NFL playoff game postponed until Monday because of snow
The NFL playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers has been rescheduled to Monday because of weather concerns.
The Steelers and Bills will square off in an AFC first-round game at 3:30 p.m. CST Monday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
The teams had been scheduled to meet at noon CST Sunday, but with the forecast calling for continued snow with a temperature of around 15 degrees and winds in the 20-mph range gusting in the 40s, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Saturday that the game had been rescheduled in the interest of public safety.
“I’ve been in communication with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the dangerous conditions in Buffalo this weekend,” Hochul said via social media. “In consultation with our emergency-response teams, Buffalo Bills’ leadership and the NFL, the Bills game will be postponed.”
Hochul declared a state of emergency on Friday for Erie County, New York, where the game is to be played, and near whiteout conditions are expected around Buffalo.
“We want our Bills to win, but we don’t want 60 to 70 thousand people traveling to the football game in what is going to be horrible conditions,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. “(Law-enforcement personnel) need to be assisting in the middle of a snowstorm, helping those in need, not directing traffic at a football stadium.”
Last season, the Bills played a home game against the Cleveland Browns in Detroit because of the snowfall around Highmark Stadium.
The NFL’s schedule for the Super Wild-Card Weekend now includes (with all times Central):
Saturday, Jan. 13
· AFC: No. 5 Cleveland Browns (11-5) at No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7), 3:30 p.m. (NBC, Peacock, Telemundo)
· AFC: No. 6 Miami Dolphins (11-6) at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs (11-6), 7 p.m. (Peacock)
Sunday, Jan. 14
· NFC: No. 7 Green Bay Packers (9-8) at No. 2 Dallas Cowboys (12-5), 3:30 p.m. (FOX, FOX Deportes)
· NFC: No. 6 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) at No. 3 Detroit Lions (12-5), 7 p.m. (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
Monday, Jan. 15
· AFC: No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (11-6), 3:30 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+)
· NFC: No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8), 7 p.m. (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.