Forget playing football in Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.
The weather was so bad in Western New York that the Bills postponed snow-shoveling shifts at Highmark Stadium in preparation for their wild-card playoff game Monday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“With the weather forecast updates and the travel bans that are now in place, snow shovelers are being asked to abide by travel bans and not report to Highmark Stadium until further notice once the bans are lifted,” the Bills posted Sunday on their X account.
“There will eventually be multiple shifts available for snow shovelers to work and be part of the team to get the venue ready.”
The Bills were originally scheduled to host the Steelers on Sunday at 1 p.m., but on Saturday the game was moved to Monday at 4:30 p.m.
Workers remove snow from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday Jan. 14, 2024. AP
The Bills implored snow shovelers to stay home amid the travel ban. APNew York Governor Kathy Hochul made the announcement as part of a travel ban for that region of the state on Saturday following conversations with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, emergency response teams, Bills leadership and the NFL.
Because of lake effect snow and strong winds, the state continued to advise against travel “unless absolutely necessary,” with blizzard conditions expected throughout Sunday.
There was a winter storm warning in effect for Buffalo and surrounding counties, including Orchard Park in Erie County, the site of the Bills’ stadium, until 7 a.m. Monday.
The Bills’ playoff game against the Steelers was moved to Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. APAs much as three feet of snow could fall.
The Steelers were slated to have a walkthrough in Pittsburgh at noon Sunday and then to fly to Buffalo at 3 p.m.
Should the Bills defeat the Steelers, Buffalo will host the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs next week.
If Pittsburgh wins, the Steelers will travel to Baltimore and face the top-seeded Ravens.
