the Giants, let's just assume their fans will be more than ready to get the season underway for another attempt at the Super Bowl.

1. Lambeau Field

Location: Green Bay, Wis.

Team: Packers

Capacity: 73,128

Opened: 1957

It is old. It is a classic. Football fans have heard of this stadium. Fans who attend games in this stadium love seeing players score a touchdown and celebrate by doing the "Lambeau Leap."

Green Bay Packers fans are known as some of the best group of fans in all of sports. The Packers are one of the best teams in the league when it comes to playing at home. The Packers have a postseason home record of 13-4, thanks to not only their success on the field, but because of their supportive fans at every home game.

Lambeau Field is the greatest venue in sports and one of the well recognized stadiums by sports fans around the world. As always, the Packers are expected to be one of the best teams in the league. Therefore, a successful home season is expected.