For the first time this season, there is a chance that inclement weather impacts a handful of NFL games. We're not quite to the part of the year where there's going to be snow in Buffalo and Green Bay, but there are several Week 4 matchups that could deal with some rain.
Before we get into the Week 4 forecasts, here's a reminder that if you have any questions about sports weather or how the weather could impact play (and, potentially, your fantasy, DFS, and gambling decisions), don't hesitate to reach out to RotoGrinders' meteorologist Kevin Roth on Twitter (@KevinRothWx) or check out the hourly NFL weather forecasts on RotoGrinders. To take your game to the next level, subscribe to RotoGrinders' exclusive WeatherEdge tool and see how different weather conditions have impacted historical scoring.
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Note: If a game isn't mentioned below, it's because it doesn't even have 10-mph winds, a 20-percent chance of precipitation, or extreme temperatures in the forecast.
NFL weather forecast and updates Week 4
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
UPDATE: If there are showers tonight they will be light and spotty. The most likely outcome is that there is no rain at all
Per Kevin Roth: "There's a chance for scattered showers and even a storm or two for Thursday Night Football. Any rain would make the passing attack for both teams less efficient, which would be significantly more impactful to the Cowboys than the Giants.
The Cowboys are a passing team; they rank 1st in the NFL in passing yards and 3rd-to-last in rushing yards. If rain were to hamper their passing attack, it would be a major detriment to their offense.
The Giants, while not lighting it up through the air or on the ground, favor a more balanced attack that could be less impacted if forced to keep the ball on the ground."
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
UPDATE: Expect winds of 15-20 MPH that could impact longer throws and kicks
Per Kevin Roth: "There’s a low chance of showers here, as well as winds around 10 mph.
I don’t expect those winds to be strong enough to be impactful for fantasy or betting (my baseline for that is 15 mph sustained), but if they do get under a rain shower or two, it could slow the offenses down a bit and force a reliance on the run."
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Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
UPDATE: There is a chance (60 percent) that the game ends up under a Florida downpour at some point. These pop-up storms are hard to predict, so check out Kevin Roth's Twitter where he'll be reviewing the radar as game time draws closer.
Per Kevin Roth: “Nearly every week in Tampa has the same forecast: A chance for afternoon storms.
These pop-up thunderstorms are nearly impossible to pinpoint until right before kickoff.
If one happens to fire up over the stadium, we could see a downpour or even a rain delay, but the overall coverage of storms should be around 40%, so the likely outcome remains a dry game.”
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens
UPDATE: Scattered showers are possible. However, it should not be anything serious.
Sunday Night Football has a chance of being impacted by some showers and light winds. Roth is currently forecasting a 30-percent chance of rain.
This matchup falls into the same category as Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay - there may be some showers that impact play, but it's not anything to be overly concerned about. Be sure to check back for updates as this primetime game approaches.
WEEK 4 DFS ADVICE
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Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins
UPDATE: The storms in the Miami area should occur in the afternoon and pass by kickoff
One of the Monday Night Football games may also be affected by some rain. Miami may deal with some showers on Monday, as is typical for Florida.
Roth is not particularly concerned about the impact of rain on this game. His forecast currently projects the rainfall to be winding down by kickoff, with a small chance of showers early in the game. This forecast isn't enough to impact start-sit decisions.
