Weather Could Dominate Playoffs. And Snow Zebras?

T-RO

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Let's launch with an open question: In NFL history some playoff games have featured such frigid weather that life and limb are literally endangered. The Ice Bowl turned the field into frozen concrete. In that contest and several other Polar-Bear-Games... players have lost fingers and toes permanently with frostbite. Playing football, officiating... or merely attending in -30 wind chills truly can become a risk of life.

In recent years NFL games have been delayed by thunder storms, games have been rescheduled due to viruses. So what happens if Weather Armageddon invades these playoffs?

Playoffs Round One? Weather impact should be 'Modest' in the context of January Winter:
-Dallas....no impact.
-L.A....no impact.
-Kansas City - near freezing, narrowly dodging big weather on Saturday

Modest for January, but still an impact...
-Tampa Bay...wind and rain
-Cinci...snow
-Buffalo...iffy...The game might luckily land in a window between Saturday's projected major frigidity and snow...and Sunday night snowfall.

This is 'modest' though four games potentially may see major impact from snow or wind/rain.

The really big questions come when the Final Eight compete. Discussion of that comes tomorrow with a bit more refinement of troubling longterm weather forecasts. Little hint: things could get much worse.

Reconnaissance Team A is on the job. Experts are now digging into multiple longterm models. Stay tuned.
 
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Macnalty

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T-RO said:
Let's launch with an open question: In NFL history some playoff games have featured such frigid weather that life and limb are literally endangered. The Ice Bowl turned the field into frozen concrete. In that contest and several other Polar-Bear-Games... players have lost fingers and toes permanently with frostbite. Playing football, officiating... or merely attending in -30 wind chills truly can become a risk of life.

In recent years NFL games have been delayed by thunder storms, games have been rescheduled due to viruses. So what happens if Weather Armageddon invades these playoffs?

Playoffs Round One? Weather impact should be 'Modest' in the context of January Winter:
-Dallas....no impact.
-L.A....no impact.
-Kansas City - near freezing, narrowly dodging big weather on Saturday

Modest for January, but still an impact...
-Tampa Bay...wind and rain
-Cinci...snow
-Buffalo...iffy...The game might luckily land in a window between Saturday's projected major frigidity and snow...and Sunday night snowfall.

This is 'modest' though four games potentially may see major impact from snow or wind/rain.

The really big questions come when the Final Eight compete. Discussion of that comes tomorrow with a bit more refinement of troubling longterm weather forecasts. Little hint: things could get much worse.

Reconnaissance Team A is on the job. Experts are now digging into multiple longterm models. Stay tuned.
Click to expand...
Good point we certainly have some teams that will suffer under severe winter conditions and I am leaning towards your model of things that could get much worse.
 
T-RO

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The weather...and 'Snow' Zebras...are going to factor massively in the playoffs.

Am also worried this week about Dome Zebras. Forecast models there: turbulent and cloudy. Meteorology and science is baffled with the readings.
 
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acr731 said:
And people wonder why taking weeks off like they did against Denver, Vegas, and KC was so important. There's a reason why so many people leave Wisconsin for other parts of the country, and the insane winter weather is normally near the top of the list. It's crazy how many Green Bay and Pittsburgh fans live here in north Texas now. Denver fans, too.
Click to expand...

The Starks were smart with their warning: "Winter is Coming."

It's not in the movies, but the Starks also warned about Zebras. ;-)
 
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It's critical we do not confuse Snow Zebras with the ultimate bane of Texas: Snow Monkeys.

https://www.theunticket.com/nolan-ryan-talks-about-snow-monkeys/

Must concede: with climate change, snow creatures, Roger Goodell and all... it becomes difficult to discern what threat looms greater for the Cowboys, and for us all.

That said, we will keep you posted.
 
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Parcells4Life

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Considering next week if Dallas advances it will either be in Tampa or home in the dome I’m not worried yet. If they get to the NFC Championship then we’ve accomplished something we haven’t in 25 years anyway even if we have to go to -5 Green Bay
 
TheSkaven

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T-RO said:
Let's launch with an open question: In NFL history some playoff games have featured such frigid weather that life and limb are literally endangered. The Ice Bowl turned the field into frozen concrete. In that contest and several other Polar-Bear-Games... players have lost fingers and toes permanently with frostbite. Playing football, officiating... or merely attending in -30 wind chills truly can become a risk of life.

In recent years NFL games have been delayed by thunder storms, games have been rescheduled due to viruses. So what happens if Weather Armageddon invades these playoffs?

Playoffs Round One? Weather impact should be 'Modest' in the context of January Winter:
-Dallas....no impact.
-L.A....no impact.
-Kansas City - near freezing, narrowly dodging big weather on Saturday

Modest for January, but still an impact...
-Tampa Bay...wind and rain
-Cinci...snow
-Buffalo...iffy...The game might luckily land in a window between Saturday's projected major frigidity and snow...and Sunday night snowfall.

This is 'modest' though four games potentially may see major impact from snow or wind/rain.

The really big questions come when the Final Eight compete. Discussion of that comes tomorrow with a bit more refinement of troubling longterm weather forecasts. Little hint: things could get much worse.

Reconnaissance Team A is on the job. Experts are now digging into multiple longterm models. Stay tuned.
Click to expand...

I moved to Tampa a few weeks ago and I can tell you a big wind and rain storm is coming this weekend. I don’t know that it favors either side. Philly likes to run the ball but Tampa has a stout run defense. Hurts never throws the ball more then 5 yards anyway.

NE will have the advantage on the road if it snows in Buffalo, which is crazy because that weather should mean home field advantage. But nope, if that storm hits, NE wins the game.
 
TheSkaven

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Parcells4Life said:
Considering next week if Dallas advances it will either be in Tampa or home in the dome I’m not worried yet. If they get to the NFC Championship then we’ve accomplished something we haven’t in 25 years anyway even if we have to go to -5 Green Bay
Click to expand...

Im with you.

A loss this weekend would be to me no better than not even making the playoffs. It’s below expectations plus a lousy draft pick.

If they beat the Niners and lose to the Bucs, I’ll also be discouraged but it’s probably “meeting” expectations.

But to me, playing in the NFCCG would be a successful season, and anything beyond that is icing on the cake.
 
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TheSkaven said:
I moved to Tampa a few weeks ago and I can tell you a big wind and rain storm is coming this weekend. I don’t know that it favors either side. Philly likes to run the ball but Tampa has a stout run defense. Hurts never throws the ball more then 5 yards anyway.

NE will have the advantage on the road if it snows in Buffalo, which is crazy because that weather should mean home field advantage. But nope, if that storm hits, NE wins the game.
Click to expand...

As for the TB-Philly game...anything that throws the game into disarray and disruption...favors a heavy underdog. Philly can't win on a level playing field.

As for Buf-NE...Allen has played more hard-weather games than Mac Jones. If the wind is blowing 60mph and neither team can pass, then I agree w/you.
 
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Updated Sunday forecasts:


-Kansas City...Sunday night... 38 degrees (dodged Saturday snow?)
-Tampa Bay...thunderstorms likely
-Cinci...Saturday... 31 degrees (dodged Sunday snow?)
-Buffalo...Sat night Windchill < ZERO; crews challenged to clear stadium from a foot of expected Friday snow
-Dallas....no impact.
-L.A....no impact.
 
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As of now, long-range forecasts for week #2

-Green Bay, flurries, high temp of 13
-Foxborough, high 30 clear
-Buffalo, flurries, high 27
-Cincinatti, 32 high, flurries possible
-Kansas City, high 41, mostly sunny
-Tampa, possible shower
-Nashville, 38, mostly clear

L.A, Dallas, Ariz...weather no factor
SF, Philly, Vegas, ...doesn't matter, they can't host
 
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Correction on Monday for Rams: might rain some, and field isn't protected (just fans)
 
Blake

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Snow Zebras would be dope if it were a real species.
 
1972COWBOY

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Emmm the Cowboys played without gloves in the Ice Bowl. They have gloves today and many provisions to provide heat on the sideline provided the team can get on the sideline and don't get stuck out on the field.
 
ElGatoGrande

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T-RO said:
Let's launch with an open question: In NFL history some playoff games have featured such frigid weather that life and limb are literally endangered. The Ice Bowl turned the field into frozen concrete. In that contest and several other Polar-Bear-Games... players have lost fingers and toes permanently with frostbite. Playing football, officiating... or merely attending in -30 wind chills truly can become a risk of life.

In recent years NFL games have been delayed by thunder storms, games have been rescheduled due to viruses. So what happens if Weather Armageddon invades these playoffs?

Playoffs Round One? Weather impact should be 'Modest' in the context of January Winter:
-Dallas....no impact.
-L.A....no impact.
-Kansas City - near freezing, narrowly dodging big weather on Saturday

Modest for January, but still an impact...
-Tampa Bay...wind and rain
-Cinci...snow
-Buffalo...iffy...The game might luckily land in a window between Saturday's projected major frigidity and snow...and Sunday night snowfall.

This is 'modest' though four games potentially may see major impact from snow or wind/rain.

The really big questions come when the Final Eight compete. Discussion of that comes tomorrow with a bit more refinement of troubling longterm weather forecasts. Little hint: things could get much worse.

Reconnaissance Team A is on the job. Experts are now digging into multiple longterm models. Stay tuned.
Click to expand...

I know some people like seeing these crazy weather games but I hate them, especially in the playoffs. You've got all of these franchises working maniacally year 'round to get a spot in the tournament only to have your chances reduced to 50/50 because of weather.
 
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