Rams Prepare for Divisional Round Against Bears
As the Rams gear up for their divisional playoff matchup with the Chicago Bears, Coby Turner finds himself in deep thought.
With frigid Antarctic temperatures expected at Soldier Field on Sunday, Turner reflects on a previous experience. Last season’s trip to MetLife Stadium for a game against the New York Jets saw the Rams play in sub-20 degree weather.
“I thought I could tough it out,” Turner recalled, chuckling.
The 6-foot-2, 294-pound defensive tackle proudly opted out of wearing additional warmth beneath his uniform, a choice that left him feeling like he’d been plunged into liquid nitrogen.
“I learned my lesson,” he joked. “No repeats this time.”
In California, there’s this stereotype about Angelenos, you know? They’re supposedly terrified of anything resembling bad weather, whether it’s a light drizzle or—gasp—cold temperatures.
Now, Soldier Field promises to be even colder than MetLife, yet the Rams want to break free from that stereotype.
“We can’t waste our energy worrying about weather we can’t change,” Coach Sean McVay stated. “I don’t have any high-tech weather gear. Many of our players have played in these conditions before, either from prior teams or their college days in open stadiums.”
A notable face in this preparation is quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has a wealth of experience after his time in the NFC North with the Detroit Lions.
“Every game brings something different,” Stafford noted. “You can’t just group them all together. I remember a match in Philadelphia with six inches of snow, while another was simply cold and dry. It’s important to recognize how the elements affect the game.”
Despite having sprained his right index finger last week during the Rams’ playoff opening win against the Panthers, Stafford isn’t planning on using any protective gear on his throwing hand.
On a humorous note, he mentioned he’s coming prepared with a scuba suit—an unusual choice attributed to the colder weather since he was traded to the Rams in 2021.
Stafford had a rough outing last season against the Jets, throwing for just 110 yards in a game that the Rams still managed to win. However, he later rallied the team during a snow-laden matchup against the Eagles, creating quite a challenge for them.
Receiver Davante Adams, who previously thrived in cold conditions with the Green Bay Packers, acknowledged the upcoming chill simply by stating, “It’s going to get cold.” Interestingly, he plans on playing without gloves.
“I’ve never played in a game with them on,” Adams added, implying confidence.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the sunny California weather during their training session at Woodland Hills doesn’t lend itself to preparation for the harsh conditions they’ll face.
The sky was clear, and temperatures were in the low 80s.
“Looks like we’ll be doing a major cold plunge to prepare,” McVay joked.
When asked if kicker Harrison Mavis is ready for the upcoming conditions, McVay lightheartedly quipped, “Not unless we freeze a kick in a freezer the size of this field!”
With footballs feeling significantly harder in the cold, McVay humorously suggested they could practice on giant rocks this week.
While McVay provided the humor, Stafford took a more sentimental approach, recalling memorable snow games.
“It’s special, isn’t it?” Stafford said. “Playing outdoors toward the end of the season just feels right. I’m really leaning into it, and I know the team is too. I’m excited.”
