[SSS Two]

The temperature at Pittsburgh on December 4 was 42 degrees at halftime. The temperature at Gillette Stadium was 48 degree during halftime of the AFC Championship Game on January 18, 2015. According to the Ideal Gas Law and all else equal, we would expect the average pressure of the footballs at Heinz Field to be lower than the average pressure of the footballs at Gillette Stadium.

But that's not what was actually observed. Even though it was colder at Heinz Field, the average pressure of the Steelers' balls was 11.6 psi. The mean pressure of the warmer Patriots balls at the AFC Championship game was less than 11.3 psi.

[rlmorel]

You do realize it was pouring rain and the footballs were soaked during the AFC Championship game against the Colts in 2015, right?

And that the game between the Steelers and the Giants was dry, right?

It makes a significant difference. Wet footballs vs dry ones?

[lepton]

The Pats balls started at 12.5 indoors, and then wet.

The Steelers balls were presumedly around 13.0 indoors, and dry.

All things are not equal. These are only a couple of the differences.

Regardless, it dispels two arguments - that being outside of specifications is itself evidence of malfeasance; and that QBs notice the difference when playing.