Arrowhead field under layer of ice before Chiefs-Raiders showdown

Thursday night’s AFC West showdown between the Chiefs and Raiders could be a mess considering the field is under a layer of ice.

First place is on the line in Thursday night’s AFC West clash between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, but things could get dicey because of the field conditions. The month of December can present a wrinkle for every game when the temperatures dip, snow falls and ice forms on the field.

That’s what happened at Arrowhead field in Kansas City where a layer of ice formed under the tarp that was covering the field. There are heaters under the field to help prevent this type of things from happening, but the field remains frozen.

There is still plenty of time before the 8:25 p.m. ET kickoff to thaw the field out and I’m sure there would be a few thousand Chiefs fans willing to bring hair dryers to help the ice melt to ensure quality field conditions for the big game.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the 20s for the duration of the day and will obviously get a little colder as we get closer to game time, but on paper, a frozen field would seem to help the Chiefs.

The Raiders aren’t as accustomed to the cold weather as a team from Kansas City would be. At least that’s what Chiefs fans will be hoping for. Plus, anything that could potentially slow down Raiders All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Kahlil Mack from terrorizing Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith would be beneficial.

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Having said that, the Chiefs have some ferocious edge rushers of their own they don’t want losing a step, so what looked like one of the best games of the year could be hamstrung because of Jack Frost nipping at our noses.