A tweet about the Patriots’ kicking advantage at home went viral. Here’s the full story

Key Points:

• The New England Patriots have displayed all-22 video footage behind the uprights during opponents' field goal attempts at Gillette Stadium, while showing static images for their own kickers, a practice prompted by former kicker Stephen Gostkowski's request to reduce distractions.
• This approach complies with NFL rules requiring video boards to show either static images or all-22 views during field goal and extra point attempts, with no flashing or moving content allowed.
• Opposing kickers have historically struggled at Gillette Stadium, making just 75% of field goals since 2000, while Patriots kickers have succeeded at an 84% rate, partly attributed to outdoor weather conditions and the presence of elite kickers like Gostkowski and Adam Vinatieri.
• Despite speculation that the Patriots' video board usage was a cunning strategy by Bill Belichick, the practice is standard and was implemented to accommodate the home kicker's preference rather than to gain an unfair advantage.
• Similar video board practices exist in college football and other NFL teams, and former special teams coordinators have noted that kickers typically do not complain about such displays during field goal attempts.