Subzero wind chills expected for Bills vs. Patriots — but it won't come close to coldest game in NFL history
The high will be near 8 degrees with the wind chill at 4 below around kickoff.
Orchard Park, NY - December 6: New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) points out the mike linebacker during the first quarter. The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots in a Monday night NFL game at Highmark stadium in Orchard Park, NY on Dec. 6, 2021.
(Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday, and one game, in particular, could see weather have a huge impact.
The last time the Buffalo Bills faced the New England Patriots at Orchard Park, huge wind gusts made it difficult for both teams to throw the ball. In fact, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones only attempted three passes the entire game.
This go around, it will be the temperature that's in the single digits. The high will be near 8 degrees with the wind chill at minus 4 degrees about the time kickoff happens at 8:15 p.m. Eastern.
Wild Card matchup will see Bills and Patriots play in frigid conditions
The high will be near 8 degrees with the wind chill at 4 below around kickoff.
However, the winds won't be as blustery like in their first matchup, as winds are only expected to be blowing at 8 mph at game time.
Whenever temperatures are this cold, forget catching the football, just holding onto it will be difficult. Plus, who enjoys being hit when it's that cold outside.
Orchard Park, NY - December 6: The Buffalo Bills recovered the ball on a kickoff that was ruled to have touched a Patriots players helmet on the play. The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots in a Monday night NFL game at Highmark stadium in Orchard Park, NY on Dec. 6, 2021.
(Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Looking back at history, the coldest game on record for the Bills was in January 1994, when they beat the Los Angeles Raiders in a divisional playoff game. The game-time temperature hovered around 0 degrees.
And while this game will be cold, it doesn't come close to the coldest game played in NFL history.
(FOX Weather)
That title belongs to the "Ice Bowl." The 1967 NFL Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys saw the temperature fall to 13 below zero with the wind chill reaching minus 48 degrees.
Dallas Cowboys Bob Hayes (22) in action, rushing vs Green Bay Packers Herb Adderley (26) at Lambeau Field in the Ice Bowl.
(Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Next is "The Freezer Bowl" in 1982 between the Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers. That day, the temperature was 9 below zero with a wind chill of minus 59 degrees.
Chuck Muncie #46 of the San Diego Chargers fumbles the ball after being hit by Reggie Williams #57 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the 1982 AFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game was known as the "Freezer Bowl".
(Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images / Getty Images)
This will be the third time the division rivals meet this year. New England won 14-10 on Monday Night Football on Dec. 6, but the Bills got their revenge against the Patriots a couple of weeks later with a 33-21 win.
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Game prediction
Thanks to SportsWeather, we can pick NFL games based on how teams have historically performed in certain weather conditions using their data.
SportsWeather has its own metrics system that compiles historical game-time weather data and meshes it against both NFL teams and player historical performance.
SportsWeather doesn’t compile data for games that are played in domes and all data is from the last 14 seasons.
Well, we all know it's going to be cold with a feels-like temperature at 4 below zero at kickoff. Historically, in those conditions, the Patriots are 1-0, while the Bills are 7-4.
The wind is expected to be blowing at 8 mph. When that happens, the Patriots hold a record of 100-40 and the Bills are 49-54. Snow won't play a factor as there's a 0% chance of precipitation by game time. When that happens, the Patriots are an impressive 138-51, while the Bills come in at 81-86.
PICK: SportsWeather.com gives the edge to the Bills and predicts them to beat the Patriots.
Make sure to check out SportsWeather.com just prior to the game for any late-breaking conditions that could impact the outcome as weather (wind forecasted weather) oftentimes rapidly change.