JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Temperatures hovered in the low 60s in Jacksonville on Wednesday, which is cool for this time of year. On Sunday the Jaguars will play in Cleveland where the weather could have a huge impact on the game.
According to News4Jax Chief Meteorologist John Gaughan game time temperatures will hover around 36° with the wind chill dropping to 15-25°F in the second half. There is also a chance of a couple of bursts of heavy lake effect snow.
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If there is anybody on the Jaguars roster who is accustomed to playing in those conditions it’s Marcell Dareus who spent the first six years of his career playing for the Buffalo Bills.
“You have to just keep moving,” said Dareus who was traded to the Jaguars during their bye week. “Once you warm up and get the engine started don’t let it cool down.”
Even with that advice most of the Jaguars locker room enjoys the comfort of living in Florida this time of the year.
“I hate playing in the cold,” said Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith. “But the mindset we have is it’s three hours. We have to lock in for three hours and deal with it. The outcome that we’re looking for and playing for is much bigger than the three hours of cold we’re going to feel.”
Unlike Smith who’s from southern Georgia, fellow linebacker Myles Jack played his high school ball in the state of Washington. Although he has more experience with cold weather that doesn’t mean he’s a fan of playing in it.
“I just know I’ve got three hours in Cleveland on that field and after that I’m back in the sun here in Jacksonville,” said Jack. “If I can hold on for three hours, maybe a little bit longer if need be. Hopefully we don’t go to overtime but I can do three hours in the snow and then get out of there.”
Not only will it be cold and possibly snowy in Cleveland, but First Energy Stadium is right on Lake Erie and there will be winds of 25 mph with gust up to 35 mph. Those conditions have factored into the Jaguars game plan.
“I think it will definitely have an effect on some of the things you can’t do in 20 degrees and 25 miles an hour winds, which affects a little bit of your passing game, special teams, kicking, stuff like that, said quarterback Blake Bortles. “I feel like we have a good plan for it. I think it’s something that’s hard to prepare for, especially coming from Florida and simulating that cold weather and playing in that. We got a chance to go play in Buffalo last year, it was not quite as cold but close to it. I don’t know. I don’t know how you prepare for it. I think you go there and wear whatever is comfortable and try to keep warm and go play football.”