Laddie Morse
The Kansas City Chiefs play host to the Miami Dolphins tomorrow on Week One of the Playoffs — Wildcard Weekend — and it’s going to be cold. The lineups for this game may not end up mattering as much as the weather does.
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The High on Saturday is supposed to be seven (7) degrees. The Weekend outlook is bleak. This is from KSHB.com:
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I’ve included Sunday’s outlook to give you context for the weekend. When the Sun goes down on Saturday and the Chiefs start to play, it’s going to be colder than it may have ever been at Arrowhead for a game. There’s this from YahooSports.com:
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“According to the Kansas City Star, the coldest game
at Arrowhead Stadium occurred in 1983, when it was
0.5 degrees at kickoff. The Chiefs’ coldest home playoff
game was 11 degrees, so Saturday’s matchup should
safely break that record.”
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“… so Saturday’s matchup should safely break that record.” Wow, that’s not a comforting thought. Safely? Oh wait one minute! The National Weather Service has provided this chart below to accurately project when you can get Frostbite:
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Please take precautions seriously.
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Take cardboard to the game to sit on and to place under your feet as the cement at Arrowhead can be extremely cold. That’s a tip coming from someone who once sat in the nosebleeds.
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Chiefs Practice
The Chiefs practiced outside this week, but there is nothing that can prepare your body for the shock of below zero temps. The Dolphins are coming from 50-to-70 temps during this week and they will get the shock of their lives. As it is now Thursday evening, the temps in Miami are now 68 degrees. Even the Chiefs players will suffer during this one. I’d much rather be a player going into the game on a regular basis than to be a backups who is standing on the sidelines the whole game or for that matter, a bench warmer who can’t get warm.
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Dolphins’ Injury Report
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With DB Xavien Howard OUT it’s a problem for Miami. When you add that to their other defensive players who are missing, it adds up to a disaster for the Dolphins. In fact, the Dolphins have recently signed two former Chiefs: Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram. Houston will turn 35 years old in 9 days, on January 21. Melvin Ingram will be 35 in three months, April 26. Houston came out in the 2011 draft and Ingram the next season. However, Kyle Brandt recently outlined how you beat the Chiefs if you’re the Dolphins:
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It’s hard to imagine Dolphins player, much less the one’s they signed this week, being ready to brave the temperatures that they will be facing in Arrowhead come Saturday night, not to mention the crowd or crowd noise. I can only imagine that Justin Houston and Tyreek Hill will get their fair share of boos… even though they probably shouldn’t.
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Side Note: I wrote a piece over 12 years ago now called, “Problem, We Have a Houston” in which I suggested that: “Justin Houston may have smoked the most expensive joint of all time.” In the meantime, Missouri has relaxed their laws on Marijuana and Houston would likely not have slipped to the third round — where the Chiefs selected him — like he did that year, especially considering today’s morals.
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Chiefs Injury Report
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It looks like LT Donovan Smith will return to the lineup this week . I’m not so sure that’s a good thing. Wanya Morris — who is still in the concussion protocol and OUT — was not the best protector for Patrick Mahomes, but at least he was getting practice in for next season because I believe Wanya will be the team’s permanent LT in 2024. The real question is, who will line up at Right Tackle for K.C.? Jawaan Taylor is QUESTIONABLE with a knee issue. Yes, he practiced all week but if there was a time to replace him, now would be it. Things got better last week when Joe Thuney moved over to the Tackle position, but I wouldn’t count on Thuney showing up there full time.
From the standpoint of players who will be available to play in this game, the Chiefs have it hands down. It may not be the warmest of football environments, but K.C. players and Kingdom fans will show up loud and proud.
Go Chiefs!
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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