How NFL players prepare for the coldest games of the year

A FEW HOURS before kickoff of the Jan. 20, 2008, NFC Championship Game between the Giants and Packers in frigid Green Bay, around 10 New York players did what they always do: took a walk around the field. They were bundled up, with temperatures falling to minus 1 with a minus 23 wind chill. Their vaporized breath filled the air; the cold snapped at their faces. Suddenly, they were slapped with another cold reality: No player from Green Bay was on the field. "They knew a little more than we did," former Giants punter Jeff Feagles said. "That's when I knew it was going to be super, super cold." The severity of the cold didn't surprise the Giants players. They read the weather reports. They brought extra clothing and toe and hand warmers. They brought the usual halftime refreshments appropriate for cold weather -- broth and hot chocolate. But it wasn't enough early on. During pregame warmups, despite wearing gloves for the first time in his 21-year career, Feagles, who also served as the holder for kicker Lawrence Tynes, said his hands and feet were so cold that when it was time for him to take some practice kicks he caught one snap and opted not to kick. He said it was the only time in his career that he did not punt a ball in warmups. "I was freezing and didn't want to put bad thoughts in my head," said Feagles, whose hands would become important to the outcome. "I remember putting my hands underneath the sink with warm water and my hands just started to hurt. "I'm like, 'Oh, God, this is ridiculous.'" While not as severe as what Feagles & Co. experienced, frigid weather will await the Bears and Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's NFC divisional round game in Chicago, where the temperature for the 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff (NBC, Peacock) is forecast to be 16 degrees, with wind gusts around 20 miles per hour that will make it feel like 4 degrees. More than a dozen current and former NFL players told ESPN that preparing to play in below-freezing temperatures is a challenge that comes with many considerations and strategies. Players know they must be physically prepared, with some -- such as Rams QB Matthew Stafford , perhaps inspired by Tom Brady -- wearing scuba suits to fend off the cold. There's also mental prep. Players hunt for signs the weather is affecting an opponent in order to gain a psychological or on-field advantage. Others, such as Von Miller , play mind games to convince themselves that others have played in worse conditions. Other hurdles include frozen fingers getting jammed and numb hands changing the way offensive linemen approach their blocking assignments. Even the simple act of drinking water becomes a difficult task. On a more serious note is the risk of frostbite, which Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler and former Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor said they've both suffered during games. How well players navigate...

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