Cold Weather Could Be the Bears’ Secret Weapon vs. Rams - But Only If They Handle Business
When the Chicago Bears take the field this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, the weather won’t just be a subplot - it could be a game-changer. Forecasts are calling for temperatures around 21 degrees at kickoff, dipping to 10 as the game wears on, with 19 mph winds pushing the real feel to a bone-rattling -1.
That’s not just cold - that’s “why did I leave the house?” cold.
And it’ll be one of the chilliest games in Bears franchise history.
Naturally, Bears fans are circling this as a potential edge. The Rams have spent most of their season in domes or basking in mild West Coast weather.
Now they’re headed to the shores of Lake Michigan in January? That’s a different beast altogether.
But does weather like this really tilt the scales?
Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden certainly thinks so. And he would know - Gruden’s entire coaching career was spent with warm-weather teams, from the Raiders in sunny L.A. and breezy Oakland to the Buccaneers in humid Tampa Bay. He’s been on the wrong end of cold-weather matchups, and he didn’t hesitate when asked if it matters: yes, it absolutely does.
Gruden’s take isn’t just anecdotal - history backs him up. In the seven coldest games on record featuring a cold-weather team facing off against a dome or warm-weather opponent, the cold-weather squads are undefeated.
Seven games, seven wins. That doesn’t guarantee anything for Chicago, but it does suggest that when all else is equal, the cold can become a silent difference-maker.
Let’s be clear: this is still playoff football. The Rams are a high-caliber team with talent across the board.
If the Bears don’t execute, the weather won’t save them. But if both teams bring similar intensity and execution?
That’s when the elements start to matter - especially for a team that knows how to function in them.
And make no mistake, the Bears are built for this. Earlier in the season, they dismantled the Browns 31-3 in 8-degree weather at Soldier Field - a game that showed just how comfortable they are in the cold.
Head coach Ben Johnson has leaned into the conditions all year, keeping practices outdoors and heaters off. It’s not just a mindset - it’s a preparation strategy.
So when the Rams step onto that frozen turf, they’ll be entering a different world - one where the ball feels like a rock, the wind bites at every throw, and footing becomes a constant battle. If they’re not ready for it, even the smallest mistakes can snowball. And in the postseason, those little things often decide who moves on and who goes home.
Jon Gruden sees it. Bears fans feel it.
Now it’s up to Chicago to make the most of it. Because weather might give you an edge - but only if you’re ready to take it.