Bears coach Ben Johnson says colder the better for playoff game against warm-weather Rams on Sunday

Bears coach Ben Johnson is a relentless researcher and mentioned Monday that with the forecast predicting a high of 18 degrees and a low of 8, this would be the Rams’ coldest game of the season. The closest thing to arctic conditions this season was 45-degree weather for a late-November game at the Panthers.

They played 10 of their 18 games indoors, and haven’t played in under 20 degrees since a 2022 regular-season game at the Packers. It was 15 degrees that day, the coldest game the Rams have played since moving back to Los Angeles in 2016.

“That's something that I recognized when we found out who the opponent was, but Matthew Stafford has played well in cold games in his past,” Johnson said. “I don't know how much of an advantage that gives you over their passing game, but there are a lot of elements that go into a game like this."

Johnson added that he’d be happy to see the temperature plunge as much as possible, saying, “I do like the cold."

Stafford has played his home games indoors — the league considers Sofi Stadium an outdoor venue, technically, but come on — is his entire 17-year career. He threw for 324 yards with two touchdown passes for a 97.2 passer rating in a snowy playoff game at the Eagles a year ago.