While we’re all busy trying to figure out who has COVID and who doesn’t, there are a lot of other things to look at for Week 16 in the NFL. Playoff scenarios and all the stats are still at the forefront for a lot of bettors as well. Add the holiday rush to the mix and you’re sure to forget about something. My guess? It’s the weather.
It is late December, so you want to factor that into every outdoor handicap. Let’s look at some games that could be impacted by Mother Nature.
Jaguars at Jets – Two inept offenses may have to deal with some wind at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. It will be sunny and unseasonably warm in the mid-40s, but sustained winds are in the 10-15 mph range. Not really a big deal, but could be a factor.
Giants at Eagles – Same story here in Philadelphia, as the Giants and Eagles luck out with sunny and 50, but it will be a little breezy around kickoff, with gusts popping up into the 15 mph range.
Bears at Seahawks – A very ugly weather week in Seattle includes flooding today and snow on Sunday. Temps will be around 30 and about an inch of snow is forecasted. For two teams that don’t have a whole lot to play for, the weather could zap some of the energy out of this one. This total has gone down a bit throughout the week, but nothing too extreme.
Steelers at Chiefs – The most notable wind game of the week is this one, with gusts into the 20-25 mph range at Arrowhead Stadium. It will be warm, but windy. This total fell from 46.5 to 44.5 earlier in the week, which may or may not have to do with the wind.
All in all, for being the week of Christmas, this is a pretty tame weather forecast, but there are enough moving parts this week for the conditions to get lost in the shuffle and I just wanted to give you a heads up on the games that may be impacted.