The Los Angeles Rams are set to fly into Chicago on Saturday Night, sticking to a day-before kickoff travel plan they’ve largely maintained since COVID. According to The Athletic’s Nate Atkins, the Rams have been intentional about not arriving too early, with head coach Sean McVay confirming they would get in at “night” when asked about their arrival time.
The reasoning, per Atkins, appears to be an effort to avoid overemphasizing the cold. However, with what’s forecasted at Soldier Field on Sunday evening, that approach may prove risky.
Rams’ Late Arrival Could Backfire in Brutal Chicago Conditions
Chicago is expected to live up to its “Windy City” reputation, with temperatures dropping to single digits, accompanied by 21 mph winds and gusts reaching up to 30 mph, according to AccuWeather. There’s also expected to be a “few evening flurries.”
Those conditions are far from ideal for any team, but especially one flying in from sunny Southern California weather.
Yes, the weather impacts both teams, but preparation and familiarity also play a huge factor. The Rams’ late arrival doesn’t give them a lot of time to acclimate to the elements.
The Rams are also just 2-8 in their last 10 games at Soldier Field, carrying a staggering -109 point differential in those contests.
Bears Have Embraced the Cold
GettyCaleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears looks on prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field.
The Chicago Bears have leaned into the elements rather than trying to avoid them. Head coach Ben Johnson has made a point of preparing his team for moments like this, holding practices outdoors in freezing conditions and without heaters on the sideline.
All-Pro safety Kevin Byard recently revealed that the team has intentionally trained in the cold throughout the season, even if it hasn’t always been popular among the players.
“I think Ben has been doing a good job of making us practice in this cold weather with no heaters on the field, which has been a complaint for the most part from a lot of guys,” Byard said.
That preparation could pay dividends on Sunday. The Rams aren’t strangers to playing in the cold weather either, but the last time they played in freezing cold conditions, they lost 28-22 on a snowy evening against the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round.
“We practice outside in this weather with no heaters, no benches, no anything, and so it’s football weather, it’s game day,” Caleb Williams said back when the Bears hosted the Cleveland Browns in freezing conditions. “This is Chicago. You either got drafted here or you came here, so you’re expecting that when it comes down to these times of the year. It’s an advantage to us, I would say.”
Even with the weather, the Rams will be a difficult opponent to face, so it’ll be up to ‘Iceman’ and the rest of the Bears squad to pull off another win in the playoffs.
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