The red-hot Rams face Mother Nature's winter worst and the Jets in Week 16

The LA Rams compete in Southern California, a location that seldom faces anything remotely close to winter weather. Even now, the darkest day of the year, Los Angeles California is basking in temperatures that range from the mid-60s to the low 70s Fahrenheit. And that is about as rough and tough as Mother Nature becomes for the Rams. At worst, it's sweater weather. But for those of us who have suffered the icy cold of winter's worst, those temperatures remain shorts and tee-shirts weather.

Unfortunately, that is not where the Rams will step onto the football field in Week 16.

There is something to be said about this last road game on the Rams schedule, finishing off in sub-freezing temperatures in the NorthEast where temperatures will hove in the low 20s Fahrenheit, but with a wind chill driving the effective temperature at game time all the way down to 12 degrees. That is thanks to a steady wind of 9.0 miles per hour, gusting up to 15 miles per hour.

So how will that impact the game plan for the Week 16 contest? Let's talk it out.

There are many articles that cite how cold temperatures can impact a football game. The challenge during the game comes not just with the temperatures that affect the players, but those bone-chilling temperatures have an effect on the football itself. A football in cold temperatures can lose up to 20 percent of its air, making it much less 'active,' when coming off a quarterback's hand or a kicker's foot.

And the impact becomes more and more pronounced throughout the game. That translates into punts, field goals, and even passes having less zing in them in the fourth quarter, versus the first quarter when the footballs still have enough residual heat.

And you cannot overlook the impact of 15-mph gusts during the game either. That much wind will impact the trajectory of passes, punts, field goals, and kickoffs. So in some regard, this could be some very valuable experience for Rams players who have not had much exposure to the bone-numbing chill of sub-feezing temperatures and an unrelenting wind.

The Rams will have to deal with an early kickoff (per time zones), bitter cold temperatures (per a typical New York City winter day), and a determined New York Jets roster that wants to ensure they are playing for the team in 2025.

That's a lot for this young team to face in Week 16. But if the Rams are to advance in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, this is an ideal test. Hopefully, the young players will pass it with flying colors. As always, thanks for reading.

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