Buffalo Bills Pittsburgh Steelers wild card playoff postponed winter storm

Buffalo Bills playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers moved to Monday due to winter storm. Safety is top priority. States of Emergency.

The Buffalo Bills playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium has been rescheduled to 4:30 p.m. on Monday due to a significant winter storm forecasted to impact Western New York throughout the weekend. Originally set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, the change was made in response to near-whiteout conditions expected in Orchard Park, with high winds, frigid wind chills, and blowing lake-effect snow in the forecast.

States of Emergency are active in Western New York and Erie County, with a travel ban in place for Erie County as of Saturday. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the critical efforts to keep New Yorkers, motorists, and fans safe from the unpredictable storm, consulting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the decision. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz echoed the sentiment, highlighting the need for law enforcement officials to focus on assisting those in need during the storm, rather than directing traffic at a football stadium.

This is not the first time the Bills have had a game altered due to severe weather, with previous regular season and playoff games being moved to alternative locations due to significant snowfall and other weather-related challenges. Mother Nature has also played a role in altering playoff games in the past, such as a Chiefs vs. Steelers Divisional matchup in 2017 that was changed from a 1 p.m. kickoff to 8:20 p.m. due to an ice storm in Kansas City.