This year’s playoff games promise added intrigue with the looming impact of extreme weather conditions. The Buffalo Bills will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 14; however, the weather forecasts suggest a severe winter storm the night before the game. Similar to the playoff wildcard round matchup between the Chiefs and the Dolphins, the weather during this game is also expected to be severe.
With a crucial spot in the Divisional Round on the line, the Bills are taking proactive measures to combat adverse weather effects.
Buffalo Bills paying fans to get Highmark Stadium ready for Steelers game
Buffalo will witness a winter storm from Saturday until Monday. It is predicted that the snow accumulations could reach 1–3 feet. To overcome any difficulty during the game because of the snow, the team has come up with a clever idea.
To make the playoff matchup more accessible, the Bills will take help from fans to shovel snow at Highmark Stadium.
On Friday, the Buffalo Bills posted a “help wanted” advertisement seeking individuals to clear snow at Highmark Stadium in preparation for the playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Interested individuals are asked to arrive at Highmark Stadium at 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday to shovel snow throughout the night. Participants will be paid $20 per hour and are promised food and breaks during the shift.
To register, individuals need to be at least 18 years old and possess photo identification. Those under 18 must present the appropriate working papers.
The conditions for the Bills-Steelers game are expected to be extreme, with experts predicting snow, wind, and freezing temperatures. But with fans’ help, the team will ensure the game can be played smoothly in the stadium.
NFL shuts down rumors of reallocation amid snowy conditions
Earlier in the week, there were suggestions that the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills might be moved due to anticipated extreme weather conditions.
Marty Griffin of KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh initially posted about Cleveland Browns Stadium being considered for the game.
However, the NFL Vice President of Communications, Brian McCarthy, turned down these rumors.
“We are monitoring conditions as we do for every game, but there have been no discussions about making a change to the game’s status.”
The NFL is closely monitoring weather conditions but has confirmed that there are no discussions about relocating the Steelers vs. Bills game.
Griffin deleted his initial tweet and later clarified that his information came from electricians in Cleveland who were asked about working in the event of a potential venue switch.
“So my friends that are electricians in Cleveland work each game setting up production. They were asked if they could work this weekend in the event of the Bill’s [sic] Steeler game being moved. That’s [sic] all I know. Maybe it was Cleveland offering up the facility to the NFL.”
Despite the expected difficult travel conditions in Buffalo, moving the game within two days of kickoff would pose logistical challenges for the NFL. Therefore, the league hasn’t changed the venue of the game.
The kickoff for the Steelers vs. Bills game is set for 1 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. Who will emerge as the winner of this duel? Make sure to drop your predictions in the comments section.
