Bears freeze out Cowboys

Photo: Chicago Tribune

I hate to walk outside on a frigid day and hear someone ask, "Is it cold enough for ya?"

I just want to punch them right in the neck. Who asks stupid questions like that?

On Monday night in Chicago, I'm sure it was cold enough for everyone at Soldier Field where temperatures fell to 7 degrees Fahrenheit. With the wind, it felt like minus 7 as the hometown Bears whipped the Dallas Cowboys 45-28.

Next Monday, players, coaches and fans will be much warmer inside the cozy confines of Ford Field when the enigmatic Lions host the Baltimore Ravens. After both teams played in snow on Sunday, I'm sure they'll be happy to take their games inside the climate controlled dome.

I'll be at the same place I am most Monday night's, sitting in the man cave basking in TV's warm glowing warming glow.

Good night, Homer.

-- cold --

Sunday, snowy Sunday

Jeffrey G. Pittenger/USA TODAY Sports, via Reuters

If Sunday's NFL action didn't thrill you, you must have ice water in your veins.

As I told my wife, Sunday's games, particularly the early contests, were the most exciting I've seen on one Sunday in a while. There were high-scoring games, close games, a near upset in New England and constant lead changes late in the fourth quarter of the Baltimore/Minnesota game.

The one key element to all this excitement, in most cases, was the weather. We had snow in near D.C., Baltimore, Green Bay and Pittsburgh, but the blizzard-like conditions in Philly provided the most visually appealing matchup of the day.

I'll write more on this later – real-world stuff is getting in the way of important Rainout Blog stuff today – but for now I'll link you to a pretty cool snow-game gallery on NFL.com.

Oh, and don't forget temperatures will be down to 11 degrees Fahrenheit tonight in Chicago where da Bears host the Cowboys. By the way, what's Tony Romo's record like in December?

-- snow --

Stinging in the Rain

Photo of the Day: I’m labeling this post the Photo of the Day because I really don’t have much to say about the game or the weather, but I do like the accompanying photo from Getty Images.

That’s Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy – has there ever been a better name for a QB from Texas? Never mind – soaking in falling rain drops after he was popped by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Avanbadejo Sunday.

The Ravens soared – that’s so cliché – to a 24-10 victory over the Browns on a windy, rainy day in Cleveland behind the running of mudder Ray Rice, who racked up 204 yards and a rushing touchdown on 29 carries.

With Rice rumbling through the Brownies defense, the Ravens had no real reason for Joe Flacco to take to the air, but he did anyway, completing just 10 of 29 passes for 158 yards.

Yeah, It's Cold in Wisconsin

When you look at the NFL schedule and notice that the Green Bay Packers are playing on a Monday night in December, one question immediately pops to mind: Will there be snow?

According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance, a small chance, of white stuff falling on Lambeau Field. And if it does snow, no accumulation is expected.

Bummer!

However, it is Green Bay in December, so you know it’s going to be frostier than Thanksgiving dinner at Elin and Tiger’s house. At the moment, the 10-day forecast is calling for temps to dip to about 25 degrees.

Hold on.

Ok. Vince Lombardi just called and said that sounds like a heat wave.

Anyway, Tom Silverstein has a story in the Journal Sentinel today about the Packers’ remaining frostbitten schedule, which includes road games in Chicago and Pittsburgh and a game back at Lambeau against the Seahawks.

And Kevin Cowherd of The Baltimore Sun advises Ravens players to stay close to the bench heaters Monday night.

The photo above is from the AP. Thanks, guys.

Scary Flight For Ravens' Lewis

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis had a frightening helicopter ride Tuesday. The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday that Lewis was on his way back to Baltimore from New York when the helicopter he was riding in flew directly into heavy fog and rain. The pilot of the aircraft was able to land safely in a field. Lewis, who had been in New York to shoot and Under Armour commercial, was on his way back to Baltimore to attend Christmas party for about 600 children in the city. "We get halfway to Baltimore and all of a sudden out of nowhere, a fog jumped on us," Lewis told the Sun. "Fog, rain, and we were like, 'Are you serious?' But now we're trapped over water, and I can't see out of the helicopter."

Steelers Flooding Ravens on MNF

At the risk of looking like one of those nerdy live blogs, I wanted to provide an in-game photo showing rain falling in Pittsburgh as the Steelers and Ravens compete on Monday Night Football. As expected, a steady rain fell during pregame and the first quarter. The wet stuff, however, had no negative effects on the home team. It’s halftime (The live version of PTI is on) and the Steelers have the Heinz Field crowd in a frenzy with a 35-7 lead. Ben Roethlisberger tossed four touchdown passes in the first half. Willis McGahee got the Ravens on the board late in the second quarter with a long TD run. I mention that only because it helps my fantasy team. All right that’s it for me tonight. Let’s hope Big Ben throws five more touchdowns. And no, this does not qualify as live blogging. Good night, Singapore.

Steelers, Ravens Battle For AFC North May Be All Wet

There's nothing unusual about the Pittsburgh Steelers being in first place in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens nipping at their heels, but it is unusual for the Cleveland Browns to be in the mix for an AFC wildcard berth, and for the division title.

A Monday Night Football loss by the Steelers puts the Ravens and the Brownies in a three-way, first place tie with Pittsburgh. Tonight's matchup is intriguing and may be played in less-than-perfect playing conditions.

Excellent!

The weather forecast for Pittsburgh tonight calls for a 70 percent chance of occasional rain tapering to a few showers late. About a half inch of rain is possible. Thunder may roar through the Steel City skies early in the evening and winds could reach 25 mph. Lows are expected to dip to about 39 degrees. Now this is football weather.



And don't forget that the Heinz Field natural grass surface isn't the best when it comes to providing solid footing. Heinz consistently rates poorly among players and is regularly ripped for being one of the worst playing surfaces in the NFL. Tonight we may get a chance to see which team is the baddest mudder in the division. (That's so lame!)

Both the Steelers and Ravens are strong running teams. With the forecasted weather conditions, I'm guessing we'll see a lot of Fast Willie Parker and Willis McGahee and few passes. I'm setting the over/under for passes thrown tonight at 41 and I'm taking the under.