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Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, left, jokes with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, heart, and different teammates earlier than an NFL soccer recreation towards the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Picture/Ashley Landis)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel speaks throughout a information convention following an NFL soccer recreation, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Payments defeated the Dolphins 21-14. (AP Picture/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks after an NFL soccer recreation, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Payments defeated the Dolphins 21-14. (AP Picture/Wilfredo Lee)
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, left, jokes with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, heart, and different teammates earlier than an NFL soccer recreation towards the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Picture/Ashley Landis)
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, left, jokes with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, heart, and different teammates earlier than an NFL soccer recreation towards the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Picture/Ashley Landis)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel speaks throughout a information convention following an NFL soccer recreation, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Payments defeated the Dolphins 21-14. (AP Picture/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel speaks throughout a information convention following an NFL soccer recreation, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Payments defeated the Dolphins 21-14. (AP Picture/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks after an NFL soccer recreation, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Payments defeated the Dolphins 21-14. (AP Picture/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa speaks after an NFL soccer recreation, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Payments defeated the Dolphins 21-14. (AP Picture/Wilfredo Lee)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Coach Andy Reid was requested what impression a frigid forecast may need for Saturday night time’s wild-card playoff recreation between the Chiefs and Dolphins, and whether or not Kansas Metropolis would attempt to acclimatize by practising outdoors this week.
Reid regarded out a close-by window Tuesday and noticed the 6 inches of snow that had blanketed the bottom.
“We in all probability gained’t exit right now,” he replied, “however there’s likelihood tomorrow.”
The climate doesn’t determine to be a lot better Wednesday, or the remainder of the week for that matter. There may be extra snow coming late within the week, after which comes the bitter chilly: The excessive temperature Saturday may battle to achieve double digits, and by the point the sport is kicked off lengthy after darkness units in, the wind chill is predicted to be properly beneath zero.
May that be a bonus for the Chiefs, who’ve performed in equally chilly situations loads of instances through the years, on condition that the Dolphins will spend the week practising in 70-degree temps in South Florida?
“You’ll be able to’t financial institution on that. That’s the place you get into bother,” Reid mentioned. “We’re not having a snowball struggle.”
Maybe the Dolphins would fare higher in a type of.
They’ve misplaced 10 straight when the temperature is 40 levels or colder, and by a mean of 17 factors. And the forecast for his or her playoff recreation towards Kansas Metropolis requires temps to be 40 levels beneath that time, with wind whipping from each angle by way of Arrowhead Stadium and amassed snowfall sure to make it really feel that a lot colder.
“Lots of people don’t wish to get hit, or hit in chilly climate. It hurts slightly extra,” admitted Dolphins linebacker David Lengthy, who grew up within the chilly climate in Cincinnati. “And that’s whenever you see what kinds of gamers you may have in your staff. How a lot do you adore it? How a lot do you wish to get to that sure level as a staff?”
Lengthy could also be accustomed to the snow and chilly. Identical with Dolphins broad receiver Tyreek Hill, who performed his first six seasons in Kansas Metropolis, and will likely be returning to Arrowhead Stadium for the primary time since he was traded away two years in the past.
That might not be the case for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who grew up in Hawaii and performed faculty ball at Alabama.
“I don’t assume it signifies that we’re comfortable or fearful of the weather, simply because the climate is best down right here,” mentioned Dolphins tight finish Durham Smythe, a Pennsylvania native who performed at Notre Dame.
“The fellows in that locker room, clearly we come from throughout, too. It’s not like all of us lived right here in Miami our complete lives. We’ve handled components earlier than.”
Not significantly properly, although. The Dolphins’ chilly climate shedding streak started with a loss to Pittsburgh in 2017, when it was a balmy 17 levels at kickoff. It continued by way of video games in Buffalo, Cleveland, Inexperienced Bay and, sure, Kansas Metropolis, the place the Chiefs beat the Dolphins 29-13 on Christmas Eve in 2017 when it was a mere 23 levels at the beginning of the sport.
As for Tagovailoa, the Miami quarterback is winless in 4 video games when the temp is 45 levels or decrease.
“If we’re enjoying in any playoff recreation that isn’t at house,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel noticed, “it in all probability will likely be chilly. It is going to be the identical for each groups. For us and for the people within the locker room, I do know they won’t use that as an excuse.”
The Chiefs can savor a little bit of confidence from it, although.
They’ve misplaced simply as soon as of their previous 10 house video games by which the temperature was 40 levels or colder, and that features a 4-0 mark in playoff video games. And whereas quarterback Patrick Mahomes largely grew up in Texas, and by no means performed in a really chilly recreation till he obtained to Kansas Metropolis, the reigning league MVP has grown fairly keen on them.
“I’d fairly be enjoying a soccer recreation,” he mentioned with a smile, “than chasing my child across the yard.”
The coldest Chiefs recreation on report was on Jan. 7, 1996, when it was 11 levels for the beginning towards the Colts. However the second-coldest recreation was simply 4 years in the past, when Mahomes threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns with out an interception because the Chiefs rolled to a 35-24 victory over Tennessee within the AFC championship recreation.
Two weeks later, Mahomes gained the primary of his two Tremendous Bowl rings by beating the 49ers … in heat, sunny Miami.
AP Sports activities Author Alanis Thames in Miami contributed.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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