Rams vs. Bears reminds us of some of the coldest NFL playoffs

Things could get better in Chicago this Sunday.

Temperatures could drop into the single digits for the divisional round game between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears, with a low of 2 degrees Fahrenheit predicted at Soldier Field. Bears are used to cold conditions, of course, but “2 degrees” is not in the vocabulary of Los Angeles residents. It remains to be seen how much the Rams will be affected by the cold.

Still, if 2 degrees is where we end up, Rams-Bears won’t be among the top five coldest NFL games. Here are the best games the teams played in the postseason.

Minus 13 degrees (wind chill: minus 48)

December 31, 1967
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Known as the “Ice Bowl,” the 1967 NFL championship reigns as the coldest postseason game ever. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 to win their 11th NFL championship, three years before the AFL/NFL merger.

Down 17-14, Bart Starr led the Packers down the field for a 16-second lead. At the time of the result, the temperature had dropped to 18.

Minus 9 degrees (wind chill: minus 59)

January 10, 1982
Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

The then San Diego Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals square off in the coldest game, based on the wind chill factor, in NFL history: “The Freezer Bowl.” It was a big change for the Chargers, who were coming off a week where they beat the Dolphins in 80-degree weather.

With a spot in Super Bowl XVI on the line, the Bengals prevailed en route to a 27-7 victory. The Chargers struggled in the cold fumbling four balls and were shut out again in the second half.

Minus 6 degrees (wind chill: minus 25)

Jan. 10, 2016
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis

In the Minnesota Vikings’ first home postseason game away from home since the 1976 NFC Championship Game, the temperature met the hype.

Neither team found comfort in the cold with 19 combined points and 409 combined yards. The Seattle Seahawks went up 10-9 in the NFC wild-card game after Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal to clinch the win.

Minus 4 degrees (wind chill: minus 27)

Jan. 24, 2024
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Missouri isn’t exactly known for its cold weather, but this matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins would give any NFC North game on the frozen tundra a run for its money. Patrick Mahomes’ helmet shattered after the hit, and Kansas City coach Andy Reid grew a mustache. Still, the Chiefs — with Taylor Swift watching from a warm, closed-off booth — prevailed, defeating the Dolphins 26-7.

Subtract 1 degree (wind chill: minus 23)

Jan. 20, 2008
Lambeau Field, Green Bay

January football in Green Bay promises cold weather, and 2008 was no different. The New York Giants and Packers faced off in an NFC Championship Game that would have been colder than any stadium other than Lambeau Field.

Eli Manning led the Giants to a 23-20 victory en route to a Super Bowl title. During the game at Lambeau, the New York players worried about head coach Tom Coughlin, whose cheeks were not handling the weather well.

“His cheeks were so red I thought he was going to be frozen forever,” then-offensive lineman David Diehl told Sports Illustrated in 2017.

Zero degrees (wind chill: minus 32)

Jan. 15, 1994
Rich Stadium, Buffalo, NY

The Buffalo Bills call one of the coldest regions in the country home but have never hosted a playoff game below zero degrees. The 1994 AFC divisional game remains the coldest in Bills history.

Buffalo came out on top 29-23 in a game where both teams had at least 300 total yards. The Bills would play in – and lose – their fourth consecutive Super Bowl two weeks later.

ESPN research contributed to this article.