The Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers are playing in the NFC Wild Card game on Sunday and the weather forecast is expected to be rough temperature-wise, as it could be in the single and minus digits for the game on Sunday afternoon and there is a possibility of snow as well for the matchup, which kicks off on FOX starting up at 4:40 pm ET and there is a good chance that the field will be rock solid.
The last time the Packers dealt with a cold playoff game was against the Giants back in 2008 and that game was minus-one degrees and was the second coldest game on record at Lambeau Field and this game could compete with that, as the there are reports of wind chills in the minus-20's and 30's for the overnight forecast. There is a chance that snow could be in the forecast by the time the game kicks off and the wind could play a huge factor in the passing game and in special teams for the kickers and returners.
Both teams have held practices outside and while the cold weather likely favors the Packers, the 49ers can run the ball as well as anyone and Colin Kaepernick grew up in Wisconsin and is not afraid of playing in the cold. The Packers have a nice rushing attack this season with Eddie Lacy and they will be prepared for the cold weather and now both teams likely will rely on their running backs to get things done. The weather may not end up playing that much of a factor when all is said and done, but with temperatures expected to be below zero, anything can happen. Another Ice Bowl perhaps?
Check here for the weather.com live temperatire for Green Bay.
The Eagles and Saints are dealing with some rough temperatures as well and here is a look at the game and the weather for the New Orleans and Philadelphia game from Reuters.com. The wintry motif for an NFL postseason that climaxes next month in the first cold weather Super Bowl will have a fittingly frigid launch in this weekend's opening NFC playoff games.
A snowstorm sweeping through the U.S. Northeast on Friday is expected to set the scene in Philadelphia, where the NFC East champion Eagles (10-6) host the wild card New Orleans Saints (11-5) in sub-freezing conditions on Saturday.7
Sunday follows with NFC North winners Green Bay Packers (8-7-1) entertaining the wild card San Francisco 49ers (12-4) in temperatures that could hit zero Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius).
The Eagles-Saints showdown holds the potential for a high-scoring clash with potent offenses directed by tried and true New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and Philadelphia's second-year sensation Nick Foles.
Brees, who marched the Saints to the Super Bowl title in 2010, finished the regular season with 39 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and 5,162 yards, second only to Peyton Manning's record 5,477. New Orleans ranked fourth in total offense.
Foles threw for 27 touchdowns and two interceptions, and a league-leading passer rating of 119.2 after taking over as starter and directing the Eagles' No. 2 ranked offense.
Besides passes, Brees and Foles could swap high school stories as the dueling quarterbacks share even more on their resumes having both attended Westlake High in Austin, Texas.
Brees, who at 34 is 10 years older than Foles, marveled at the job his younger counterpart has done.
"Those are pretty impressive numbers, especially for a guy who's in his first year as a starter," Brees told reporters.
"I'm very happy for his success. Not just the fact that we're from the same high school and I kind of know the road he's traveled. But he seems like a tremendous young man."
The contest will test the road readiness of the Saints, who were 8-0 in their climate-controlled Superdome home and 3-5 when playing in hostile environments.
Philadelphia, after struggling at home, have run off four victories in a row at Lincoln Financial Field and won seven of their last eight games to snare the division crown.
While the Saints, under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, ranked fourth in fewest yards allowed per game, they must deal with a balanced Eagles attack that also features the nifty running of LeSean McCoy, who led the NFL in rushing this year.
New Orleans ranked 19th in the 32-team league defending against the run.
Philadelphia wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who had 1,332 receiving yards this season, felt that being home could prove to be a strong advantage.
"Our fans are going to go wild," he said. "It's a great opportunity to bring the playoffs to Philadelphia."
(Reuters)
