Dome-dwelling Falcons mediocre outdoors

Whatever Mother Nature may have in store for the metropolitan area this weekend likely won't be enough to satisfy Giants linebacker Michael Boley.

With the Falcons -- a team that spends half its season playing inside the Georgia Dome -- traveling north for Sunday's NFC wild-card game, Boley knows inclement weather could work in his team's favor.

"Oh yeah," he said with a smirk when asked if he's hoping for the worst weather possible Sunday. "Snow -- we need all of that."

Unfortunately for Boley, this weekend's forecast seems to be improving by the hour. Wednesday morning it was reported that a mix of snow and rain showers would be headed to MetLife Stadium by Sunday. By Wednesday night, the outlook improved to a high of 43 degrees and partly cloudy skies.

Conventional wisdom says the worse the weather is, the better the Giants will fare.

And if there's anyone who knows the pitfalls of being a "dome team," it's Boley. He spent his first four seasons in Atlanta before signing as a free agent with the Giants in 2009.

"It's a factor," he said. "When you spend most of your season in a dome, it's different once you actually get out to the elements, especially being up north in the cold."

But Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is no stranger to dreary conditions. The 26-year-old went to high school in Philadelphia and attended Boston College, where he played football, basketball and baseball. "I've played in plenty of terrible weather, so I'm not too worried about it," Ryan said Wednesday on a conference call.

Ryan has spent his four-year NFL career inside the Georgia Dome. The Falcons went 6-2 at home this season but only 4-4 on the road, including 2-2 outdoors.

Even more startling: Of the 16 regular-season road games the Falcons have played in November and December since 2008 (Ryan's first season), only two were played in temperatures of 43 degrees or below.

Nevertheless, Falcons coach Mike Smith said he isn't concerned about the effect of Sunday's climate on his quarterback's success.

"Most of our guys are accustomed to playing outside," Smith said. "I'd say we're a mudder team and we're an indoor team."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin admitted he's keeping a close eye on the weather. But regardless of whether the forecast brings sleet, snow, rain or wind -- or, none of the above -- Coughlin is confident his team can weather it.

"We've had four or five games in a row where we've rushed the ball for over 100 yards. I'll look for that to happen again," he said.

"And Eli has in the past thrown the ball very, very well despite any kind of weather. That's always been an amazing thing to me. Whatever the weather is, the hearts are in the right place. We'll take care of whatever weather presents itself."