Saints vs. Browns weather updates: Single-digit temps, snow expected to affect FirstEnergy Stadium

Kevin Skiver

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Saints vs. Browns weather updates: Single-digit temps, snow expected to affect FirstEnergy Stadium image

The New Orleans Saints may find themselves visiting some unfriendly confines Saturday, with Cleveland expecting bitter cold for Christmas Eve.

What will be a largely meaningless game from a standings perspective is an interesting one on the schedule, as snow and wind is in the forecast. With two teams who have struggled thus far this year it could, if nothing else, provide some compelling ugly football.

For the Saints, Andy Dalton is still projected to start against Deshaun Watson and the Browns. A severe winter weather warning is in effect in Northern Ohio, and the wind chill is expected to duck below -10 degrees. Expect a heavy dose of the running game (and a lot of touches for different players) to try to offset the stinging cold.

Despite these teams' struggles, they aren't statistically eliminated from the postseason. Far from it, in fact. The Browns, at 6-8, are two games back of an AFC wild card. They effectively have to win out and still get some help to have a shot. The Saints, meanwhile, are 5-9, just one game back of the Buccaneers in the NFC South. However, they don't hold the tiebreaker, so they need some help as well.

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Mother Nature won't be doing them any favors Saturday, that much is certain. Even if the snow holds off, the cold is going to make things uncomfortable.

This cold front appears to be affecting everyone in the midwest, with the Bears and Bills battling similarly freezing conditions in their game.

Browns vs. Saints weather updates

Saturday, Dec. 24

Forecast: 9 degrees, 20 percent chance of snow showers, 28 mph winds

According to Weather.com, ongoing snow is supposed to end around 11 a.m. ET, but a chance for more remains throughout the game. The biggest concern is the wind, which is set to blow steadily at around 30 mph throughout the afternoon. 

Aditi Kinkhabwala of CBS reported the "feels like" temperature during pregame was negative 19 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com had it at negative 28 ... but at that level, what's the difference, really? 

Friday, Dec. 23

Forecast: 9 degrees, 34 percent chance of snow showers, 30 mph winds

The forecast itself hasn't changed, and the hourly update is more or less the same. Once the game kicks off, it should get up to around 10-15 degrees, with the snow being scattered throughout the game. There should be showers, but it won't be a continuous blizzard throughout the game.

The conditions are reportedly so fierce, there's a good chance no Saints media will make it to the game from New Orleans due to flight cancellations.

Thursday, Dec. 22

Forecast: 9 degrees, 34 percent chance of snow showers, 30 mph winds

Flick's tongue is getting stuck to that pole again.

As of Thursday, at noon on gameday it's going to be around 9 degrees with a 34 percent chance of snow following an entire night of snow in the area. Furthermore, there will be 30 mph winds with gusts up to 60 mph.

In other words, those going to the game, bundle up. It's going to be a long day.

Furthermore, the winds will be blowing southwest. That means the stadium, which is angled southwest toward northeast, will be providing a clear advantage for whichever team is heading downfield.

Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver Photo

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.