The New Orleans Saints have said all week that they’re hoping their fans will create a noisy atmosphere at the Superdome against the Minnesota Vikings. But even before the game, noise at the Superdome has already affected the Vikings in one respect.
Ed Werder of ESPN reports that Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will wear a list of plays on his wrist today, something he hasn’t done all season. Presumably the Vikings are concerned that the dome will get so loud that Favre won’t be able to hear the coaches on the speakers inside his helmet, and so they’ll have to signal in a number by hand from the sidelines, and Favre will have to look at the corresponding number on his wrist band.
One Vikings assistant joked that the 40-year-old Favre may need reading glasses to see the wristband. It’s also worth noting that Favre doesn’t always run the plays that Vikings coach Brad Childress wants him to run anyway. But all joking aside, the Vikings are seriously concerned about crowd noise.
“These games, they’re tough anyway, but they’re really tough on the road because of the noise, " Favre said last week. “Not only are you playing the Saints, but you’re playing the fans, and all of those things work against you.”