Can We Get Deja Vu in Cold K.C.?
If the weather forecast holds up, the Miami Dolphins will be playing in the coldest game in franchise history in their first-round playoff game at Kansas City on Saturday night.
According to The Weather Channel, the temperature in Kansas City on Saturday is expected to reach a high of 10 degrees in the daytime and get as low as minus-5 at night. The forecast also calls for a 40 percent chance of snow at night with projected accumulation of less than an inch.
Since the game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Kansas City time, it's safe to say we're going to have a record for lowest temperature for a Dolphins game. The current record is 10 degrees, and it just so happens that it also involved a game at Arrowhead Stadium.
That was the penultimate game of the 2008 season and the Dolphins didn't have an issue with the 10-degree weather because they pulled out a 38-31 victory that set the stage for their AFC East-clinching victory against the New York Jets the following week in the season finale.
By comparison, the game-time temperature in Buffalo for the Dolphins playoff game last season was a balmy 28 degrees.
THE COLDEST GAMES IN DOLPHINS HISTORY
This will mark the fourth time in franchise history, barring an unexpected turn in the Kansas City weather, that the Dolphins will play a game in temperatures below 20 degrees at kickoff time.
One of the previous three also came in the playoffs, the first-round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field (now called Acrisure Stadium) in the 2016 season. The Dolphins lost 30-12 that day, though the weather didn't play a factor.
The other sub-20-degree game the Dolphins played took place all the way back in 1977 when they dropped a 14-10 decision at New England.
Overall, the Dolphins are 3-7 in the 10 coldest games in franchise history, with victories at Green Bay in 1985 and at New England in 1992.
JUST ANOTHER GAME FOR DOLPHINS PLAYERS
Without question, Dolphins players would much prefer be at Hard Rock Stadium for the first round of the playoffs — and the weather clearly is part of that.
But equally obvious is the fact that players aren't about to let the weather become a concern going into the game.
“It’ll be my first time seeing weather like that ever," said tackle Austin Jackson, who grew up in Arizona and played at the University of Southern California before joining the Dolphins. "I don’t really care about the weather when it comes to football. The stress of getting my job right will make me not care about the cold. But I think it will be cool to see that though, for sure. I’m actually kind of excited about it.”
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said it "will be different, but it'll be exciting."
Tight end Durham Smythe, though, perhaps said it best.
“It doesn’t change anything," he said. "Maybe an extra layer of clothing. In terms of approach, unless it’s pouring down rain or crazy snow, the temperature is going to be what it is. I don’t think you can really change anything from that standpoint. Those games a lot of the time are a lot of fun. Those are memorable games. Now that it is a playoff game as well. I think the guys are excited about it.
"If you’re not excited about playing in 0 degree weather in Kansas City, in Arrowhead for a playoff game, then you shouldn’t be doing this. I think the guys are excited about it.”
