The Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs is set to get underway this weekend, right in the middle of winter.
Winter weather profoundly shapes NFL games, forcing strategic shifts, performance dips, and safety concerns that bettors and online sportsbooks must factor into wagers. Cold snaps below freezing slow passing attacks by 8-25%, thicken footballs to cut kicking distances, and spike fumbles via numb hands and slick fields.
And this week, all four venues hosting NFL games are stadiums that have historically been impacted by nasty winter weather. However, Mother Nature is clearly a football fan, as the weather conditions are quite favourable for three of the four matchups, considering these games are being placed in the middle of January.
Here’s a look at the projected weather forecasts for each NFL venue that is hosting a game in the second round of the NFL playoffs this weekend.
NFL Weather Report
| Matchup | Date/Time | Weather |
| Bills @ Broncos | Saturday, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m. ET | 4 C, clear skies, 10 mph winds |
| 49ers @ Seahawks | Saturday. Jan. 17, 8 p.m. ET | 8 C, clear skies, 3 mph winds |
| Texans @ Patriots | Sunday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m. ET | 2 C, 30% chance of precipitation, 6 mph winds |
| Rams @ Bears | Sunday, Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m. ET | -8 C, clear skies, 16 mph winds |
NFL Divisional Round Game Totals
- The Bills/Broncos game total opened at 46.5 or 47 at most online sportsbooks, and now that number is sitting at around 46 points as of Thursday morning.
- The 49ers/Seahawks game total opened as high as 46.5 at some shops, and that number has been bet down 45 points.
- The Texans/Patriots game total opened at around 41.5 and is hovering around 40 points as of Thursday morning.
- The Rams/Bears game total has seen the biggest swing out of all the games this weekend, opening at around 51.5 before falling to as low as 48.5 as of Thursday morning. The expected cold and blustery conditions are certainly playing a factor in this line move.