Will the playoff game between the Packers and the 49ers rate with the coldest the NFL has ever played? Let’s take a look:
Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants — Jan. 20, 2008: -4/-24
Lets get this out of the way early. It gets Cold in Green Bay, Wis., so this won’t be the only time the Packers appear on this list. This is the most recent game on our list, with Eli Manning leading the Giants into Lambeau for what would be Brett Favre’s last game under center for the team he lead for so many years. The Giants put one of the few subzero blemishes on Brett’s playoff resume by winning and went on to famously upset an undefeated Patriot team in the Super Bowl.
Cleveland Browns vs. Oakland Raiders — Jan. 4, 1981: -5/-20
Whats an NFL list without a crushing Browns defeat? This one came with a shot at the AFC title game on the line. The Dawg Pound faithful braved subzero temperatures on the shores of Lake Erie only to watch their quarterback throw a costly Red Zone interception that ended up sealing a Raider victory and yet more proof that as Bill Simmons says, “God hates Cleveland.”
Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs — Jan. 7, 1996: -6/-15
The Chiefs and Colts met in the playoffs in a slow plodding contest that saw the defenses take the lead and the offenses exchanging punts all day. The warmest game on this list, Arrowhead stadium was the site of the lowest scoring tilt as well with the Colts escaping 10-7.
San Diego Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals — Jan. 10, 1982: -9/-59
Okay, so for those of us who live in the city, it’s always a little stunning just how dark it can get on a country night without the street lights and glow of a city. That’s REAL dark; this game was REAL cold capital C cold. With a reported low of -59, the Boomer Esiason led Bengals took on the Chargers in a game that has since been dubbed “The Freezer Bowl.” The end result saw the Bengals earn a trip to the Super Bowl with a convincing 27-7 win.
Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers — Dec. 31, 1967: -13/-48
No cold weather game list could be complete without the legendary Ice Bowl which saw “America’s Team” take on the Pack on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field. The only game on this list that didn’t take place in January, this New Year’s Eve clash featured the iconic Bart Starr who drove the Packers into the end zone one final time putting the team from Green Bay up for good en route to one of their many Super Bowl titles.
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