It could be one of the worst weather weekends ever for the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs
From a possible snowstorm in Buffalo to single-digit temperatures in Kansas City to thunderstorms in Tampa and more, the forecast for Wild Card Weekend is truly wild.
Saturday night was a chilly night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, as record-low temperatures for the wild-card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins prompted fans and players to huddle together hoping for a little warmth.
When the Dolphins and Chiefs played Saturday night, it was minus 4 degrees inside Arrowhead Stadium, marking the fourth coldest kickoff temperature in NFL history. It feels even colder, with a wind chill of minus 27, the third coldest kickoff wind chill on record Chief's Communications Team.
Given the freezing temperatures, those who filled the 76,416-seat stadium had to find a way to stay warm, including the players. Here's how some Chiefs fans – and those playing Saturday night – are dealing with the freezing temperatures at the playoff game:
Patrick Mahomes' helmet shattered when hit
With the Chiefs leading 16-7 in the third quarter, quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambled 13 yards to the Dolphins' 3-yard line before being stopped short of the end zone by Miami safety DeShon Elliott. Mahomes and Elliott collided heads on the play, causing Mahomes' helmet to burst.
Andy Reid's mustache freezes
If you need proof of how cold it is at Arrowhead Stadium, just look at Chiefs head coach Andy Reid's mustache, which turned into an icicle at halftime.
Taylor Swift, the rumored girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, shakes off the subzero temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium with a red and yellow puffer coat that features Kelce's name and jersey number, No. 87.
Her custom jacket was designed by Kristin Juszczyk, wife of 49ers All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Kristin Juszczyk has also designed gear for Brittany Mahomes, wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, wife of Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he was “excited” about Saturday’s subzero temperatures.
“Is there anything more beautiful. Playing football at Arrowhead Stadium in January is going to be cold,” Mahomes said. “The adrenaline rush gives you the warmth you're looking for and you have heaters on the sidelines. People make a big deal about it, but at the end of the day you just go out and play football.”
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a Hawaii native who played his college career at Alabama, said he has never experienced temperatures “below 15 degrees.” When asked how he prepared for the weather, Tagovailoa said candidly: “You can't prepare for a game like this in this weather. So it will be something new.”
Fans will arrive at Arrowhead Stadium at 5:30 a.m
Some fans are put off by the freezing temperatures in Kansas City.
Fans showed up at Arrowhead Stadium as early as 5:30 a.m., more than 13 hours before kickoff. KSHB 41 caught up with some fans and asked why they decided to show up so early when temperatures were around minus 11 degrees and a chilly wind made it feel like minus 26 degrees.
There was also a queue to get in around 9am
What does Arrowhead Stadium look like?
Eight hours before kickoff, Arrowhead Stadium was covered in snow from the field to the seats.
Featuring: Cydney Henderson, Chris Bumbaca