Super Bowl contenders braced for record heatwave as players take extreme measures in practice

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The Philadelphia Eagles’ trip to Nashville, Tennessee is braced to be a record-breaking one. Temperatures between the Eagles’ clash against the Tennessee Titans is estimated to be 95 degrees around kickoff, with a heat index that pushes past 105 degrees, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Temperatures at Nissan Stadium for the Titans’ clash against the Eagles are estimated to reach 105 degreesGettyThis game, therefore, has the potential to be one of the hottest games in Titans franchise history. The heat can pose a plethora of issues, especially to the offensive and defensive linemen, because of their size combined with the physical demands of their roles at the line of scrimmage.As such, both teams may need to adapt their substitution patterns accordingly.Whilst the challenging conditions could also affect the depth of both teams, the Eagles have arrived to the Music City well prepared. View Tweet: https://t.co/a8BuYnUZgy“We got a lot of guys from the South. We took it up a level and practiced with hoodies on. We’re not worried about it,” Eagles outside linebacker Nolan Smith said. The Titans also issued a warning to fans travelling to the stadium for the game to remind them to stay hydrated, whilst also revealing that they had taken additional measures by adding misting and cooling stations around Nissan Stadium.Of course, the Titans are slightly more accustomed to practicing in the Nashville heat, giving them a slight advantage, at least environmentally. But their poor form to start the 2026 NFL season is a slight cause for concern. In their season opener against the New York Jets, the Titans struggled to move the ball down the field, registering just 195 total offensive yards in a 23-10 defeat. On the other side of the ball, they allowed 367 yards from the Jets offense with their woeful display already putting head coach Robert Saleh on the hot seat after just one game at the helm. The Titans will be hoping that they can manage the conditions better than the EaglesGettyEagles LB Nolan Smith said the team had been practicing in hoodies to try and acclimatizeGettyEagles chasing Super BowlAs for the Eagles, Jalen Hurts and co are considered as one of the leading frontrunners to make the Super Bowl, ranking in at fourth on talkSPORT’s power rankings. Only the defending champions Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills rank higher. This comes after their gritty 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 1, with Hurts completing 14-of-25 passing for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Philadelphia’s offense are now without A.J. Brown after his blockbuster trade to the New England Patriots during the offseason, amid growing tensions between the wideout and his quarterback. But with the one-two punch of Hurts and All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley – who is considered a top-4 back in the NFL – and a top-five defense in points allowed in 2025, the Eagles will be bidding to state their claim for being one of the best teams in the league, heatwave or not. Although the Titans lack the quality that the Eagles have, in unprecedented conditions, the team who manages those conditions the best will be in a more favorable position to get the victory. Join talkSPORT’s dedicated US Sports YouTube channel The S* Word every Tuesday and Thursday for our brand new NFL shows.On Tuesdays, Will Gavin and US senior reporter Brian T. Smith will debate the biggest talking points from the NFL weekend, while on Thursdays Efe Obada joins the crew to talk to players past and present and break down what to look for across the league.