It feels about 10 degrees colder out in Foxborough, Mass., than it does in Boston, and that sits well with New England Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins, who is hoping for a little snow to add to the ambience of Sunday's game.

Actually, Mankins wants a lot of snow, something he said would slow down some of those fast guys on offense (we're assuming he's talking about Ray Rice).

Good news for me and others who have no love for the white flakes: The forecast calls for clear skies.

Mankins reflected on some of the Patriots' history in bad-weather games from his locker Friday. The most significant, of course, being the infamous "tuck rule" game in 2002, the AFC divisional playoff win over the Oakland Raiders that helped propel the Patriots to the Super Bowl (even though that was a few years before Mankins entered the NFL).

Let's hope Sunday's game is devoid of such controversy.

And bad weather.

For the record, we're looking at a high of about 23 degrees and a low of 11.

Brent Jones