A Cold Super Bowl Is A Different Sort Of Game

A COLD SUPER BOWL IS A DIFFERENT SORT OF GAME When the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos face off in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on February 2, they'll also be facing the elements. This is the first time in Super Bowl history that the game will be played outdoors in a cold weather environment. How will low temperatures affect the game? It's complicated... COLDEST ON-FIELD SUPER BOWL TEMPERATURES 26 39 46 50 53 57 Projected* 2014 1972 1975 1974 1985 1976 Stanford Stadium Palo Alto, Calif. MetLife Stadium Tulane Stadium New Orleans Tulane Stadium Rice Stadium Houston Orange Bowl Miami East Rutherford, N.J. New Orleans Dallas Cowboys 24 Miami Dolphins 3 Denver Broncos Pitt. Steelers 16 Pitt. Steelers Miami Dolphins 24 Minn. Vikings San Fran. 49ers 24 |21 Seattle Seahawks Minn. Vikings 3 Miami Dolphins 3 Dallas Cowboys 17 PASSING Low temperatures reduce the air pressure inside the football, making it harder to throw and catch. In a recent experiment, pressure inside the ball was 30 percent lower at 10° F than at 72° F. And at 10 degrees, players' grip strength fell by 50 percent. Low temps tend to reduce the number of passing attempts and increase air drag, making it hard for quarterbacks to complete a long pass. RUSSELL WILSON PEYTON MANNING Seahawks quarterback 2013 Regular season Broncos qua 2013 Regular season 101.2 QB rating QB rating 115.1 63.1 Completion percentage Completion percentage 68.3 8.2 Avg yards per pass attempt Avg yards per pass attempt JANUARY GAMES 2007-2011 209.8 Avg yards per game Avg yards per game 342.3 Avg drops per game Avg pass completion 26 Touchdowns Touchdowns 55 3.9 61.1% 56.4% 2.91 Interceptions Interceptions 10 Indoor Outdoor Indoor Outdoor REGULAR SEASON RUN-PASS RATIO Seattle Seahawks Denver Broncos %3D 47.7% 60.1% 52.3% 39.9% RUSHING Denver may have to rely less on passing and more on the legs of running back Knowshon Moreno. Of course, low temps may make it hard for him and the other running backs to hold on to the ball. At extremely cold temperatures, studies show that fumble rates can rise by up to 35 percent. MARSHAWN LYNCH KNOWSHON MORENO Seahawks running back 2013 Regular season Broncos running back 2013 Regular season 78.6 4 64.9 Fumbles 24 Fumbles 0.4% Fumble rate 1.3% Fumble rate 4.2 4.3 Yards Yards Yards Yards per per per per carry game game carry HOW COLD AFFECTS THE BODY HEARING Sound travels slower in cold air, making it harder for players to hear calls but also muffling the roar of the crowd. INJURIES Low temps increase the risk for muscle strains and tears. Since both the ball and the turf are harder in cold weather, BRONCHOCONSTRICTION players' risk of fractures and concussions may rise. Breathing cold air irritates the lungs, tightening the chest and sometimes causing coughing. URGE TO URINATE 25 Low temperatures can increase the need to urinate. PARESTHESIA Fingers and toes go numb as the body directs blood to its core to conserve BALANCE Friction between players' shoes and the turf drops in cold weather, making slips more likely. heat and protect vital organs. KICKING/PUNTING Long punt Low temps also complicate the kicking game, since the ball is less bouncy. Punts are shorter and field goal accuracy falls. 69 YDS STEVEN HAUSCHKA Long punt MATT PRATER Seahawks kicker 2013 Regular season 60 YDS Broncos kicker 2013 Regular season Avg punt Avg punt 42.7 YDS 44.5 YDS FIELD GOAL FIELD GOAL SUCCESS JON RYAN BRITTON COLQUITT SUCCESS 94.3% 96.2% Seahawks punter 2013 Regular season Broncos punter 2013 Regular season *As of 8:00 a.m., January 30 THE HUFFINGTON POST Photos: Associated Press Sources: Brian Burke, Advanced NFLStatistics.com; ESPN Sports Science; NFL/Freakonomics; NFL; NFL News, New York Times, Bloomberg.com; Dr. Eric Goff, professor of physics at Lynchburg College and the author of "Gold Medal Physics: The Science of Sports;" Metro RUSHING RUSHING PASSING PASSING