December 23, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter
The NHL?s Winter Classic is nine days away, and it could be downright balmy by then.
It was 2 degrees with a wind-chill factor of minus-13 when the Bears-Packers game kicked off Monday night, making it the coldest Bears home game since they began keeping such records in 1963.
Each sideline was equipped with eight portable heaters, and the Bears had hot soup broth on their sideline. But most Bears didn?t wear long sleeves, and none of the offensive linemen did ? an informal rule James ??Big Cat?? Williams enacted when he played from 1991 to 2002.
The 20-17 overtime victory enabled the Bears to improve to 10-1 under coach Lovie Smith in games that started with the temperature at 32 degrees or below.
Monday night marked the coldest game for the Packers since they hosted the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game last January. That was the third-coldest game in NFL history: minus-1 with a wind-chill factor of minus-23.
According to forbes.com, the Bears, Packers and Minnesota Vikings have hosted nine of the 16 coldest games in league history, with the Ice Bowl at Lambeau Field leading the way. In that title match with the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 31, 1967, it was minus-13 at kickoff with a wind-chill factor of minus-48.
For the third consecutive game, there were two heating stations in the stadium for fans.
These are the five coldest Bears home games:
Dec. 22, 2008: 2 degrees, -13 wind chill vs. Packers:scared
Dec. 18, 1983: 3 degrees, -15 wind chill vs. Packers
Jan. 10, 1988: 4 degrees, -12 wind chill vs. Redskins
Dec. 17, 1989: 10 degrees, -5 wind chill vs. Packers
Dec. 11, 1977: 10 degrees, -3 wind chill vs. Packers
BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter
The NHL?s Winter Classic is nine days away, and it could be downright balmy by then.
It was 2 degrees with a wind-chill factor of minus-13 when the Bears-Packers game kicked off Monday night, making it the coldest Bears home game since they began keeping such records in 1963.
Each sideline was equipped with eight portable heaters, and the Bears had hot soup broth on their sideline. But most Bears didn?t wear long sleeves, and none of the offensive linemen did ? an informal rule James ??Big Cat?? Williams enacted when he played from 1991 to 2002.
The 20-17 overtime victory enabled the Bears to improve to 10-1 under coach Lovie Smith in games that started with the temperature at 32 degrees or below.
Monday night marked the coldest game for the Packers since they hosted the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game last January. That was the third-coldest game in NFL history: minus-1 with a wind-chill factor of minus-23.
According to forbes.com, the Bears, Packers and Minnesota Vikings have hosted nine of the 16 coldest games in league history, with the Ice Bowl at Lambeau Field leading the way. In that title match with the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 31, 1967, it was minus-13 at kickoff with a wind-chill factor of minus-48.
For the third consecutive game, there were two heating stations in the stadium for fans.
These are the five coldest Bears home games:
Dec. 22, 2008: 2 degrees, -13 wind chill vs. Packers:scared
Dec. 18, 1983: 3 degrees, -15 wind chill vs. Packers
Jan. 10, 1988: 4 degrees, -12 wind chill vs. Redskins
Dec. 17, 1989: 10 degrees, -5 wind chill vs. Packers
Dec. 11, 1977: 10 degrees, -3 wind chill vs. Packers
