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.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins have weathered various storms over the course of the regular season, from injuries to inconsistent play, but on Saturday both teams will have to deal with a new set of conditions during their weekend wild-card playoff matchup.
The Chiefs and Dolphins braved “dangerously cold temperatures” during Saturday night's NFL playoff game in Kansas City, Missouri, with the high temperature well past 8 degrees by the time the teams kicked off at 8 p.m. ET.
“Nobody likes it when it’s cold, so we have temperature control,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday.
Unfortunately, there is no temperature control at the open-domed Arrowhead Stadium, but that's not the only place where temperatures are plummeting – ticket prices dropped to as low as $38 apiece due to the frigid forecast.
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The irony is that the Dolphins could have been preparing for a first-round playoff game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, where temperatures are expected to reach highs of 80 degrees on Saturday when they host the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 defeated and secured home field advantage and the AFC East Division title.
Instead, the Dolphins are fighting for their playoff life as the sixth seed in conditions that set a franchise record for the coldest game in Dolphins history. Despite being at home, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said his team “can't count on” the weather to give them an advantage: “Cold is cold, to you and me.”
Here's everything you need to know about Saturday's forecast:
How cold is the Chiefs-Dolphins game?
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.
According to AccuWeather, the temperature is expected to drop to minus 8 degrees by 11 p.m. ET and the wind will become chilly, making it feel like minus 26 degrees. Winds of 15 to 18 mph and gusts of up to 26 mph are expected, according to the National Weather Service. A wind chill warning is in effect until Tuesday.
“Evening temperatures will likely fall below zero, and AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures will likely be in the negative teens throughout the game,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Mike Youman.
What is the coldest Dolphins game ever?
Saturday's contest set a record for the coldest game in Dolphins history.
Coincidentally, the previous record for the coldest game in Dolphins history came against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2008, when it was 10 degrees and a wind chill of minus-12 degrees, according to Pro Football Reference. The Dolphins won 38-31.
How do the Dolphins fare in cold weather games?
The Dolphins lost out in cold weather. According to the Associated Press, the Dolphins have lost their last 10 games in temperatures of 40 degrees or below by an average margin of 17 points.
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 this week, Tagovailoa said candidly: “You can't prepare for a game like this in this weather. So it will be something new.”
The Dolphins can rely on the knowledge of receiver Tyreek Hill, who called Arrowhead Stadium home for six seasons while he was part of the Chiefs from 2016-2021. On Saturday, Hill returns to Kansas City for the first time since he was traded to Miami by the franchise in March 2022.
“It’s a way of thinking. I feel like if you think it's going to be cold, your butt will freeze off. But if you go into this game and don't even think about it, you'll be fine,” Hill said. “I played there and I understand the conditions. So I'm not worried at all. I'll go out there with no sleeves. I “I'll tell the rest of the guys…if anything.” Guys who see you in sleeves will obviously think you're soft.
What is the coldest Chiefs game ever?
Saturday's contest also marked a record for the coldest game in Chiefs history.
Before Saturday, the coldest game in Chiefs history at Arrowhead Stadium occurred in Kansas City's 48-17 victory over the Denver Broncos on Dec. 18, 1983, when the temperature was 1 degree and the wind chill was -19, according to Pro Football Reference .
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he was “excited” about Saturday’s subzero temperatures: “What could be better? Playing football at Arrowhead Stadium in January is going to be cold. It is what it is… The adrenaline rush gives you the warmth you need.” “I'm looking 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.”
What is the coldest game in NFL playoff history?
“The Ice Bowl,” the NFC Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on December 31, 1967, was the coldest game in NFL history, with temperatures a blistering minus-13 degrees and wind chills of minus 48 degrees .