If the Dolphins had beaten the Bills in Week 18, they would be preparing to play a wild card game in Miami's mild weather, but because of their loss, they are now headed to Kansas City for what is expected to be the coldest game in franchise history.
When the Dolphins and Chiefs play Saturday night, temperatures are expected to be around 5 degrees and a wind chill of -10 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. If that forecast holds true, this will be the coldest game the Dolphins have ever played in, which isn't good news for them considering they've lost 10 straight games when the kickoff temperature was 40 degrees or below (you You can read more about this here).
By a bizarre coincidence, the game currently considered the coldest in Dolphins history was actually played in Kansas City in 2008, on a day when the temperature was 10 degrees at kickoff. Unless the forecast changes dramatically by Saturday, it's pretty safe to bet the record will fall.
If the kickoff temperature drops to 5 degrees, Saturday's game will be the coldest game the NFL has seen since December 2016.
Earlier in the week, the temperature was expected to be around 10 degrees at kickoff, but that number has dropped over the past two days, and if it continues to drop, the Chiefs could also tie their franchise record for coldest game ever. In 1983, the Chiefs played a game where the temperature at kickoff was 0.5 degrees, which is currently the coldest in franchise history, according to Pro Football Reference.
If the forecast changes dramatically by Saturday, there's a slim chance NFL history will be made. According to the league, there have only been four games where the kick-off temperature was below zero.
Packers 21-17 over Dallas (Ice Bowl) | -13 degrees | Green Bay | December 31, 1967 |
Bengals 27-7 over Chargers (Freezer Bowl) | -9 degrees | Cincinnati | January 10, 1982 |
Seahawks 10-9 over Vikings | -6 degrees Celsius | Minnesota | January 10, 2016 |
Giants 23-20 over Packers | -1 degree | Green Bay | January 20, 2008 |
If the kick-off temperature drops to -1 degrees, it will be one of the coldest games ever.
As cold as it will be for the players, it will be even colder for the fans. Not only is the temperature expected to be in the single digits throughout the night, but winds are expected to be between -10 and -16°C during the game. So if you're planning on taking part in this wildcard showdown, you'd better bundle up.
No matter what the temperature ends up being, the Chiefs probably won't mind, and that's because they tend to thrive in the cold. In their last 10 home games where the temperature was below 40 degrees, the Chiefs have gone 9-1, including 4-0 in the playoffs.