FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- There's a reason why Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn took to the podium twice this week and encouraged fans to be loud for this week's showdown with the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints.
Quinn didn't state such words just because it's a game against the Falcons' biggest rival. The former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator knows what it means to have the crowd fully into it, as the "12th Man'' is such a big part of the Seahawks' success out West.
But it's been rather quiet in the Falcons' new home, the $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Some believe it has a lot to do with the attractions around the stadium that keep fans away from the 71,000 seats (expandable to 75,000). Others would argue that opposing teams such as the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings brought their share of fans to town to snatch seats away from Falcons fans.
Quinn responded to a question about whether he has been "disappointed" in the crowd noise in the new stadium.
"I used the analogy today, 'We built a billion-dollar house and we need to throw a billion-dollar party house-warmer,'" Quinn said. "I think sometimes, we're still using the coasters and we need to be as loud and fun as all we represent as a city. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed. I think [fans] were looking at the new house and checking it out. So let's hope this Thursday night is the one that turns it, from a crowd standpoint, that we know. It's an important part. It's an advantage. Home-field advantage is real."
Most players didn't fall for the bait of criticizing the fans for the lack of crowd noise, although some such as nose tackle Grady Jarrett admitted it's been noticeable. Quarterback Matt Ryan shrugged and said the atmosphere is different than the Georgia Dome not so much in relation to the noise level but because fans are now behind the players in the field-level suites.
Said free safety Ricardo Allen about the crowd noise, or lack of it, "Some games it's loud and some games it's not. You never known what's the reason. But we never try to feed into that stuff. It's like, 'Shoot, I'm going to play ball no matter what.' If y'all don't want to get loud, you don't have to. If y'all want to get loud, you can. It really doesn't bother me.
"I've never been into a loud stadium over and over again. Yeah, you go to Seattle and that's just what they pride themselves on. I'm not trying to say our fans don't get up and cheer. I'm not really tripping about it."
But wouldn't the Falcons want a Seattle-type atmosphere in Atlanta?
"You've got to make some plays as players," Allen said. "If you want to get the crowd louder, you've got to make some plays that make them want to get up and go. Some teams will cheer and yell no matter what, but we're just not one of those teams. If we want to make them get louder, we've got to make more plays.''
The 7-5 Falcons are 3-3 at home this season following last week's 14-9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They were 5-3 last year at the Georgia Dome.