The NFL has postponed the Buffalo Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers from Sunday to Monday due to a potentially dangerous winter storm forecast in the Buffalo region. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the NFL cited public safety concerns for the postponement, with up to 2 feet of snow projected to fall on the Buffalo region over a 24-plus-hour period starting Saturday.
The decision to move the game to Monday was made in consultation with Gov. Kathy Hochul and the best interest of public safety, with the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the region prepares for the storm. Hochul said she started talking with the NFL on Thursday about the possibility of rescheduling the game because of what she called a “dangerous storm.”
“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,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said at a news conference in Buffalo suburbs.
Officials advised residents to stay off the roads starting at nightfall, with a driving ban taking effect at 9 p.m. The game will now be played at Highmark Stadium at 4:30 p.m. Monday. The forecast for the Buffalo area called for heavy snow and winds gusting as high as 65 mph on Saturday, with 1 to 2 feet or more of snow eventually piling up.
Postponing the game frees up sheriff’s deputies, who are usually assigned to Bills game-related duties, to deal with storm-related emergencies. Officials were concerned about Steelers fans making the trip to Buffalo through treacherous conditions.
A person briefed on discussions between the NFL and state officials told The Associated Press that the league raised the possibility of moving the game to Atlanta before pushing it back one day. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the talks were supposed to be kept private.
After the NFL announcement, the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres shifted the start times of their home games Monday to avoid conflicts with the Bills-Steelers game.
The Bills are familiar with weather-related schedule changes, as a similar event occurred in 2022 which led to Buffalo’s home game against Cleveland being moved to Detroit in November.
Though NFL playoff games have been shifted in the past for various scheduling reasons or to add games to determine tiebreakers, this marks just the third time weather has played a direct factor.
In January 2017, wintry weather in Kansas City led to the NFL pushing back the start of an AFC divisional playoff game between Pittsburgh and the Chiefs from 1 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
In 1932, the league added a “playoff” game to break a tie in the standings between the Portsmouth Spartans and Chicago Bears. Extreme cold temperatures and heavy snowfall led to the game being played inside Chicago Stadium, with the Bears winning 9-0 on an 80-yard field.
The NFL continues to prioritize public safety and avoid diverting resources from local efforts in the affected areas.
The Steelers have pushed back their travel plans and will now head to Buffalo on Sunday.
Overall, the decision to postpone the game reflects the significance of public safety during extreme conditions. News about the rescheduling of games due to weather certainly draws attention, but ultimately ensures the safety of players and fans. This historic event will be remembered for the precautions taken to ensure the well-being of all involved.
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