You’ll need to Bear down and bundle up if you’re going to Sunday’s Bears playoff game at Soldier Field.
Football is a tough game played by hard-nosed guys who deliver bone-crunching hits.
So while I don’t know if the frigid cold weather expected for Sunday’s game between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams will be a factor, it is something that is on the mind of players, coaches, fans, and local meteorologists. And if they are talking about it, then perhaps we should do the same.
Let’s start with Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, who claims the chilly forecast does not concern him.
“We’re not going to waste our energy on things we can’t control,” McVay said, via Pro Football Talk. “I don’t have a weather machine. We do have a lot of guys that have been accustomed to playing in these types of situations, whether it’s previous teams, where they played their college ball in outdoor stadiums. We talk about mental toughness all the time and controlling the things we can control. Let’s control the things we can control. When you’re not on the field stay warm, and then when you’re out there your adrenaline kicks in. The ball is a little bit slicker, it feels like a rock, but other than that, let’s freakin’ roll.”
Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)How Much Will Cold Weather Impact Bears-Rams Playoff Game?
On the one hand, McVay is saying all the right things about not wasting energy on things out of your control and having players who have performed in crummy conditions before. But on the other hand, McVay doesn’t come off as wholly unconcerned about the weather. McVay acknowledges the need for players to stay warm when they aren’t on the field and that there is a difference in the ball in these conditions. How a player feels and how they handle the pigskin are two pretty important things to be accountable for in a game of high stakes. So while McVay might try to come off as unbothered by the cold, it isn’t something he can flat-out ignore.
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And to think, that isn’t all he must keetp an eye on in this one. After all, playing at Soldier Field also means your team must navigate the wind and deal with a turf surface that is traditionally unforgiving. I find myself thinking back to the first Bears-Packers meeting at Lambeau Field, which was a game where Chicago had players slipping around in the early going — which I imagine was partially due to not being ready with the right cleats from the get-go. A slip here and there could be the difference between an incompletion and moving the chains. So add it to the list of things both teams probably need to be cognizant of this weekend.
Gervon Dexter Sr. reacts after a tackle against the Giants at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn ImagesESPN’s John Keim has a story on what players do in order to gear up for the coldest games of the year, pointing out that the forecast for Sunday’s 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff features 16-degree temperatures and wind gusts in the 20 mph range that will make it feel like 4 dgrees along at Soldier Field. Keim’s story also includes an anecdote on how some high-profile quarterbacks (including Sunday’s Bears opponent) have dealt with the cold:
More than a dozen current and former NFL players told ESPN that preparing to play in below-freezing temperatures is a challenge that comes with many considerations and strategies. Players know they must be physically prepared, with some — such as Rams QB Matthew Stafford, perhaps inspired by Tom Brady — wearing scuba suits to fend off the cold.
There’s also mental prep. Players hunt for signs the weather is affecting an opponent in order to gain a psychological or on-field advantage. Others, such as Von Miller, play mind games to convince themselves that others have played in worse conditions.
Other hurdles include frozen fingers getting jammed and numb hands changing the way offensive linemen approach their blocking assignments. Even the simple act of drinking water becomes a difficult task.
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Players going above and beyond in an attempt to gain an edge against Mother Nature is fascinating. I look forward to seeing Bears and Rams players on both sidelines combat the frigid temperatures.
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