Between the sub-freezing temperatures and the state of Soldier Field in Chicago, today’s NFL playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears could be a sloppy one. Just minutes prior to the game, the NFL on Fox crew reported Soldier Field was in poor condition, with crews scrambling to replace sod that came loose during warmups. The grounds crew is using green colored sand to fill in the missing patches as players look for the right cleat combination to keep traction.
As we saw during the BCS championship, a shoddy field can be the great equalizer, with a power running game favored over speed on the edges. Sideline reporter Tony Siragusa reported the pass rushers could struggle getting off the ball and finding a foothold as they try to shed blocks during todays game.
With temperatures in the low 20s, calling Soldier Field the frozen tundra this morning. Snow is beginning to fall in Chicago as the teams go through last minute preparations ahead of the game. It’s gonna be a cold and blustery game in the Windy City, but would you expect anything less? Sounds like perfect weather for some playoff football.
We’ll see if it matters, and how the field will hold up, as the Seahawks take on the Bears at 10 a.m. on Fox. Follow all the action throughout the game in our NFL playoff StoryStream.