As the NFL Playoff Wild Card Round approaches its conclusion after the NFL season finale, excitement grows among fans, particularly concerning the much anticipated and nail-biting clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills. However, the spotlight has shifted to a different aspect—the NFL Weather Report.
With all eyes fixed on the league’s decision regarding the potential disruptions caused by a winter storm, the New York governor stepped forward to provide the latest update on the Steelers vs. Bills game.
Steelers-Bills game won’t be postponed again due to bad weather
Amid the relentless winter storm, the Bills and the Steelers have to gear up for a fierce battle in the 2024 wild card round on Monday. New York Governor Kathy Hochul made it clear that the game will not see any further postponement. She emphasized the collaborative preparations with the NFL Commissioner and the Buffalo Bills’ owner for the initiative.
“No, the game will not be pushed back again. I’ve spoken to the Commissioner of the NFL several times today. I’ve spoken to the owner of the Buffalo Bills, again, about their preparations,” asserted Governor Hochul.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul on the Steelers-Bills game: "No, the game will not be pushed back again. I've spoken to the Commissioner of the NFL several times today. I've spoken to the owner of the Buffalo Bills, again, about their preparations." #Steelers #NFL
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 14, 2024
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz echoed the sentiment, providing assurance that the game is set to proceed as scheduled. The originally slated 1 p.m. ET Sunday kickoff was disrupted by a formidable winter storm, marking the first disruption in the NFL schedule this season.
The unpredictable weather, initially deemed non-threatening for the weekend, prompted Hochul to pocking the Steelers fans. She urged them to stay home and avoid a potentially “rough game.” Nevertheless, the evolving situation has taken a dramatic turn. Travel bans persist in Orchard Park and surrounding areas, including downtown Buffalo.
Latest weather update on Highmark Stadium
As the Winter Storm Warning stands firm until 7 AM EST Monday, the Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium finds itself at the epicenter of the snowfall. The NFL weather forecast predicts heavy lake effect snow, anticipating an additional 6 to 12 inches.
Current scene at Highmark Stadium.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 13, 2024
Stay safe tonight, Bills Mafia. ❄️ pic.twitter.com/FSJvNht1ri
The weather situation has already painted a wintry scene, with near-zero visibility witnessed on Saturday as snow enveloped western New York. This challenging weather pattern is set to persist until early Monday morning. Already, it has created hazardous travel conditions due to the deep snow cover on roads and extremely poor visibility within the lake.
Sunday brought a continuous onslaught of snow, with some areas experiencing a remarkable snowfall rate of 3 to 6 inches per hour. The snowfall did not come alone. Rather, it brought winds reaching speeds of up to 50 mph.
These conditions have prompted the Buffalo Bills to seek assistance from fans and locals. They offered $20 per hour to shovel snow within the stadium premises ahead of Monday’s highly anticipated contest, per CBS News.
If the Bills emerge victorious in this weather-laden showdown, they will secure the opportunity to host the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.
What are your predictions for the Bills vs Steelers game?
