Former coach highlights Patriots' historical use of stadium video board tactics

Former Philadelphia Eagles analytics coach Ryan Paganetti identified a visual strategy used by the New England Patriots to distract visiting kickers at Gillette Stadium. According to analysis of over a decade of broadcasts, the team displayed a reverse-angle feed of field goal attempts on the stadium's jumbotron behind the goalposts. This presentation created a disorienting illusion, particularly in windy conditions, while appearing zero times during New England’s own field goal attempts. Pat McAfee reacted to the findings, noting the competitive advantage gained through these stadium environment details. The Philadelphia Eagles attempted to replicate the tactic, though stadium architecture at Lincoln Financial Field prevented similar results. The disclosure sheds light on long-standing questions regarding the home-field environment during the New England Patriots' tenure under Bill Belichick.

• 4:22 AMYahoo Sports — “I Absolutely Hate…”: Pat McAfee Makes Feelings Clear on Bill Belichick’s Secret Tactics to Fool NFL Kickers as Ex-Coach Reveals All