Follow the game between the Dolphins and the Packers Thursday at 8 p.m. on RDS and on RDS.ca
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wants to continue his momentum despite the fact that it will be cold for the American Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
Tagovailoa has thrown seven touchdown passes without throwing an interception in the last two games, coming at home against the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots. However, it could freeze in Green Bay, where weather forecasts indicate a temperature that could oscillate between minus-1 and minus-5 degrees Celsius.
The Dolphins have lost their last 11 games — regular season or playoffs — when the temperature at kickoff is below 5 degrees Celsius, according to Sportradar. The Floridians’ most recent victory when the temperature was below 5 degrees Celsius occurred against the Bills in Buffalo on December 24, 2016. The Dolphins then triumphed 34-31 in overtime.
“Since we’re based in Miami, where the temperature is always around 27 degrees Celsius, we’re obviously not living the same reality as all these teams playing up north,” admitted Tagovailoa, who grew up in Hawaii and attended college in Alabama. Sometimes it drops to 10 degrees Celsius, but that has nothing to do with the climate in which these teams play. In my opinion, you just have to be in the right state of mind. »
Tagovailoa has faced much worse situations before.
He completed 20 of his 39 pass attempts with a touchdown and an interception when the Dolphins lost 26-7 to the Chiefs in Kansas City in the playoffs last season, when the thermometer read minus 20 degrees Celsius at the time of the game. kickoff, feeling minus-33 due to the wind chill. Tagovailoa wore a glove on his right hand that night, but indicated that likely won’t be the case Thursday night.
“For most of the guys that were in that locker room last year in Kansas City, I think we realized how intense the cold could be,” Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins (5-6) covet a fourth victory in a row. The Packers (8-3) have won their last two games, including a one-sided 38-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
The Packers are therefore aware that they will face an immense challenge against Tagovailoa and the speedy wide ends of the Dolphins on Thursday. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Tagovailoa is “among the best in his profession” when it comes to throwing passes under pressure.
“When the delivery of the ball is as quick and he throws a pass as precise as his, then his teammates can gain a lot of yards after the catch,” LaFleur explained. And we’re all aware of the speed of these guys — they’re unique in the NFL. »
