Frigid week in NFL: These eight matchups will all kick off in below-freezing temperatures
A blast of cold that will flow over the majority of the continental United States this holiday weekend will impact more than travel plans.
The weather forecast, therefore, for a handful of NFL games this weekend calls for frigid temperatures.
Football weather, to put it nicely.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked how he prepared his team for such conditions.
“We could lock everybody in the freezer or something like that for 10 minutes?” Harbaugh said.
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More seriously, though, he added: “Just practice outside.”
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As of Wednesday afternoon, seven of the eight games starting at 1 p.m. ET would begin with temperatures below 30 degrees. The only teams playing at that time who won’t be subjected to the cold are the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, who will play indoors. (The high in Minneapolis for Saturday is expected to be 4°F.)
The primetime matchup in Pittsburgh between the Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders (8:15 p.m. ET) won’t be comfortable, either. And of course, it will be much colder than the thermometer readings thanks to the wind chill. (Ironically, all three of Sunday’s games take place in the more suitable climes of Arizona, southern California and southern Florida – with two in domes.)
Some of the coldest games in NFL history have been the most memorable, such as “The Ice Bowl” in Green Bay in 1967 between the Packers and Dallas Cowboys or the Chargers-Bengals AFC Championship Game of 1982 that had a wind chill of -59 degrees.
There may be no classics on this weekend’s slate, but here are some anticipated kickoff temperatures and conditions worth monitoring ahead of Week 16 (data from National Weather Service). All games begin at 1 p.m. ET unless noted.
Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens weather report
City: Baltimore
Expected temperature at kickoff: 19°F
Wind: 17 mph
Conditions: Mostly sunny
Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers weather report
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Expected temperature at kickoff: 28°F
Wind: 13 mph
Conditions: Sunny
New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns weather report
City: Cleveland
Expected temperature at kickoff: 14°F
Wind: 28 mph
Conditions: 30% chance of snow
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears weather report
City: Chicago
Expected temperature at kickoff: 9°F
Wind: 20 mph
Conditions: Mostly sunny
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs weather report
City: Kansas City, Missouri
Expected temperature at kickoff: 10°F
Wind: 7 mph
Conditions: Mostly sunny
Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots weather report
City: Foxborough, Massachusetts
Expected temperature at kickoff: 24°F
Wind: 14 mph
Conditions: Mostly sunny
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans weather report
City: Nashville, Tennessee
Expected temperature at kickoff: 21°F
Wind: 10 mph
Conditions: Sunny
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers weather report
City: Pittsburgh
Expected temperature at kickoff (8:15 p.m. ET): 10°F
Wind: 13 mph
Conditions: Clear
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.