Overview
- Kickoff brought temperatures in the teens with snow and wind chills near zero, making cold management a central factor.
- Both teams and Soldier Field deployed warming measures, including hot chocolate with marshmallows, chicken broth on the sidelines, warming centers, and concessions selling hot drinks and hand warmers.
- NBC reporter Melissa Stark relayed that several Rams players used cayenne in their socks, a detail later echoed by other outlets.
- Coverage cited a statistic that domed teams are 2-15 in outdoor playoff games below freezing since 2000, underscoring the perceived cold-weather challenge.
- Fans on social media voiced skepticism about the cayenne tactic, and reports noted the practice is uncommon and not widely documented.