A potentially hazardous snowstorm that struck the Buffalo region on Saturday prompted the NFL to reschedule the Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers from Sunday to Monday.
The decision to postpone the game was made in collaboration with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the NFL, considering public safety concerns due to the forecast of up to 2 feet of snow within a 24-plus-hour period. The Buffalo Bills shared a video on social media showcasing whiteout conditions at Highmark Stadium as heavy snow and strong winds set in.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, expressing concern about the dangerous storm, initiated discussions with the NFL on Thursday to explore the possibility of rescheduling the game. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz emphasized the importance of avoiding travel in hazardous conditions, leading to a driving ban starting at 9 p.m.
The rescheduled game will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The Buffalo area’s forecast predicted heavy snow and high winds on Saturday, with a winter storm warning in effect until 7 a.m. Monday. The concentrated lake-effect snow band was expected to impact Buffalo’s southern suburbs, including the Bills’ home in Orchard Park.
Officials prioritized public safety and avoided the potential strain on resources by postponing the game, allowing sheriff’s deputies to address storm-related emergencies. Concerns about Steelers fans traveling to Buffalo through treacherous conditions were also taken into account.
While the NFL briefly considered moving the game to Atlanta, it was eventually postponed for a day. The league maintains contingency plans for all games, considering public safety and resource allocation. The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins adjusted their home game time to avoid a conflict with the Bills-Steelers game, showcasing the broader impact of the rescheduling decision.
The Bills, accustomed to weather-related schedule changes, had a home game against Cleveland moved to Detroit in 2022 due to a lake effect storm. Later that year, a blizzard forced the team to stay overnight in Chicago on Christmas Eve.
While NFL playoff games have been rescheduled for various reasons in the past, including tiebreakers, weather has directly influenced scheduling only twice before. In 2017, wintry weather in Kansas City led to a delay in the start of an AFC divisional playoff game, and in 1932, extreme cold and heavy snowfall moved a playoff game indoors to Chicago Stadium.
