Working on the AFC Championship game preview earlier this week, I looked at the long-range forecast for Kansas City. It indicated single-digit temperatures at gametime, so I had concerns of a potential Ice Bowl-type of game situation, which would make things tougher on the offenses. But the current forecast doesn't look as bad.
It's still going to be cold in Kansas City, much more so than if it were in a dome like the NFC game. But it should be in the mid-to-high 20s around kickoff; cold, but not necessarily a huge problem for the passing games.
When picking players from the two games, I still like the NFC game better as a back-and-forth type of shootout. But doesn't look terrible in Kansas City (which I think is better for Patrick Mahomes and company than a freezing-cold type of affair).
The other noteworthy development in Kansas City is that Spencer Ware (hamstring), who practiced on a limited basis all last week before being inactive, got in a full practice yesterday. Looks more likely now that he'll play, and be that No. 2 back behind Damien Williams. Last week the No. 2 was Darrel Williams, and he scored, but he didn't play a lot. Ware could potential play a little more (although probably still the clear No. 2, with the way Damien Williams has played in his absence).
For the NFC game, both Benjamin Watson (illness) and Keith Kirkwood (calf) missed practices Wednesday and Thursday. Kirkwood scored last week and played the majority of the game, so his absence would be significant -- and beneficial to other receivers, like Ted Ginn and TreQuan Smith. We'll see if he's able to practice today, though.
With Watson, he hasn't been a factor in the passing game for most of the season anyway, plus illness doesn't usually keep players out. But a slight bump to Josh Hill if Watson can't go.
--Andy Richardson