Matthew Stafford has experienced it. The rest of the Rams don’t.
In 2013, Stafford’s Lions and Eagles played a snow game in Philadelphia. Based on the current forecast, Stafford’s Rams will play a snow game in Philadelphia.
From now on, temperatures will drop during the day from a high of 36 at night. The snow will be strongest before and during the race. The total forecast is four to five inches.
The changing forecast was a topic for Stafford and others who spoke to reporters Thursday. And Stafford has been generally calm about the growing possibility that snow and cold will be a factor.
“We’ll see when we get there,” Stafford said. “Every weather situation I’ve been a part of is different. You go out there and see what you can and can’t do. I’m sure Sunday will be no different.”
“I’ve never played in a real snow game,” receiver Cooper Kupp said. “I played at Eastern Washington. We played very cold games, but never anything with real snow on the ground. We’ll see what happens, but you just take care of it. You take care of whatever it’s going to be. A few weeks ago we watched to the old famous snow play in which Matthew played and [Lions receiver] Calvin [Johnson Jr.] hyperventilated through the snow. I told Matthew that would be so cool. That is so unique to play in. All games and everything that comes with it comes down to who wants it or who is going to find a way to make it happen. That would be cool. Who knows what will happen. I’m excited no matter the circumstances. I know we will handle it the right way.”
Snow will also be something new for receiver Puka Nacua.
“I can’t really imagine how this will affect me,” Nacua said. “We have the ability to wear your seven-stud cleats there. We’re going to prepare in the ways we can. It’s exciting. I think football is meant to be played physically. I think that’s what makes Sunday possible.”
The worst conditions he has seen occurred last month, in New Jersey against the Jets.
“To be honest, I don’t think I had feeling in my feet until half-time,” he said. “We went into halftime and I thought, ‘Oh, there are my toes.’ I felt like I was running on four by four the whole game. That one was pretty cool. Maybe in youth football in Utah where we played in a little bit of snow. They have the heaters and like seven studs in there run the ball and do what is necessary [to be done] win.”
Coach Sean McVay has been monitoring the situation and he is confident the team will be ready.
“The weather [forecast] has changed in recent days,” McVay said. “We’ll see what it is, but we are aware of that. I think the most important thing is to be aware that our cleats will not pose a problem if the surface is compromised. That’s a big part of it. [Senior director of equipment] Brendan Burger does a great job with that. Matthew has experience handling that ball. “I know this, if it snows or rains, we have to figure out what we need to do to adapt, but there’s no way it can be as cold as it was at the Jets game.”
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 be the biggest challenge they have faced this season – especially with the season depending on the outcome.