Old Man Winter Smiles On Houston; Texans History Up North In The Cold

New England is somewhere just below Green Bay in terms of reputation as an inhospitable wintry outpost of northern football.

That rep might have spelled trouble for the Houston Texans: a southern dome team playing up north, at night, outdoors, in the cold.

Houston has played just eight games in its history outdoors in northern cities in December or January.

The visit to New England is game No. 9, and just the franchise's second visit up north, outdoors in December or January for a game played at night. 

But even with limited time in cold-weather games, the Texans have fared quite well, with a 4-4 record, including victories in the two coldest games in franchise history.

The complete list is below.

We were looking forward to an icy December game in the night sky of Foxboro when the Texans: billows of breath blowing out from heaving offensive lineman as cinematic flakes of snow fall all around.

You know, much like what we saw Sunday night in Green Bay’s 27-20 win over Detroit at chilly Lambeau Field.

But not tonight. Not in Foxboro. 

Old Man winter is taking a break. Foxboro will be abnormally warm for this time of year, with temperatures approaching 60. That’s like beach weather in New England. The average temperature in the area in early December is about 35 degrees.

Even if Foxboro were frosty tonight, it may not matter: Houston has played two games with negative wind chills, and won both of them.

Dec. 11, 2011 – Houston at Cincinnati (-2.5)
Houston won 20-19 W (34 degrees, 1 p.m.)

Dec. 26, 2010 – Houston (-2.5) at Denver
Houston lost 24-23 ATS L (50 degrees, 2 p.m.)

Dec. 2, 2010 – Houston at Philly (-8)
Houston lost 34-24 (36 degrees, 8:30 p.m. Thursday)

Dec. 7, 2008 – Houston at Green Bay (-7)
Houston won 24-21 ATS W (6 degrees, -9 wind chill, noon)

Dec. 17, 2006 – Houston at New England (-12.5)
Houston lost 40-7 (44 degrees, 1 p.m.)

Dec. 19, 2004 – Houston at Chicago (-1)
Houston won 24-5 (14 degrees, -3 wind chill, noon)

Dec. 5, 2004 – Houston at N.Y. Jets (-7)
Houston lost 29-7 (47 degrees, 1 p.m.)

Dec. 8, 2002 – Houston at Pittsburgh (-14)
Houston won 24-6 (33 degrees, wind chill 23, 1 p.m.)

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