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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) \u2014 Coach Andy Reid was requested what impression a frigid forecast may need for Saturday night time\u2019s 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.
\u201cWe in all probability gained\u2019t exit right now,\u201d he replied, \u201chowever there\u2019s likelihood tomorrow.\u201d
The climate doesn\u2019t 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?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ll be able to\u2019t financial institution on that. That\u2019s the place you get into bother,\u201d Reid mentioned. \u201cWe\u2019re not having a snowball struggle.\u201d
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.
\u201cLots of people don\u2019t wish to get hit, or hit in chilly climate. It hurts slightly extra,\u201d admitted Dolphins linebacker David Lengthy, who grew up within the chilly climate in Cincinnati. \u201cAnd that\u2019s 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?\u201d
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.
\u201cI don\u2019t assume it signifies that we’re comfortable or fearful of the weather, simply because the climate is best down right here,\u201d mentioned Dolphins tight finish Durham Smythe, a Pennsylvania native who performed at Notre Dame.
\u201cThe fellows in that locker room, clearly we come from throughout, too. It\u2019s not like all of us lived right here in Miami our complete lives. We\u2019ve handled components earlier than.\u201d
Not significantly properly, although. The Dolphins\u2019 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.
\u201cIf we\u2019re enjoying in any playoff recreation that isn\u2019t at house,\u201d Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel noticed, \u201cit 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.\u201d
The Chiefs can savor a little bit of confidence from it, although.
They\u2019ve 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.
\u201cI\u2019d fairly be enjoying a soccer recreation,\u201d he mentioned with a smile, \u201cthan chasing my child across the yard.\u201d
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<\/a><\/span>
Copyright 2024 The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n