Head coach Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins will play one of many coldest playoff video games in NFL … [+]<\/span> historical past at Kansas Metropolis on Saturday. (AP Photograph\/Doug Murray)<\/span>
By falling to Buffalo final Sunday, the Miami Dolphins misplaced the AFC East title, two potential house video games within the NFL playoffs and about 60\u00b0 F. The temperature drop is essentially the most regarding to a staff that has been at its worst within the chilly, frosty air.
No. 6 seed Miami (11-6) has misplaced 10 straight video games when it’s 40\u00b0 F or decrease at kickoff, and it’s staring on the coldest recreation in franchise historical past when it faces the No. 3-seeded Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (11-6) in a wild card playoff recreation at 7 pm CST on Saturday.
The Climate Channel has predicted a excessive of 11\u00b0 F in Kansas Metropolis on Saturday, and it’s predicted to be close to 2\u00b0 F at kickoff with anticipated winds of 10-15 mph that would made situations worse. The low in Miami that day is predicted to be about 60.
Though the frigid climate may have a chilling impact on a Miami offense that behind quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and large receiver Tyreek Hill leads the NFL with 401.3 yards per recreation and 265.5 passing yards per recreation and is second with 29.2 factors per recreation, the Dolphins aren’t shopping for it.
\u201cSimply because the narrative has been all 12 months that we’re the quick, flashy staff, I don\u2019t assume it implies that we’re gentle or afraid of the weather,\u201d mentioned Dolphins tight finish Durham Smythe, who performed at Notre Dame. \u201cShould you\u2019re not enthusiastic about enjoying in zero diploma climate in Kansas Metropolis, in Arrowhead for a playoff recreation, then you definately shouldn\u2019t be doing this.\u201d
Inexperienced Bay followers weathered minus-13 temperatures at kickoff within the “Ice Bowl,” the 1967 NFC … [+]<\/span> championship recreation gained by the Packers 21-17 over Dallas. (AP Photograph)<\/span>
The match stands to rank among the many coldest video games in NFL playoff historical past. The \u201cIce Bowl,\u201d the 1967 NFL championship recreation between Inexperienced Bay and Dallas is the coldest, at minus-13\u00b0 F at kickoff. Inexperienced Bay gained 21-17.
Three different playoff video games began with the temperature in destructive territory \u2014 Cincinnati\u2019s 27-7 victory over San Diego the 1981 AFC title recreation in Cincinnati (minus-9), Seattle\u2019s 10-9 victory over Minnesota within the 2016 NFC wild card recreation in Minneapolis (minus-6) and the New York Giants\u2019 23-20 victory over the Packers within the 2008 NFC championship recreation in Inexperienced Bay (minus-1).
\u201cThe underside line is we\u2019ll play a recreation in the identical setting as the opposite staff,\u201d Miami coach Mike McDaniel mentioned. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter for those who performed the final couple of video games in heat climate. It’s a must to regulate if you wish to have an opportunity to win, so I’ve little doubt the fellows will depart that on the doorstep.\u201d
It has mattered just lately to the Dolphins. Not solely have they misplaced 10 in a row within the excessive chilly, their common margin of defeat is 17 factors in these video games.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) led the NFL in passing yards and made his first Professional … [+]<\/span> Bowl this season. (AP Photograph\/Wilfredo Lee)<\/span>
McDaniel wore a T-shirt that learn \u201cI want it had been colder\u201d throughout apply earlier than the Dolphins\u2019 playoff recreation at 29-degree Buffalo final season, however the message of adversity as alternative didn’t assist. The Payments gained, 34-31, on Jan. 15, 2023.
Miami is 1-4 with Hawaii native Tagovailoa at quarterback when the temperature is 50 or decrease at kickoff, in accordance with the Miami Herald. The one victory is a 34-13 win on the New York Jets on Nov. 24 this season, when it was 48 at kickoff.
A minimum of Tagovailoa shall be accessible. Tagovailoa, who led the NFL with 4,624 yards passing and threw for 29 touchdowns whereas making his first Professional Bowl, missed the playoff recreation final season whereas within the NFL\u2019s concussion protocol.
The Dolphins can deliver a fond reminiscence into Kansas Metropolis. They beat Chiefs 27-24 in a double-overtime traditional on Christmas Day, 1971, the longest recreation in NFL historical past. It was 47 at kickoff. Kansas Metropolis beat Miami 21-14 in Week 9 this season, a recreation that was performed in Frankfurt, Germany, within the 50s.
\u201cLots of people do not wish to get hit or hit in chilly climate. It hurts a bit extra,\u201d mentioned Dolphins linebacker David Lengthy, who’s from Cincinnati. \u201cThat\u2019s soccer climate. That\u2019s once I prefer to see who\u2019s going to interrupt. Who\u2019s going to show down these hits? Who\u2019s going to push by means of it? That\u2019s while you see the love for the sport.\u201d
Miami and former Kansas Metropolis large receiver Tyreek Hill leads the NFL in receiving yards this season. … [+]<\/span> (AP Photograph\/Doug Murray)<\/span>
Among the many Dolphins\u2019 10 straight chilly climate losses had been two video games in a 3 week stretch to conclude the 2017 common season. The host Chiefs beat Miami 29-13 in 23-degree climate on Christmas Eve and Pittsburgh beat the Dolphins 30-12 in a playoff recreation on Jan. 8, 2018, when it was 17 at kickoff.
Hill, who leads the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards, is aware of the territory. He spent his first six seasons with the Chiefs, and he had six receptions for 109 yards within the 2017 match. This shall be Hill\u2019s his first game in Kansas City since signing <\/a>a four-year, $120 million contract extension after being traded to Miami on March 23, 2022. His deal included a $25.5 million signing bonus and $72 million in assured cash.
The Dolphins had been lacking key items within the playoff loss at Buffalo a 12 months in the past, as they are going to be this season. Quarterback Skylar Thompson made his third profession begin instead of Tagovailoa, and operating again Raheem Mostert and No. 2 quarterback Teddy Bridgewater additionally had been out.
Mostert, whose 21 touchdowns are tied for the league lead, missed the regular-season finale final week however is anticipated to play Saturday. The Dolphins added defensive reinforcements in linebackers Justin Houston and Bruce Irvin on Tuesday, when starters Bradley Chubb and Andrew Van Ginkel had been positioned on injured reserve.
Miami operating again Raheem Mostert celebrates one among his 21 touchdowns this season. (AP Photograph\/Doug … [+]<\/span> Benc)<\/span>
Houston, a four-time Professional Bowler who performed seven video games with Carolina this season, has 111.5 profession sacks, 9.5 with Baltimore final 12 months. Chubb had 11 sacks.
Miami\u2019s most disappointing chilly climate loss may need been its final. The Dolphins overcame a 17-0 deficit to take a 24-20 lead in opposition to Buffalo on linebacker Zach Sieler\u2019s scoop-and-score early within the third quarter. The Dolphins had solely eight yards in whole offense and an interception on their subsequent three possession as Buffalo scored two touchdowns in a 3:11 span late within the third quarter for a 34-24 lead.
Thompson drove the Dolphins 75 yards for a landing with 10:53 remaining, however their final two possessions ended on a punt and a fourth-down incompletion.
This season the problem, sans the T-shirt, stays the identical.
\u201cOur locker room is affected by those who have discovered success within the face of individuals saying they will\u2019t,\u201d McDaniel mentioned. \u201cFolks say we are able to\u2019t till we do.\u201d<\/p>\n