Ben Johnson has made an intriguing statement, asserting that Chicago will be the coldest venue the Rams have encountered this season. With a forecast predicting snow and frigid temperatures hovering around 20 degrees for the upcoming Sunday night clash between the Rams and the Bears, Johnson’s sentiments are certainly relevant.
"I enjoy the cold. I truly do appreciate experiencing colder weather," Johnson remarked with a hint of enthusiasm.
But does this chilly climate provide the Bears with a significant advantage against a team hailing from the warmer climate of Los Angeles? Johnson acknowledged, "I am aware that this will be the coldest game they’ve played this year. That was something I noted as soon as we learned about our opponent. However, I believe that Matthew Stafford has demonstrated his capability of performing well in cold conditions historically; I'm unsure how much of a competitive edge that really translates to concerning their passing strategy. There are numerous factors that come into play during a match like this."
Having previously held the position of offensive coordinator for the Lions, Johnson shared that, despite Detroit boasting an indoor stadium, he preferred to prepare his players for cold-weather games by conducting outdoor practices. He expressed uncertainty about how the Rams are planning to acclimate themselves to the cold.
"During my time in Detroit, we naturally began our practices outside, especially since it’s generally quite chilly at this time of year. This allowed us to get used to the elements as much as possible. It raises a valid point about how the Rams are approaching this situation and how they feel about the cold," Johnson noted thoughtfully.
Ultimately, Johnson expressed a hope that the players traveling from sunny Southern California would find themselves feeling a bit out of their element in the brisk January air of Chicago.
