Talk about a turn of events. Well into the season, it looked like the Miami Dolphins were unstoppable. They were easily on target to host a Wild Card playoff game in beautiful Miami, where they are very comfy playing. But, things changed. In December, they started, well, losing. So, now, the Miami Dolphins are going to freeze in their playoff game. Seriously. They’re actually going to be playing in what could be the coldest NFL playoff game in the history of the sport.
The Miami Dolphins are traveling to Kansas City, Minnesota, to take on the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday (Jan. 13) at 8:15 p.m. EST. If the Miami Dolphins had beaten the Buffalo Bills in Week 18, they’d be hosting a wild card game in sunny Miami. But, nope. They lost, so now, they’re going to be freezing their buns off.
What’s the Coldest Game in Miami Dolphins History?
So, what’s the coldest game in Miami Dolphins history, at least until now? It’s actually a game against the Chiefs in Kansas City on Dec. 21, 2008, according to the Miami Herald. It was only 10 degrees when the game start. But, Miami forged ahead, and they beat Kansas City, 38-31.
How Do the Miami Dolphins Perform in Cold Weather?
So, how do the Miami Dolphins perform in cold weather? Not good. According to the most recent numbers, the team has actually lost 10 straight games when the kickoff temperature was 40 degrees or lower.
How Cold Will the Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs Wild Card Game Be?
Right now, according to Weather.com, the Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs Wild Card game will have high winds, possibly up to 20 mph, and win chills of under 0 degrees. Right now, predictions are for wind chills from -5 to -10. Yikes. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature, not including the wind chill, is expected to be around 5 degrees. If that holds true, this will mark the coldest game that the Miami Dolphins have ever played in. So, how well do the Dolphins play in cold temperatures?
What Are the Coldest Games in NFL History?
According to CBSSports, there have been only four games in the history of the NFL that had below zero kickoff temperatures:
1967 NFL Championship “Ice Bowl” in Green Bay at -13 degrees (Packers 21, Cowboys 17)
1982 AFC Championship “Freezer Bowl” in Cincinnati at -9 degrees (Bengals 27, Chargers 7)
2016 wild card game in Minnesota at -6 degrees (Seahawks 10, Vikings 9)
2008 NFC Championship in Green Bay at -1 degrees (Giants 23, Packers 20)
Man, that’s cold. I think this is proof that when it comes time to replace stadiums, cities should go with domes. I know that in warmer climates, having outdoor stadiums seems to make more sense. But, with the volatile weather patterns we’ve seen over the past few years and even decades, you never know what kind of extreme weather you’re going to get, no matter where you are in the U.S. Also, to the Buffalo Bills, please, please get a dome. Every year, there’s always some kind of snow disaster that gets in the way of a Buffalo home game, and it often forces the game to move to another team’s stadium. What a mess. You’re, like, super far north, Buffalo. Don’t be in denial. You need an indoor stadium.
Find the full 2024 NFL Wild Card playoff schedule here.