NFL Playoffs Weather Report and Forecast - Snow and wind
As usual in my NFL weather forecasts, the main focus is to identify games with high winds or heavy rain. Of all possible weather variables, wind is the biggest detriment to offenses, with a 15+mph wind being impactful and anything over 20mph sustained becoming a major problem for passing and kicking. Rain is another important factor in scoring, in particular heavy rain, which makes it harder to both throw and catch a pass, as well as turnovers increasing across the board. Temperature rarely impacts scoring, so it will only be noted here in extreme cases, like late-season games with temps below freezing. You can use this to your advantage making your picks on DFS sites and sportsbooks.
It’s also worth noting that while winds are fairly predictable a few days out, trying to pinpoint rain over a stadium is difficult even a few hours ahead of a game. So for the very latest info as the NFL Divisional Round forecast changes, stay tuned to @KevinRothWx on Twitter or check my main NFL weather forecast page.
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NFL Divisional Round Weather Report & Forecast
Sunday – January 22nd
Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills – Another game with a chance for rain and snow. Similar to KC in that the precip totals remain low, just some rain switching over to snow, and winds remaining light. It’s not ideal for the passing games to be dealing with any precipitation, but with light winds I don’t expect it will significantly hamstring the offenses.
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers – With a front coming through right around gametime it does look a bit gusty in SF. Sustained winds around 15mph with winds gusting over 20mph, that won’t impact every play, but could blow a few longer throws or kicks off target.
Overall Divisional Round Weather Forecast
When looking for an edge, I’m always trying to find high winds first, and rain/snow second. The wind comes in SF, and I do think it will have at least some impact, though not an “every play” kind of impact. The rain/snow comes in Buffalo, where a slick ball and surface could lead to a few offensive miscues (dropped passes, fumbles, etc). As I mentioned earlier, it’s best to follow forecasts right up until kickoff, so stay tuned to @KevinRothWx for the latest.
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