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TIME UPDATE: Wild Card Playoff Game Between the Patriots and Chargers Could Be Affected by Heavy Rain in New England – Game Information

Foxborough, Massachusetts – January 10, 2026

The AFC Wild Card matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers is being closely monitored by league officials as heavy rain is expected to impact New England on game night, potentially affecting the opening stages or the middle portion of the contest at Gillette Stadium.

According to updated forecasts, a brief but intense rain band is expected during the evening hours, with the possibility of a heavy downpour lasting roughly one hour. The rain could arrive around kickoff or shortly after the game begins, bringing reduced visibility, slick field conditions, and strong wind gusts that may interfere with ball handling, footing, and overall game flow.

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Current weather data indicates temperatures around 5°C (RealFeel near 3°C), mostly cloudy skies, westerly winds near 20 km/h with gusts up to 50 km/h, and an 80% chance of precipitation. While the rain is not expected to last all night, its intensity during a short window could significantly affect player safety, officiating visibility, and in-stadium conditions for fans.

If rainfall becomes heavy enough to compromise field safety or visibility — particularly during live action — the NFL is prepared to temporarily delay the game by approximately 30 minutes to up to one hour. Such a delay would allow field crews to address drainage concerns and ensure safe playing conditions. In that scenario, the contest would resume later and extend beyond its originally projected end time, rather than being postponed to another day.

Game Information (Tentative):

  • Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026

  • Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
    (subject to delay of 30–60 minutes if heavy rain significantly impacts play)

  • Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Broadcast: Nationwide

  • League officials, team staff, and stadium operations will continue to monitor weather conditions closely leading up to and during kickoff. While no final decision has been made, rain — not snow — is now considered the primary weather factor, and its timing could play a direct role in how the playoff showdown unfolds.

    Patriots vs. Chargers forecast shows New England weather could be factor in  Wild Card game - masslive.com

    Whether delayed or played straight through the rain, the Patriots–Chargers matchup is still expected to deliver a high-stakes playoff battle — one that may be defined as much by resilience and adaptability as by execution on the field.

    Just Three Hours After Being Released by the Packers, 2× Pro Bowl Star Deletes Every Post About Green Bay After His Attempt to Take a Pay Cut to Stay Was Rejected — His Vow Never to Return Leaves Packers Nation in Sympathy .
    Green Bay, Wisconsin – The offseason took an emotional turn for the Green Bay Packers when the organization decided to release veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins as part of a salary-cap adjustment. But what happened just hours later turned the situation into one of the most emotional storylines of the week across the NFL. According to multiple reports, Jenkins — a two-time Pro Bowl selection and former All-Pro honoree — had attempted to negotiate with the team and even offered to take a pay cut in order to remain with the franchise that originally drafted him. The effort ultimately fell short as Green Bay chose to move forward with a roster reset, clearing nearly $20 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Just three hours after the release became official, fans began noticing something unusual on Jenkins’ social media accounts. Every post connected to his years in Green Bay — from locker room celebrations to photos wearing the iconic green-and-gold uniform — had quietly disappeared. Jenkins had been one of the pillars of the Packers’ offensive line since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Throughout multiple seasons, he built a reputation for rare versatility, capable of playing guard, tackle, and center at an elite level, and was widely regarded as one of the most reliable and flexible offensive linemen in the league. At his peak, Jenkins was often described as Green Bay’s “secret weapon” on the offensive front. He protected multiple quarterbacks over the years and helped anchor an offense that consistently remained competitive during several playoff runs. His ability to seamlessly shift across nearly every position along the offensive line made him one of the most trusted players inside the Packers’ locker room. At first, the decision to erase those memories surprised many fans. But once reports surfaced that Jenkins had been willing to sacrifice financially just to remain with the team, the reaction across Packers Nation quickly shifted from shock to empathy. Green Bay will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where my journey truly began. But sometimes you fight to stay somewhere and still realize that chapter has ended, and when that moment comes, the only thing you can do is walk away with respect for every memory that was built there. While Jenkins did not criticize the organization, sources close to the situation say the emotional weight of the release influenced his decision to remove the posts. What surprised many even more was the report that Jenkins has told people close to him that he does not plan to return to Green Bay at any point in his career, choosing instead to start an entirely new chapter elsewhere in the NFL. Yet instead of anger, the reaction from Packers fans has largely been one of understanding. For many supporters, Jenkins’ willingness to take a pay cut simply reinforced what they had long believed. He wasn’t just protecting the quarterback on Sundays.He was trying to protect a home he once hoped would last his entire career.