Approach Sunday’s bitter game day weather with a smile, not a shudder, Ravens fans.
Dating back to 2000, the Ravens have won nine consecutive home games when it’s been 40 degrees or below at kickoff.
According to Weather.com, the temperature at M&T Bank Stadium will be 37 degrees at 8 p.m. with a 18 mph wind chill that will make it feel like it’s 27 degrees.
“Shoot, we’ve played in way colder than that,” tight end Todd Heap said with a grin. “I won’t even put sleeves on.”
For those of you who can’t understand how a player can simply wear a pads and short-sleeve mesh jersey in such temperatures, right tackle Marshal Yanda has an answer.
“You’re running around and your [friggin'] heart’s jacked up and pumping,” Yanda said. “You’re hot, you’re sweating. It’s like you’re in a fight. I like it.”
Cold temperatures have more of an effect on the skill players.
“I don’t think anybody likes it,” wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. He was then told Yanda does.
“Isn’t he from Iowa?” Houshmandzadeh correctly asked. “Those guys from cold places, I wouldn’t say they like it. That’s just tough talk. OK, maybe they’re able to deal with it better.”
However, Houshmandzadeh said he doesn’t have any problems catching a cold, harder ball as long as he keeps his hands warm. To do that, his strategy is the old hands-down-the-pants tactic and hand-warmer bags.
Ravens Equipment Manager Ed Carroll said he hands out 100 to 120 hand-warmers on the sidelines.
Quarterback Joe Flacco keeps one in a pouch he wears around his waist. He, like other players, just hope they don’t have to sit on the bench too long.
“I don’t think it should be a problem,” Flacco said. “When you’re out there playing the game, you usually get pretty warm pretty quickly.”