Few teams in the NFL have been better at home over the last five years than the Baltimore Ravens.
M&T Bank Stadium has earned a reputation of being one of the NFL's toughest venues, and the Ravens have the fourth-best mark on their home turf (93-41-1) since the franchise's inception in 1996.
But the story has been different recently, as the Ravens have lost back-to-back home games for the first time under Head Coach John Harbaugh.
Sunday's matchup against the New York Giants is the final home game of the regular season, and it's an opportunity for the Ravens to restore some homefield pride.
"I think us and the fans have a lot of pride in having that homefield advantage," defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said. "Us as players haven't shown as a team that we're a good home team lately. So hopefully, we can pick that back up and end it off with a win."
The game against the Giants is also a chance to ensure that Sunday won't be the final time the Ravens play at M&T Bank Stadium this season. If the Ravens win one of their final two games, they clinch the AFC North and are guaranteed that the playoffs will come back to Baltimore for the second straight season.
"We appreciate the home playoff game, because our fans are phenomenal," running back Ray Rice said. "They are amazing at home. It's always comfortable being at home. When you don't have to pick up and travel and get on that airplane, it helps out."
In the most recent game at home, the crowd booed the Ravens as they headed into the locker room at halftime, and the fourth quarter was played in front of a half-empty stadium.
Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco both said that the team deserved to get booed in the 34-17 loss, and now they have at least one more chance this year to bring some excitement back to M&T Bank Stadium.
"We've got to go earn those cheers," Harbaugh said. "That's up to us."
