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Matthew Stafford experienced it. The rest of the Rams didn’t.
In 2013, Stafford’s Lions and Eagles played a snowy game in Philadelphia. Based on the current forecast, Stafford’s Rams will play a snow game in Philadelphia.
From now on, daytime temperatures will drop from an overnight high of 36. The snow will be heaviest before and during the game. The forecast total is four to five inches.
The changing forecast was a theme for Stafford and others speaking to reporters Thursday. And Stafford was typically coy about the growing possibility that snow and cold would be a factor.
“We’ll see when we get there,” Stafford said. “Every weather situation I’ve been a part of is kind of different. You go out there and see what you can and can’t do. I’m sure Sunday will be no different.”
“I didn’t play a real game in the snow,” receiver Cooper Kupp said. “I played at Eastern Washington. We’ve played in very cold games, but never anything with actual snow on the ground. We’ll see what happens in the end, but just take care of it. You deal with whatever will be. A few weeks ago we watched the old famous snow play where Matthew was playing and (Lions receiver) Calvin (Johnson Jr.) was hyperventilating in the snow. I was telling Matthew that would be great. It’s such a unique thing to play. All the games and all the things that go into it come down to who wants it or who will find a way to do it. That would be great. Who knows what will happen. I’m excited regardless of the conditions. I know we will handle it the right way.”
For receiver Puk Nacu, the snow will also be a new thing.
“I can’t imagine how it will affect me,” Natsua said. “We have the ability to carry your seven brakes. We will be prepared in any way we can. It’s exciting. I think the game of football is meant to be played physically. I think Sunday will allow that.”
The worst conditions he saw were last month, in New Jersey against the Jets.
“Honestly, I don’t think I had any feeling in my legs until halftime,” he said. “We went to halftime and I was like, ‘Oh, there’s my toes.’ I felt like I was running four by four the whole game. That one was pretty cool. Maybe some in youth soccer in Utah where we played in some snow. They have heaters and things where they used to put their seven studs. We’ll be ready to run the ball and do whatever it takes (to be done) to win.”
Coach Sean McVay is monitoring the situation and is confident that the team will be ready.
“The weather (forecast) has changed over the last few days,” McVay said. “We will see what it is, but we are aware of it. I think the biggest thing is just to keep in mind, if the surface is affected, that our cleats are not the problem. That’s a big part of it. (Senior Director of Equipment) Brendan Burger does a great job with it. Matthew had experience handling that ball. I know this, if it’s snowing or if it’s raining, we have to keep in mind what we need to do to adjust and adapt, but there’s no way it’s going to be as cold as it was at the Jets game.”
The cold is one thing. Snow is another. And it’s just another challenge for the Rams, who have found a way to deal with all kinds of adversity in 2024. However, if the snow falls and sticks, it could become the biggest challenge they’ve faced this season — especially with the driving seasons to the outcome.
