Cold, chance of snow expected for Broncos-Patriots AFC Championship in Denver

Cbssports reports fans attending Sunday's AFC Championship between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots in Denver should bundle up: weather.com forecasts a high of 21 degrees and a low of 8 degrees, a 49% chance of snow with about one inch expected, and winds up to 12 miles per hour.

The game starts at 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local time), so temperatures will be closer to the high and sunset is at 5:11 p.m. Weather.com describes the day as 'very cold', and conditions could affect kicking, passing and ball handling. Colder air increases resistance and can make longer kicks harder, though Denver's mile-high elevation can let a kicked ball travel a few yards farther.

The report notes that cold can numb hands and slow reaction times; former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri, New England's honorary captain for the game, has commented on the ball changing in cold weather. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has had six fumbles in the last two playoff wins, so ball security is highlighted as a potential factor.

Key Topics

Sports, Afc Championship, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Drake Maye, Adam Vinatieri