The Los Angeles Rams are prepared to face the Chicago Bears at frigid Soldier Field on Sunday. The forecasts predicted that quarterback Matthew Stafford, along with the rest of the visiting squad, would face an Arctic blast after the team traveled to Chicago for the Sunday game.
According to Forecasts, temperatures would be between 5 and 10 degrees in Chicago. The wind chills reached minus 20 degrees, while trending toward being the coldest game in Rams history during the Super Bowl era.
Advertisement
Although there are no games colder in the Super Bowl era, there have been a few contests that approached these lows. The Packers hold the distinction of playing in the famous Ice Bowl of 1967 as the coldest game in NFL history after temperatures reached minus-13 degrees at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.
The Rams face a genuine disadvantage because the team lacks practice and conditioning for such extreme winter conditions. The Southern California players typically perform in temperate climates before playing in indoor stadiums like SoFi Stadium.
According to Michael Holley, who appeared on Pro Football Talk on Thursday, it’s psychological warfare for those who are from warmer regions.
“Matthew Stafford and the Rams going from where they usually are in Los Angeles to 14 degrees… no it’s different for the LA Rams than it is for the Bears,” Michael Holley said on Thursday.
During a 2013 game with the Detroit Lions, the veteran QB Stafford lost to the Philadelphia Eagles as eight inches of snow covered the field.
“I couldn’t see (Lions quarterback Matthew) Stafford,” former cornerback Cary Williams said in December, 2013. “You couldn’t see him at all. You just kind of hope that you’re close to the receivers when he throws the ball … I missed a tackle because I wasn’t able to see the guy. The snow was in my face, and I just naturally kind of panicked because there’s water rushing in your nose.”
Stafford managed the elements poorly compared to his opponent, with the weather a major factor, when the Eagles won 34-20; he completed 10 of 25 passes for 151 yards.
“I know that both teams are playing in it, you just go out there and execute the best you can… I’m embracing it, I know our team is as well,” Matthew Stafford said on Tuesday.
Stafford, however, has been dealing with a sprained index finger of late. The freezing air can numb the body and affect passing accuracy before he even returns to the lineup for the matchup.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 looks on during an NFL Wildcard football game against the Carolina Panthers, on Saturday, January 10, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Robin Alam – The Sporting Tribune
Advertisement
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 looks on during an NFL Wildcard football game against the Carolina Panthers, on Saturday, January 10, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On the Friday episode of the Barstool Pro Football Show, former coach Jon Gruden said:
“Sterling Sharp Hall of Fame receiver. He would always yell at me, ‘Hey, Grew.’ I had to take my coat off and throw him about 80 passes below his belt buckle,” Gruden said.
“It was so freaking cold I couldn’t even complete a pass. It’s going to be hard to throw. You’re going to go ‘Holy s**t, is that cold?’ And all of a sudden, the wind is blowing off this lake.”
Caleb Williams: The Ice Man
Caleb Williams has been the better-prepared QB that analysts have observed, earning the nickname “the Ice Man” for his performance in the fourth quarter.
“I feel that I’m the best in those moments,” Williams said. “Because of what I’ve prepared to be in those moments it’s just next play, next pla,y next play.”
Along with Williams, the Bears also relied on a physical offensive line, like Darnell Wright, as their key advantage after football analysts observed that the ability to run the ball could be the deciding factor.
Advertisement
The Bears will host the Rams on Sunday, with the kickoff from Soldier Field scheduled amidst national interest centered on the freezing conditions.
The winner’s quest to reach the Super Bowl will commence on Sunday. They will face the NFC Championship, while the loser faces a long offseason.
#couldnt #Stafford #Matthew #Staffords #bad #history #snow #emerges