Stafford Says Cold “feels Right” As Bears Set Divisional Round Trap

1 jam yang lalu

When nan Chicago Bears vs. Los Angles Rams kicks disconnected astatine Soldier Field connected Sunday, nan storyline won't conscionable beryllium a berth to nan NFC Championship. It will beryllium nan weather, too.

There's a chance nan conditions will rank successful nan 10 coldest games each played astatine Soldier Field, which should springiness nan Bears defense a chance to make life miserable for Rams backmost Matthew Stafford, who's already coming into nan crippled pinch a banged-up scale digit connected his throwing hand,

Stafford, who spent 12 seasons successful Detroit earlier being traded to nan Rams, has acquisition existing successful those freezing temperatures, though he was protected by nan comfy conditions of Ford Field connected gamedays.

Still, as he told nan Los Angeles times, cold-weather games "feel right," particularly successful Chicago.

The Rams request Stafford to beryllium comfortable, some successful nan pouch and extracurricular successful freezing temps astatine night. The 37-year-old sprained his digit during Los Angeles' Wild Card triumph complete nan Carolina Panthers but still threw for 304 yards and 3 scores.

Stafford said his digit feels "great" and won't effect his grip, but clip will show if that grip loosens arsenic nan somesthesia drops.

Chicago Bears fans should for illustration really this matchup is shaping up. Indeed, nan Bears' defense ranks adjacent nan bottommost of nan NFL successful yards and points allowed during nan regular season, but nary defense took nan shot distant much than Chicago's. The Bears led nan convention pinch 23 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. It's nan look that's led them this acold into nan playoffs.

The Bears' ball-hawking personality starts connected nan backmost extremity pinch Kevin Byard III, who led nan NFL pinch 7 interceptions. Stafford is surely alert of really productive nan Bears' protect backs person been.

“They’ve sewage a… talented backmost extremity that catches nan shot erstwhile it’s successful their area," Stafford said. "They do a bully occupation up beforehand arsenic good affecting nan pocket.”

Bears Nation should consciousness bully astir this team's history against Stafford, too. He's 5-7 astatine Soldier Field, including a 24-18 nonaccomplishment successful September 2024. Indeed, Stafford has been coagulated connected cold-weather games recently, but January successful Chicago is conscionable different.

The Rams are preparing for nan Chicago Bears successful comforable sun of nan West Coast. The Bears, meanwhile, person a psychopath caput coach who turned disconnected nan heaters successful nan Chicago wintertime to hole for nan Divisional Round.

On Sunday, astatine Soldier Field, nan elements won't conscionable beryllium thing to highlight. They'll beryllium a big portion of nan outcome, and it's an opportunity nan Bears must return advantage of.