It’s going to be COLD on Wild Card Weekend for the pair of games scheduled on Sunday. In Green Bay, the high temperature is predicted to be a balmy 15 degrees that day, but that’s not unusual and both the Packers, obviously, and the Giants have played in cold weather plenty.
Will cold weather make a difference for the Steelers vs. Dolphins Wild Card game?
The Dolphins haven’t played a game below freezing temperatures all season, and it’s going to be 19 degrees in Pittsburgh this Sunday. Will that be a problem?
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In Pittsburgh, where the Steelers host the Dolphins, the high temperature Sunday is predicted to be 19 degrees. This is notable because the Dolphins have not played a game below freezing this year. The coldest games they played came in Weeks 15 and 16, against the Jets and Bills, with game-time temps in the upper 30s. The good news for the Dolphins is that they won those.
The Dolphins are the biggest underdog of Wild Card Weekend. The line opened with the Steelers favored by a touchdown, but it's since moved to 10 points. Ryan Tannehill won’t return for Dolphins’ playoff game "unless something drastically changes." Which might be fine. The Dolphins were able to win with backup Matt Moore late in the season, and they lean heavily on their running game, also important for cold-weather play.
There's also something about the Steelers and backup quarterbacks that has fans there asking if they can escape the "backup QB curse" in the playoffs?
GIANTS vs. PACKERS
Don’t overlook Ty Montgomery and the Packers’ dangerous running game. Aaron Rodgers has been great since the Packers started running the table, and the running game has been a big part of that. NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz breaks it down.
Should the Packers be afraid of the Giants? Maybe! That Giants defense is really good, thanks to players like Pro Football Focus All-Pro first-team safety Landon Collins.
If they are going to beat the Giants, the Packers must exploit a Giants defense that can’t cover tight ends. Jared Cook should be a featured player this Sunday.
As for the Giants, they're wondering how to deal with Rodgers?
SUPER BOWL OF TAKES: This NFL season deserves to end with a Patriots-Cowboys Super Bowl. Passions would certainly run high.
COOK TO START: Connor Cook will get his first start for Raiders’ playoff game vs. Texans. Cook will get his first start for the Raiders in their playoff game against the Texans.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN INDY? Peyton Manning reportedly doesn’t feel ready to take on GM-type role with Colts. Is that why we haven’t heard from owner Jim Irsay and whether or not he’ll make changes? Is he trying to convince Manning to join the team before firing Ryan Grigson, the incumbent GM?
REPLACING SHANAHAN: Kyle Shanahan interviewing with four teams; how will the Falcons replace him if he leaves? Shanahan is one of the hottest candidates out there, and when/if he does take a head coaching job, the Falcons will have a big hole to fill.
MATHIS IS DONE, REALLY DONE: Robert Mathis says he’s retired and isn’t going to "Brett Favre it." Mathis made it clear that he’s staying retired. He was also named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in his final NFL game.
ROLL TIDE: Nick Saban says Alabama will use former players on the scout team to prepare for Clemson. The head coach has done this a few times this season.
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