Hate it or love it, the Philadelphia Eagles currently have the best record in the NFL. With ten wins and one loss, you’re probably expecting the team to contribute its successful season to hard work and the talented roster. The team tells New York Times another critical component to its success is the game Grand Theft Auto.

The team’s game of choice is Grand Theft Auto V, specifically the online mode that allows roleplay. According to Kotaku.com, GTA has been around for almost a decade and is still one of the most-played games in the world. The roleplay version is run on fan servers and allows people to play together as different characters in the game. According to the players, it is common for many to hop on the game after spending hours practicing to spend even more time together. The difference is they’re doing something else they all enjoy that may require a lower stress level. Another pro of the game is that it allows players in different positions who are usually not together to bond and build closer friendships. It also gives the team something else to talk about off the field. The Philly Eagles are so serious about playing GTA they are investing thousands into it. Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson who runs one of the team’s roleplay servers has a gaming PC setup that costs $10,000. Gardner-Johnson calls it the team’s “secret sauce.”

The team may have the right idea about gaming together. Scientists say gameplay often mirrors the interactions that help people work better together. A study found groups that played video games together for at least 45 minutes were 20% more productive than groups that opted for more traditional team-building practices. In conclusion, it might be time to put a gaming system in the break room or suggest the idea to your boss.

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