Before 2008, the coin toss determined who would get the ball first. It was automatic that the coin toss winner got the ball. In 2008, the National Football League changed the rule to allow the coin toss winner the choice to take the ball or kick, and if they chose to kick to open the game they would receive the second half kickoff.
Now, it is rare that a team that wins the toss elects to take the ball first.
Two weeks ago, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks met on the final day of the regular season to determine which team got the top seed and what team would drop to a fifth or sixth seed. The top seed offered home field advantage for as long as that team remained in the playoffs.
Perhaps, the league should have offered the winner of that game played two weeks ago, the Seahawks, the choice on whether they wanted the home field or road game today. Because, simply based on past results, these two NFC West combatants have better road records than home results.
During Kyle Shanahan’s tenure with San Francisco, the 49ers are 40 and 34 at home and 42-33 on the road. Against the point spread, the road advantage is 42-32-1 versus a home record against the line of 33-40-1.
In Seattle, during his two years as the Seahawks head coach, Mike Macdonald has led the Seahawks to a 9-8 record at home and an impressive 15-2 road mark. Against the spread, the Seahawks have a losing 6-11 mark at Lumen Field and a winning 12-4-1 record on the road.