It’s no secret that Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro isn’t a fan of the cold. Tough luck for a kicker that grew up in South Florida that’s tasked with kicking in Chicago.
But if Pineiro thought that he’d kicked in cold weather before, just wait until he sees what awaits him Sunday at Lambeau Field. The high temperature is expected to be 19 degrees with a wind chill in single digits. Simply put, it’ll be the coldest game Pineiro has ever kicked in.
Pineiro practiced outdoors Wednesday, where the temperature was in the low 20s, to try and get acclimated for what awaits him on Sunday. So what did he learn?
“Just hit the same ball,” Pineiro said. “It’s just going to be colder. It’s probably not going to go as far.”
The weather is out of Pineiro’s control, which is why special teams coordinator Chris Tabor wants him to focus on controlling the things he can control.
“He just has to go up and hit his football,” Tabor said.
As for how Pineiro fared in the frigid temperatures outside Halas Hall on Wednesday, he did “just fine.” Not exactly reassuring considering Pineiro has been anything but fine in the cold this season.
Considering Pineiro is a rookie in the league, he’s still growing as a player. A big part of that growth is from a mental standpoint. For a kicker, that means dealing with the highs — like a game-winning field goal against the Broncos — and the lows — missing a last-second game-winning field goal against the Chargers.
“I think I’ve gotten mentally stronger,” Pineiro said. “It’s all a learning experience.”
Pineiro’s next test comes in the Bears’ biggest game of the season — a divisional showdown against the hated Packers with playoff hopes on the line. So, no pressure or anything.
