The AFC Divisional matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills is set to take place under frigid conditions at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. With a forecasted temperature of 17 degrees F at kickoff and wind chills making it feel as low as four degrees, it will mark the coldest game in the careers of both Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and team top rusher Derrick Henry.

The icy weather will greet fans as early as 10 a.m. during tailgating hours when temperatures are expected to hover around 18 degrees. As the game progresses, the temps will dip further, possibly reaching single digits by the final whistle around 10 p.m. ET.

Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry pose

For Jackson, the cold is no stranger, though this will be his most frigid game yet. His previous coldest game was a 27-degree showdown in Kansas City during the 2018 season, where the Ravens fell to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in a 27-24 overtime nail-biter. In his career, Jackson has excelled in games below 36 degrees with an 8-2 record in frigid conditions.

The two-time MVP made it clear that gloves won’t be part of his wardrobe for Sunday, stating, “I tried that in practice, [and] I was horrible. I’ll leave that up to ‘Teddy Two Gloves,’ Teddy Bridgewater. Shoutout to Teddy,” he said. Jackson added that the team’s equipment staff is prepared to provide all necessary cold-weather gear.

Henry will also face the coldest game of his career, with his previous record being 22 degrees. Historically, Henry’s best performances have come in warmer conditions, including his career-high 250-yard, two-touchdown game in Houston in January 2021 when temperatures were 66 degrees.

The Power Runners four-touchdown performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018 was in 44-degree weather. He also rushed for 238 yards during the dominant 30-9 victory.

Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson celebrate a TD

The game will be the coldest of both offensive weapons ( Image: Getty)

The cold will undoubtedly test the ex-Titans star. Despite the freezing conditions, Sunday’s game doesn’t crack the top 10 coldest NFL games of all time, which features a list led by the infamous “Ice Bowl” in 1967 between the Packers and Cowboys [-13 degrees at kickoff] and the “Freezer Bowl” in 1982’s AFC Championship Game between the Bengals and Chargers [-9 degrees, with a wind chill of -59 degrees].

The Ravens and Bills last met in Week 4, with Baltimore earning a commanding 35-10 victory. Both teams are now led by MVP front-runners, with Jackson eyeing his third MVP award. The cold will undoubtedly play a significant role in this high-stakes rematch, with both teams looking to advance to the AFC Championship Game.

Bills QB Josh Allen admitted to not being fond of playing in the cold during 2022 before a matchup with the Patriots that reached two degrees. “It’s not fun getting hit in the cold; it’s not fun catching hard passes in the cold,” he said. “Getting off the ground, it’s a little more exhausting throughout the course of the game. Just trying to get used to that, and it’s more of a mental barrier than it is a physical barrier, if anything.”