Top 10 coldest games in NFL History
From the legendary Ice Bowl to AFC and NFC Championships, even in low temperatures the stakes of these games have been immensely high.
The NFL has often hosted several games in challenging temperatures, especially in the winter. While adverse weather makes playing conditions difficult on the gridiron, some really exciting games have taken place in freezing temperatures.
As the Miami Dolphins visit the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC wild-card fixture on Saturday, the showdown at Arrowhead Stadium can be one of the coldest in NFL history. The temperature at kick-off is predicted to hit 0°F, possibly dipping to negative over the course of the game.
Today we take a look at some of the coldest NFL games in league history that broke records with freezingly low temperatures. From the legendary Ice Bowl to AFC and NFC Championships, even in low temperatures, the stakes of these games have been immensely high.
10. Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1°F, -17.2°C)
In one of the coldest games in NFL history, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Denver Broncos at the Arrowhead Stadium in 1983. The Week 16 fixture, taking place on December 16, recorded a chilling -17.2°C on the mercury, which was also the lowest-ever temperature recorded at the Chiefs’ home ground.
Fortunately enough, the game started at 1:00 pm local time. Had it been a prime-time showdown, the temperature dip would have been worse. The wind speed during kick-off was 15 mph and the real feel was recorded at about -19°F.
Bill Kenny for the Kansas City Chiefs (Via AP)
Despite the unfavorable weather, the KC team easily had the home advantage and secured a 48–17 victory. QB Bill Kenny had a game-high two touchdowns for the Chiefs.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals (0°F, -17.8°C)
The Week 13 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Riverfront Stadium on December 10th, 1977, remains one of the coldest games in league history. The Bengals hosted the Steelers on a cold, wintry afternoon where the temperature dropped to 0°F and wind speed hit 12 mph.
The game featured NFL stars Terry Bradshaw and Ken Anderson, and eventually the home team emerged victorious. The low-scoring fixture had a final score of 17–10 as Bill Johnson’s side secured the win.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals (Via BFrames vault)
The real feel hit -17°F but the Bengals faithful kept cheering for the home team. QB Ken Anderson scored the only touchdown of the fixture giving his side a 17–10 lead in the third quarter, and the eventual victory.
8. Los Angeles Raiders vs. Buffalo Bills (0°F, -17.8°C)
The Buffalo Bills hosted the Raiders on January 15, 1994, where the temperature dropped to -17.8°C, i.e., 0°F at kick-off. The Playoffs fixture started at 12:30 PM but the wind chill was still as low as -14°F.
The AFC divisional round game saw Raiders HC Art Shell deploy his side with an all-out offensive strategy which gave them a 17–13 lead at HT. Despite playing at their home, the Bills struggled to level up the score until late into the fourth quarter.
Jim Haslett (R) congratulates Bills QB Jim Kelly (Via AP)
QB Jim Kelly scored two touchdowns for his team, and the Buffalo side won with a scoreline of 29–23. With wind speed faring roughly at 12 mph over the astroturf, the game was a difficult away fixture for the Raiders.
7. Los Angeles Raiders vs. Green Bay Packers (0°F, -17.8°C)
The Raiders traveled to Lambeau Field on December 26, 1993, in a Week 17 fixture against the Green Bay Packers. Art Shell’s side would face a blowout loss at the hands of Mike Holmgren’s Packers, where the temperature dropped to 0°F.
In a humiliating 28–0 loss, the Raiders suffered one of their worst defeats that season. The real feel was about -20°C and the atmosphere only grew colder for the Raiders faithful as the game proceeded.
Reggie White (92) sacks Jeff Hostetler (15) (Via MG)
In fact, the team had just traveled from LA, where the temperature was an average of 55°F to 60°F. Perhaps the sudden change had to do with the players’ inability to adapt to the adverse conditions in Green Bay where, along with the drop in mercury, wind speed was faring at 11 mph.
6. New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers (-1°F, -18.3°C)
The 2007 NFC Championship game was one of the coldest NFL games in league history. The New York Giants traveled to Lambeau Field to face the Packers on January 30, 2008, in the decisive fixture.
With the thermometer recording -1°F during kick-off at 6:42 pm, it was going to be one toughly contested game for Brett Favre and Co. Unfortunately for the Packers legend, his last game in Green Bay ended up being a disappointing loss that cut their Super Bowl dreams short.
2007 NFC Championship game (Via NY Times)
The fixture was tied 20–20 and fatefully went into OT. The Giants eventually won 23–20 with a field goal, and while the wind chill was freezing at -23°C, the Packers faithful sure met an ice-cold end to their Super Bowl aspirations.
5. Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings (-2°F, -18.8°C)
The Minnesota Vikings‘ home ground Metropolitan Stadium saw two of the coldest games ever played in the NFL, just about seven days apart. The first of the two fixtures saw the Chicago Bears face the Vikings on December 3, 1972.
The Week 13 matchup recorded -2°F at the time of kick-off. The wind chill was about -15°C, while wind speed fared at 12 mph.
The freezing weather slowed down the offense for both teams by the third quarter, and it was primarily from field goals that the scoreboard progressed. The Vikings eventually won the tie 23–10, preparing for their next matchup with the Packers.
4. Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings (-2°F, -18.8°C)
Week 14 saw the Minnesota Vikings take the field in similar conditions, this time against Dan Devin’s Green Bay Packers. The game took place at the Metropolitan Stadium on December 10, 1972 – exactly seven days after their triumph over the Bears at -2°F.
This time, however, the victors took charge in the ice-cold weather. With wind speed faring 11 mph and real feel dropping to -19°C, the hosts failed to show resilience in the cold.
(Via Wisconsin State Journal)
The Packers won 23–7, and the Vikings had their records drop to 7-5 after the matchup. Bud Grant’s team would face the San Francisco 49ers at the Candlestick Park, which recorded 40 degrees at the time of kick-off.
3. Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings (-6°F, -21°C)
The Seattle Seahawks visited the Minnesota Vikings at the TCF Bank Stadium on January 10, 2016. The NFC wild-card fixture turned out to be one of the coldest games in NFL history.
Seattle Seahawks vs Minnesota Vikings (Via AP)
The temperature recorded a scary -6°F at the time of kick-off and the real feel was a freezing -25°C. The toughly contested game saw a desperate attempt from both sides to advance into the next round, though the scoreline had little to show for the gridiron drama.
The Vikings won 10–9 in the cold, wintry afternoon while the Seahawks’ postseason journey was cut short with the defeat.
2. San Diego Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals (-9°F, -22.8°C)
The 1981 AFC Championship game remains one of the coldest games in the history of the league. The Cincinnati Bengals played hosts to the Chargers on January 10, 1982, at the Riverfront Stadium.
The drastic contrast in temperatures between San Diego and Cincinnati shook the Chargers offense. Despite the wind speed being 24 mph and the real feel reaching an excruciating -32°C, the Bengals fared fairly well at home.
1981 AFC Championship game (Via Jose Azel/Aurora)
QB Ken Anderson was substantial to the Bengals’ triumph and recorded a game-high two touchdowns. The Chargers lost 27–7 while Forrest Gregg’s side advanced to the Super Bowl.
1. The Ice Bowl (-13°F, -25°C)
Widely regarded as one of the most iconic NFL Championship games ever, Super Bowl II recorded the coldest ever temperature in league history. The Dallas Cowboys visited the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 31, 1968, with the temperature dipping as low as never before.
The mercury dropped to a scary -25°C, while the wind chill was reported to be as bad as -48°C. But given the hype surrounding the Championship game, the entire stadium was sold out with 50,861 spectators in attendance.
The iconic Ice Bowl (Via Poca CN)
The field kept freezing despite artificial heating systems and even the half-time show had to be canceled due to the adverse weather. Woodwind instruments froze and brass instruments stuck to the musicians’ lips in the low temperatures.
On the gridiron, it was Bart Starr and Co, who dominated the game from the first quarter. The hosts emerged victorious with an eventual scoreline of 21–17, while Starr was named MVP for his display in the Super Bowl. To date, the Ice Bowl remains the coldest NFL game ever played in the history of the league.
FAQs
Q. What was the coldest game in NFL history?
The 1967 NFL Championship game, known as the Ice Bowl, was the coldest game ever played in league history.
