The Kansas City Chiefs’ Road to Consecutive Super Bowls Begins in Frigid Conditions
The Kansas City Chiefs will kick off their journey to consecutive Super Bowls on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, but they will have to brave the freezing temperatures. According to the Weather Channel, the forecast for Saturday night is expected to reach minus-5 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the coldest football game ever in Kansas City.
Comparatively, if the game were held in Miami, the temperatures would be much milder, with a low of 62 degrees and a 30% chance of rain. This extreme cold is unprecedented for Kansas City, as there has never been a football game in the city with negative temperatures. The coldest game on record was in 2016, during a Chiefs-Tennessee Titans matchup, where it reached 1 degree Fahrenheit with a wind chill of minus-19.
The Coldest NFL Playoff Games
Here’s a look at five of the coldest NFL playoff games in history:
1. “Ice Bowl” – Minus-13 degrees (48-below wind chill)
Dec. 31, 1967 – Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
The 1967 NFL Championship, famously known as the “Ice Bowl,” takes the crown as the coldest postseason game ever. The Green Bay Packers triumphed over the Dallas Cowboys with a score of 21-17, securing their 11th NFL championship game victory. Bart Starr led the Packers to a winning touchdown with just 16 seconds remaining, enduring temperatures as low as minus-18.
2. “The Freezer Bowl” – Minus-9 degrees (59-below wind chill)
Jan. 10, 1982 – Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
The San Diego Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals faced off in what is arguably the coldest game in NFL history. Dubbed “The Freezer Bowl,” this game saw a drastic change for the Chargers, who had just come from a week of playing in 80-degree weather. The Bengals dominated the game, winning 27-7 and securing a spot in Super Bowl XVI. The Chargers struggled in the cold, committing four fumbles and being shut out in the second half.
3. NFC Wild-Card Game – Minus-6 degrees (25-below wind chill)
Jan. 10, 2016 – TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
In the first outdoor postseason game for the Minnesota Vikings since 1976, the temperature lived up to the hype. The Seattle Seahawks emerged victorious with a narrow 10-9 win over the Vikings in the NFC wild-card game. The frigid conditions made it challenging for both teams, resulting in a low-scoring game with only 19 combined points and 409 combined yards. Blair Walsh’s missed field goal attempt to win the game added to the drama.
4. NFC Championship Game – Minus-1 degrees (23-below wind chill)
Jan. 20, 2008 – Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Green Bay is known for its cold January football, and the 2008 NFC Championship Game was no exception. The New York Giants faced off against the Packers in what would have been the coldest game in any other stadium. Eli Manning led the Giants to a 23-20 victory, eventually leading them to a Super Bowl title. The freezing conditions even caused concern for the Giants’ players, with coach Tom Coughlin’s cheeks turning red from the cold.
5. AFC Divisional Game – 0 degrees (32-below wind chill)
Jan. 15, 1994 – Rich Stadium, Buffalo, NY
While the Buffalo Bills are no strangers to cold weather, they have never hosted a playoff game below 0 degrees. However, the AFC divisional game in 1994 stands as the coldest game in Bills history. The Bills emerged victorious with a 29-23 win over the Los Angeles Raiders, despite the freezing conditions. Both teams managed to amass over 300 total yards in the game.
As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to face the Miami Dolphins in the frigid temperatures, they will join the ranks of these legendary cold-weather playoff games. The road to consecutive Super Bowls will be a challenging one, but the Chiefs are determined to overcome the freezing conditions and make history once again.
ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this article.