New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced at a press conference on Sunday that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills playoff game will not be delayed for a second time. That means kickoff for 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday remains in place, despite the ongoing blizzard conditions and travel ban around Orchard Park.
The game was supposed to kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, but dangerous weather conditions and a travel ban in the area necessitated the game to be pushed back. Traveling in the area was said to be “impossible” according to the National Weather Service, and all resources needed to be kept open for other emergencies.
Snow was falling in some areas at a rate of three inches per hour with 50 mph wind gusts.
Hochul said on Sunday that conditions for Monday are still not going to be very pleasant, but they will not be as dangerous for fans, stadium employees and the teams.
“Game time on Monday, weather conditions will be very cold. They’ll be in the teens, and even windchill factors as low as zero, maybe to nine degrees, but that’s gonna be very, very cold,” Hochul said. “But this will be without the danger of the winds and the blinding snow and the hazardous traffic conditions for those as they traveled to the stadium or leaving based on current predictions. So, that is a better dynamic, by far better dynamic, than we would’ve had today. I’m not saying it’s gonna be pleasant, but conditions won’t be life threatening either.”
The Steelers are traveling into Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.
The Bills were also seeking help to shovel out the stadium, offering people $20 per hour and free food in a warm resting area for their assistance.
The NFL reportedly had some brief consideration about moving the game to Atlanta due to the travel conditions and the storm.
Now the NFL has a Super Wild Card Weekend doubleheader on Monday night. After the Steelers-Bills game, the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play their regularly scheduled game with an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff from Tampa Bay.