Jon Gruden Drops Unexpected Truth About Bears vs. Rams Cold Weather Debate
Cold weather will be a factor in Sunday’s game between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. Projections have it around 21 degrees, dropping as low as 10, with 19 mph winds, giving it a real feel of -1. It will be one of the coldest games in franchise history. That is why Bears fans feel it provides a significant advantage against a Rams team that has played most of its season in a dome or mild-to-warm weather. Yet their fans and some experts believe the weather advantage means nothing. Is that true? Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden had thoughts on it.
He is a qualified authority on this. Gruden spent the entirety of his NFL career as a head coach with warm-weather teams. It started with the Raiders in Los Angeles and Oakland, and then moved to Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. Is cold weather really a factor? Gruden didn’t mince words.
Gruden is as competitive as anybody. So when he tells you the extreme temperatures absolutely have an impact on teams accustomed to warmer climates, it says a lot.
History does back Jon Gruden up on this.
In the seven coldest games on record that took place between a cold-weather team and a dome or warm-weather team, the cold-weather teams are 7-0. Does that guarantee a victory for the Bears? Of course not. This is the playoffs, and the Rams are an excellent team. If Chicago doesn’t play at a high level, it won’t matter what the temperature is. However, if the two sides play at similar levels, other factors will become more important. In this case, whichever side understands how to handle the extreme cold better.
Remember, the Bears already played in similar conditions earlier in the season. They thumped Cleveland 31-3 at Soldier Field when it was 8 degrees. Ben Johnson has had them practicing in the cold without heaters all year. They’re long accustomed to the frigid conditions. Jon Gruden can see the scenario unfolding. If the Rams aren’t prepared for what awaits them on the lakefront, they may not play their best football. When that happens in a playoff game, the results don’t end well.