“Bear Weather” is back: Rams react very differently to Chicago’s brutal forecast
The Los Angeles Rams are in for a test when they face the Chicago Bears at a brutally cold and windy Soldier Field in the Divisional Round this Sunday.
The Chicago Bears are set to host the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round this Sunday night, with temperatures expected to hover near 20 degrees Farenheit, wind chills plunging toward negative territory, and snow possible around kickoff. And while Rams head coach Sean McVay insists the elements won’t be an excuse, wide receiver Davante Adams hasn’t exactly hidden his discomfort.
The contrast in tone has been impossible to miss.
Davante Adams isn’t thrilled about the cold
Speaking this week on Up & Adams, Davante Adams, a longtime cold-weather veteran from his Green Bay days, was immediately candid when asked about the forecast.
“First, I was thinking, ‘What’s this weather about to be like?’” Adams said. “And of course, the worst two possible days, we’re going down there.”
Although Adams tried to downplay the impact, he eventually admitted what many visiting players rarely say out loud.
“A little bit [soft], I’m not gonna lie,” Adams said when pressed about adjusting to life back in cold conditions after playing in Los Angeles.
Adams noted that some of the best games of his career came in harsh weather but made it clear comfort is still important, especially when temperatures may feel close to -10 degrees.
“I’m not worried about it. I would just much rather be comfortable than go out and play in… I think it’s a high of 17.”
That honesty may resonate in Chicago, where “Bear Weather” has long been viewed as a legitimate home-field advantage, particularly in the postseason.
Sean McVay shrugs it off
While Adams acknowledged the challenge, Sean McVay took the opposite approach. The Rams head coach said Chicago’s forecast won’t be worse than cold-weather games the team played last season and emphasized preparation over conditions.
“We’re not going to waste our energy on things we can’t control,” McVay said. “I don’t have a weather machine.”
McVay pointed out that quarterback Matthew Stafford has experience playing in cold environments and insisted the Rams will simply adjust.
“The ball is a little bit slicker, it feels like a rock, but other than that, let’s freakin’ roll,” McVay said.
The message from McVay has been consistent. Weather won’t be allowed as an excuse, and mental toughness will dictate the outcome.
Weather matters for Bears
Chicago fought hard for the No. 2 seed for this exact reason. Soldier Field in January can be unforgiving, particularly for teams built around high-powered passing attacks.
Cold temperatures, slick footing, and swirling winds have historically caused issues for Matthew Stafford, and Adams can’t throw the ball to himself. If conditions worsen, and especially if snow falls during the game, the weather could give the Bears the edge.
That doesn’t mean the Rams’ top-ranked offense is doomed. But if the game becomes more about ball security, physicality, and endurance, the elements may just become Chicago’s most reliable ally.
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