Get ready to hammer the unders for the passing game this coming Sunday, Bears fans. Because it’s going to be cold.
According to WGN, this weekend’s upcoming matchup between the Chicago Bears and Cleveland
Browns could be one of the coldest games in recent history at Soldier Field.
The noon kickoff could see temperatures as low as 10 degrees, with a potential wind chill as low as -5. While that’s nowhere close to the coldest it can get in Chicago, you might be surprised to know this would be the chilliest temp at kickoff for almost 20 years.
A 10-degree starting temperature would reportedly make this the sixth coldest game in Soldier Field history. But the king of the cold games actually took place back in 2008 when the Bears took on the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. That one had a starting temperature of just two degrees and a wind chill touching -13. Anyone who decided to go shirtless for that one probably needed a hospital visit afterwards.
As for this coming Sunday, you know what that probably means.
Any thoughts of Caleb Williams throwing for 350 yards and five touchdowns should be summarily thrown out, though that probably wasn’t much on the table with Myles Garrett stalking him all afternoon anyway. This will likely be a ground-and-pound, between-the-tackles beatdown led by the Bears’ offensive line and the steady duo of running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who have carried the offense in recent weeks.
Nothing says “Bear Weather” like a heavy dose of running the football.
Of course, the Browns are no stranger to cold weather themselves as residents of the AFC North. But they also have the disadvantage of starting a relatively unproven rookie in Shedeur Sanders behind a beat-up offensive line on the other side of the ball, which could lead to some short Browns offensive possessions. As long as the Bears can control the clock and wear Garrett and that feisty Browns defense down, this should be a straightforward win for Chicago.
Plus, running the ball a lot will make the game go by even quicker, right?
Hopefully, the Bears and their fans enjoy their first taste of truly freezing weather this weekend. Maybe they’ll get a few more opportunities to experience it in January, too, if they take care of business the next few Sundays at home.
