FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots will play the Baltimore Ravens, not the weather, and head coach Bill Belichick had no interest in talking about the latter Thursday.
Belichick was asked five consecutive questions about Thursday’s and Saturday’s weather to begin his final news conference of the week, and he swatted them down like cornerback Darrelle Revis on a poorly timed pass.
Despite temperatures in the teens — and wind chill in the negative numbers — the Patriots still planned on practicing outside Thursday. That should help them prepare for Saturday’s slightly-less frigid conditions. The high for the divisional-round matchup against the Ravens is forecast to be 20 degrees, with a low of 10.
Check out Belichick’s string of non-answers to begin his news conference:
Does weather have a bigger impact mentally or physically?
The mental side of it, I don’t know. We practice in it. Whatever we practice in, I’m sure at some point we’ll play in. We’ve practice in everything this year: hot, cold, windy, still, day, night, rain, whatever it is, it is.
What’s the coldest game that you’ve been a part of in your career?
There’s been a few, but I don’t think those really matter right now. We’re just trying to get ready for Baltimore.
Will you be practicing in the stadium again?
We will.
How has Ryan Allen adjusted to punting in the cold?
He’s been doing it for two years, so whatever it is, it is. We’ve seen it in games, we’ve seen it in practice. Nothing we can do about it. We just need to execute whatever we have in whatever conditions we’re playing in. And we’ve practiced in all of them, so.
It will be marginally warmer on Saturday than it is today. Did you consider practicing inside, just from a health perspective?
No. Playing outside, we’re practicing outside.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
