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Matthew Stafford spent many years playing in the frigid climate of Detroit; however, he has now spent a significant stretch competing in the warm and pleasant weather of Los Angeles. That reality places him at a certain disadvantage against the Chicago Bears ahead of their matchup this Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Soldier Field.
Unlike the sunshine and mild breezes typical of this time of year in California, the Windy City is expecting gusts of up to 20 miles per hour. Combined with the forecasted game-day temperature of 10 degrees, conditions are expected to feel closer to four degrees by kickoff.
When temperatures approach freezing levels, the body feels the impact, especially if a player is no longer accustomed to that type of environment. That is precisely what is expected to affect Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford as he prepares for this challenge.
Tom Brady identifies Matthew Stafford's weaknesses ahead of the divisional game in Chicago
If anyone understands what it means to play in the cold, it is former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The seven-time Super Bowl champion famously turned harsh winter conditions into one of his greatest allies.
In New England, the weather is unforgiving, and Brady learned how to use it to his advantage, transforming it into a competitive strength. Now that the expected temperature in Chicago is known, Brady delivered a statement that could weigh heavily on Rams signal-caller Matthew Stafford.
Matt did play in Detroit for a long time, and in that division, he did go outside to Chicago and Green Bay. It's not like he hasn't played in it."..."But I will say when I went to Tampa after my time in New England, it didn't take me very long to get very soft into the cold weather.
We ended up going to Green Bay in the NFC championship game my first year, and very, fortunately, the game wasn't that cold. It was like 32-34 degrees at kickoff. It wasn't -9 that is really cold. And that's a big advantage for Chicago.
Brady shared those remarks with The Herd host Colin Cowherd on NFL on FOX.
The Chicago Bears' greatest advantage
Over the past six weeks, the Chicago Bears have benefited from their freezing home conditions, embracing the weather as a key component of their recent success. While this is nothing new for the franchise, this season it appears to have played an even larger role.
Cold weather tends to affect teams that come from warmer climates, particularly those based in the southern regions of the country, such as Florida and California. For that reason, the matchup is expected to be especially difficult for the Rams.
From the Los Angeles perspective, the challenge will be severe. They must contend with nearly frozen, slippery turf, while receivers and quarterbacks alike will struggle with numb hands when attempting to throw and catch passes.
That context gives Brady's words added weight entering the game. In response, the former quarterback said Stafford must embrace discomfort, advice coming from someone who knows exactly what it takes. In such conditions, Brady posted an impressive 35-8 record.
For Stafford, however, games played in extreme cold have not produced the same results. He has often struggled in those circumstances, which is why the Bears pushed to secure the second seed and the advantages that come with hosting games at home.
This Sunday will determine whether the Rams quarterback can overcome the elements or if the weather once again tilts the balance in Chicago's favor.