Some NFL teams and players are built for the cold weather, while others aren’t.
Monday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers was a perfect example of that, with temperatures hovering around 18 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have historically struggled during cold-weather games. Including the playoffs, the Dolphins have lost 13 straight games where the temperature was below 40 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff. They’re used to playing in Florida’s warm weather, not the chilly winters of the Northeast and Midwest.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers are used to the cold. Rodgers has spent his entire 21-year NFL career playing for cold-weather teams in Green Bay, New York and Pittsburgh. Not surprisingly, he’s 52-21 during regular-season games in December and January.
The cold certainly didn’t bother Rodgers on Monday. He became the oldest starting quarterback in NFL history to complete 85 percent of his passes in a game, leading the Steelers to an easy 28-15 win over Miami.
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After the game, Rodgers explained why he flourishes in the cold despite being from California originally.
“Nothing changes. I feel real comfortable in this environment,” Rodgers said during his postgame press conference. “I feel comfortable in the cold weather. I’ve always been able to throw pretty good in the cold over the years in Green Bay, and it can be an advantage if you embrace it.”
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Rodgers has certainly embraced it, going 2-0 in December this year despite recently turning 42. Eighteen years in Green Bay have hardened him to the cold, teaching him to play in almost any conditions.
The four-time NFL MVP won’t have to worry about the cold on Sunday, as Pittsburgh will play indoors when it visits the Detroit Lions.
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Featured image via Barry Reeger/Imagn Images