Cold creates havoc after hot-weather workout
Soldier Field snow packs a wallop after team’s side trip to sunny Orlando
CHICAGO — Practicing last week in Florida’s sunshine and heat was polar opposite to the snowstorm the 49ers endured in Sunday’s 26-6 loss at Soldier Field.
Coach Chip Kelly defended the decision to work out in Orlando after last week’s loss in Miami, as opposed to flying home or, well, to a colder climate.
“It wasn’t like we could have practiced in Saskatchewan this week,” Kelly said.
While temperatures in the Canadian province hovered in the 20s with some snow last week, the 49ers worked out at the University of Central Florida under hot and humid conditions, with temperatures in the high 80s.
The Snowbirds, er, 49ers (111) saw a 6-0 lead melt fast as snow fell throughout the game at Soldier Field, where there were 13,160 no-shows with a game-time temperature of 33 degrees and 5-mph winds.
“The weather was something that definitely played a factor,” Colin Kaepernick said. “We have to do a better job managing that, handling it, being able to throw the ball still.”
Added Kelly: “Both teams had to deal with it, and they dealt with it better, especially in the pass game.”
Blaine Gabbert, who replaced an ineffective Kaepernick (1 of 5, four yards) for the fourth quarter, said the Florida layover had “no effect” on Sunday’s outcome.
“That’s got nothing to do with it,” Gabbert said. “We’re professionals. Rain, sleet, sun, cloudy weather, freezing cold, 90 degrees — that has no effect on how we approach and how we get ready to play a football game.”
Gabbert was 4 of 10 for 35 yards in his first action since relinquishing the starting job after five games.
Kaepernick said the weather made it “tougher throwing a football.” It was his first NFL game in the snow, and the first time he got benched during a game in his six-year career.
Kaepernick also said the weather “definitely played a factor” in the 49ers’ early preference to run the ball. Carlos Hyde had 17 carries for 74 yards by halftime, and he finished with 20 carries for 92 yards.
“It was snowing pretty bad so it had nothing to do with (Kaepernick),” Kelly said. “The weather situation dictated that we were not going to be able to throw the ball a lot today.”
The 49ers had six net passing yards — their second-lowest in franchise history — when factoring in the 33 yards they lost on six sacks.
Bears quarterback Matt Barkley didn’t complete a pass until 1:21 before halftime, but he finished 11 of 18 for 192 yards.
“Both teams were pretty cautious early in that game as far as pass attempts,” Bears coach John Fox said. “I know they called it snow but it felt more like rain out there, so the ball was hard to hang on to.”