New England Patriots

Bill Belichick had a one-liner ready when asked about home-field advantage

Laconic as always.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks on in the first half against the Texans during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images

While the Patriots have regularly made a habit of turning home playoff games into victories, Bill Belichick is under no illusions. Fan impact by itself isn’t decisive, the Patriots coach explained during a Wednesday press conference.

When asked about how much advantage the Patriots truly get from playing the upcoming AFC Championship Game against the Steelers at Gillette Stadium, Belichick made a topical reference:

Both the Chiefs and Cowboys, who also had home-field advantage in the previous round of the playoffs, were defeated. The Steelers, who the Patriots face on Sunday, defeated Kansas City, 18-16.

During the Belichick-Brady era, New England is 5-1 at home in Conference Championship games.

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