‘Extraordinarily Dangerous’: Bills-Steelers NFL Wild Card Game Postponed Due To Massive Winter Storm Headed for Buffalo
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday that the NFL wild card match-up between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Buffalo has been postponed due the forecast for Sunday in the famously snowy city.
Speaking at a presser Saturday afternoon about the measures the state is taking ahead of the massive winter storm, which is predicted to bring blizzard conditions and record cold over the weekend, Hochul said that the game was being delayed until Monday in the interest of safety, in coordination with Roger Goodell and the NFL.
Hochul began the presser describing the steps taken since her office declared a state of emergency on Friday, including setting up shelters and preparing for clearing roadways, as well as a travel ban on all passenger vehicles in Erie County, where the game will be played.
Hochul described massive snowfall rates, high winds, and frigid temperatures that the state is facing, and said that “will make travel extraordinarily dangerous, whiteout conditions, nearly impossible to see.”
She said the best prediction right now shows the center of the storm hitting Buffalo Sunday afternoon.
“Now, you may see clear skies in the morning. But don’t be fooled. The bull’s eye of the storm is predicted to hit midday Sunday afternoon, right during the scheduled Buffalo Bills game,” she said. “And that is why I’m pleased to announce that in the interest of keeping both Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh fans safe, I just spoke with Commissioner Roger Goodell, who shares are concern that safety should be the top priority.”
“I’ve also spoken to the mayor and our county executive about keeping our fans safe,” Hochul said. “The NFL has agreed with our assessment that we need to postpone tomorrow’s playoff game until 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. It’ll continue to be played at Highmark Field, right in Orchard Park.”
“It’s all part of our critical efforts to keep New Yorkers, motorists and fans safe from this wildly unpredictable storm,” she said.
The NFL also put out a statement Saturday on the postponement.
Due to public safety concerns in light of the ongoing weather emergency in western New York, Sunday's Steelers-Bills game has been rescheduled to Monday at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by CBS.
The decision to move the game to Monday was made in consultation with New York…
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2024
In addition to protecting fans and motorists, the postponement is designed to make city services and police more available for the emergency conditions, the governor’s office said.
Watch the clip above via Gov. Hochul on YouTube.
