For the third time this year, NFL fans will be treated to a matchup between the Patriots and the Bills. The teams split the season series 1-1 with each road team winning and will now meet for a grudge matchup with each other’s season on the line.
The game will take place at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, home of the Bills, which is close to Buffalo, and once again, it looks like both teams will face some interesting weather in this win-or-go-home game. play.
The last time these two teams met in Buffalo, the weather was extreme. There were wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour during New England’s 14-10 win that saw the team attempt just three passes to rookie quarterback Mac Jones.
time will not be that crazy this time, but the Bills and Patriots will still have to deal with very cold conditions and the unpredictable nature of Buffalo-area weather in this contest.
Here’s a look at the forecast for Saturday night’s matchup between the Bills and Patriots.
Bills Vs. Weather Updates Patriots forecast
The Bills-Patriots game is very likely to take place during single-digit weather, at most. The high for Saturday in Orchard Park is just 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while the low is 2 degrees Fahrenheit, so weather.com. Maybe it will get a little warmer than expected, but whatever happens, it will be very cold at game time.
The good news for both teams is that the wind will not be as bad this time as it was last time. The wind is supposed to blow at an average of 5 to 10 mph on Saturday night, so it won’t have a huge impact on the game, unlike the last time these two met in Buffalo.
That said, the wind could make it a little harder to kick, and Jones could have some trouble shooting if the wind gusts get high enough. It could also provide a wind chill that will make gamers feel like they’re playing in sub-zero temperatures. If that happens, it might be a bit difficult to catch the ball. Not a huge concern, but worth monitoring.
The same can be said for rain and snow. It was originally expected to be a possible snow game, but now there is only a 5 percent chance of precipitation. Maybe a mini-storm will spill over into Lake Erie to get some lake-effect snow, but for now, it seems likely that bitter cold will have the biggest impact on this contest.
NFL PLAYOFFS 2022: Sporting News staff makes NFL picks, postseason predictions
How the Patriots and Bills prepare for cold weather conditions
Neither the Patriots nor the Bills seem particularly concerned about cold weather. They are both preparing for the contest like they normally would and are just mentally preparing for it to be cold.
“I’m more worried about the Bills than I am about the weather,” Bill Belichick said Wednesday, according to the boston herald. “I think the Bills are what we have to focus on, and that’s what we have to beat. Weather is weather.”
Classic Belichick. That said, it looks like the Patriots are, unsurprisingly, going to rely heavily on their running game to keep their offense moving. That doesn’t mean Jones won’t shoot or will only shoot three times, but Josh McDaniels believes the best way to win is to run the ball.
“I think, for the most part, our running game has been pretty effective,” McDaniels said. “And we know that at this time of year, no matter the weather, no matter who the opponent is, being able to run the ball and being able to stop the run and being able to cover kicks … are a big part of it. of win”.
Meanwhile, the Bills aren’t planning any significant changes to their offense. Josh Allen is still getting ready to air the ball and isn’t going to change much on his shot.
“I think the minute you start messing with mechanics and stuff, especially late in the season, it just tends to make things worse,” Allen told NewYorkUpstate.com. “You just have to trust the guys, you have to trust yourself and what you’re seeing and what you’re shooting and go with that. It’s going to be tough for both teams to catch the ball.”
Stefon Diggs agreed with Allen, adding that playing in freezing weather is nothing new for the Bills.
“It’s going to be really cold, bro. My fingers get cold, toes get cold,” Diggs said. “As soon as you get out [the field the trainers are] like, ‘Do you need a coat?’ And you’re like, ‘No, stay away from me. But they’re always there for me, so I feel like I’ll be fine. … I’m not a big complainer, and I played in one of the coldest games ever, like when we played the playoffs against Seattle at Minnesota Gophers’ stadium. It was like something negative. So this is nothing. I’ll be fine”.