"It made me realize that I never wanted to have a dome. Even though [the Bills] didn't win any of the [Super Bowls], they won games because the players don't like coming up into a cold place like that."
"Late in the season is, historically, when New England has played its best football. Temperatures come into full effect, and there are clear-cut examples of what the cold can do to players' performance who aren't otherwise used to it. Tua Tagovailoa is 1-7 in games under 50 degrees, with more interceptions than touchdowns. He's never won a game when the kickoff temperature is under 46 degrees."
"New England just picked off C.J. Stroud four times on Sunday, continuing to prove Stroud's inability to play outside. In outdoor playoff games, he's 1-3, with two touchdowns to five interceptions. His only playoff win outside came against the Steelers this year, when the Houston defense scored two touchdowns. Comparatively, Stroud has four touchdowns to a single interception and is 2-0 in dome playoff games, averaging 278 passing yards a game and leading the Texans to 38.5 points per game. The Texans have scored 17.5 points per game outside."
Gillette Stadium's open-air, cold conditions become a major home-field advantage for the New England Patriots late in the season. Owner Robert Kraft said he never wanted a dome because cold visiting teams win fewer games. Buffalo and its open-air stadium create similar challenges for opponents. Cold temperatures correlate with poorer performance for some quarterbacks: Tua Tagovailoa is 1-7 in games under 50 degrees and has never won a game with a kickoff temperature under 46 degrees. The Patriots recently intercepted C.J. Stroud four times, underscoring Stroud's struggles outside. Stroud's outdoor playoff numbers lag his dome performance, and the Texans score far fewer points outdoors.
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