BUFFALO, N.Y. — The NFL has made the decision to postpone the Buffalo Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to an impending winter storm. With a potentially dangerous storm expected to hit the Buffalo region over the weekend, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the NFL expressed concerns for public safety and rescheduled the game from Sunday to Monday.
Governor Hochul, who hails from the outskirts of Buffalo, held discussions with the NFL as early as Thursday about the possibility of postponing the game. The safety of the thousands of fans traveling to the stadium was of utmost importance. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz also emphasized the need for caution, stating, “We want our Bills to win, but we don’t want 60,000 to 70,000 people traveling to the football game in what’s going to be horrible conditions.”
The winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service predicted heavy snowfall and wind gusts of up to 65 mph in the Buffalo area. The forecast suggested that 1 to 2 feet of snow could accumulate over a 24-hour period beginning on Saturday. The brunt of the storm was expected to concentrate in Buffalo’s southern suburbs, where the Bills’ home stadium is located.
Officials urged residents to remain off the roads and implemented a driving ban starting at 9 p.m. The game, originally scheduled for Sunday, will now take place at Highmark Stadium on Monday at 4:30 p.m. The decision to postpone the game allows sheriff’s deputies, who would usually be assigned to game-related duties, to focus on storm-related emergencies.
The NFL spokesperson, Brian McCarthy, mentioned that they explore contingency plans for game relocation in case of such circumstances. While a person with knowledge of the discussions revealed the possibility of moving the game to Atlanta, the league ultimately decided to push it back one day to ensure public safety.
This is not the first time NFL playoff games have been affected by weather conditions. In January 2017, wintry weather in Kansas City prompted the league to delay the start of an AFC divisional playoff game. The league also added a playoff game in 1932 due to extreme cold temperatures and heavy snowfall.
In conclusion, the Buffalo Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers has been postponed to Monday due to an anticipated winter storm. The decision was made to prioritize public safety as the Buffalo region expects heavy snowfall and strong winds. The game will now be played at Highmark Stadium, rescheduled from Sunday to Monday at 4:30 p.m. This marks one of the rare instances where weather directly impacts the scheduling of an NFL playoff game.