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The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams are set for what should hopefully be an instant classic in Sunday night's NFC Divisional Round game in Chicago. It's hard to beat star power like Caleb Williams, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Colston Loveland, and Rome Odunze. But beyond the players on the field, there should be a cool, frigid, wintry backdrop to this playoff game.
Current weather models have Sunday's game likely becoming one of the coldest in Chicago history, with air temperatures around 10-15 degrees and wind chills in the negatives. There's also a decent chance of snow. This is theoretically good news for the Bears, who should be used to this Chicago weather, even though they are generally less experienced than the Rams. And it should, theoretically, be bad news for the Rams, who play in a dome in Los Angeles and who only played in one game even close to "colder" temperatures: a late November regular-season loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Of particular concern for the Rams might be the status of Matthew Stafford, who is 37 and could be more affected by tough elements. But does this assertion actually hold true? Yes ... and no.
According to Rams Wire, Stafford is 3-3 in his career in freezing conditions (anything at or below 32 degrees). That's actually pretty solid with all things considered, as Stafford has also thrown for over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions in said contests. However, Stafford is just 1-9 when a game involves both cold and inclement conditions. Yikes. That's a BIG difference.
You also might think that Stafford has had more experience in the elements before he joined the Rams, when he was a member of the Detroit Lions. But he only played in five such cold games during his entire decade-plus Detroit tenure. Of course, neither Stafford nor the Rams have ever played in a game that is projected to be this cold, either. And this time around, Stafford also has a sprained index finger on his throwing hand, which is something that could be problematic in harsh wintry weather.
Still, we can't be too positive about how Stafford will play and respond in the Chicago cold. All we have is his career rap sheet. How confident you feel in Stafford delivering or wilting likely hinges on your own personal vibe check.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: What is Matthew Stafford's cold weather record ahead of Bears game?
Continue reading...
Current weather models have Sunday's game likely becoming one of the coldest in Chicago history, with air temperatures around 10-15 degrees and wind chills in the negatives. There's also a decent chance of snow. This is theoretically good news for the Bears, who should be used to this Chicago weather, even though they are generally less experienced than the Rams. And it should, theoretically, be bad news for the Rams, who play in a dome in Los Angeles and who only played in one game even close to "colder" temperatures: a late November regular-season loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Of particular concern for the Rams might be the status of Matthew Stafford, who is 37 and could be more affected by tough elements. But does this assertion actually hold true? Yes ... and no.
What is Matthew Stafford's record in cold-weather games?
According to Rams Wire, Stafford is 3-3 in his career in freezing conditions (anything at or below 32 degrees). That's actually pretty solid with all things considered, as Stafford has also thrown for over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions in said contests. However, Stafford is just 1-9 when a game involves both cold and inclement conditions. Yikes. That's a BIG difference.
You also might think that Stafford has had more experience in the elements before he joined the Rams, when he was a member of the Detroit Lions. But he only played in five such cold games during his entire decade-plus Detroit tenure. Of course, neither Stafford nor the Rams have ever played in a game that is projected to be this cold, either. And this time around, Stafford also has a sprained index finger on his throwing hand, which is something that could be problematic in harsh wintry weather.
Still, we can't be too positive about how Stafford will play and respond in the Chicago cold. All we have is his career rap sheet. How confident you feel in Stafford delivering or wilting likely hinges on your own personal vibe check.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: What is Matthew Stafford's cold weather record ahead of Bears game?
Continue reading...
