Steelers vs. Bills game postponed due to dangerous weather conditions in Buffalo
Highmark Stadium: File photo. The Buffalo Bills logo is seen on the field prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 22, 2023, in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
By Jessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills AFC Wild Card game has been postponed due to weather conditions in Buffalo, New York.
“I’ve been in communication with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the dangerous conditions in Buffalo this weekend,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Hochul said she has consulted with emergency response teams as well as the Buffalo Bills’ leadership and the NFL. They have decided to postpone Saturday’s game until Monday at 4:30 p.m. EST.
The game was originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, according to The Associated Press.
Hochul said that Western New York is expecting a major snowstorm, according to WPXI. The storm could bring “life-threatening blizzard conditions.”
“We want our Bills to win, but we don’t want 60 to 70 thousand people traveling to the football game in what is going to be horrible conditions,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, according to WIVB. “(Law enforcement officials) need to be assisting in the middle of a snowstorm, helping those in need, not directing traffic at a football stadium … This is something we all agreed on.”
A travel ban will also go into effect for Erie County on Saturday around 9 p.m. and is expected to last through Sunday at least 6 a.m., according to the news outlet.
Winter weather NEW YORK CITY - JANUARY 10: People walk along the beach at Rockaway during heavy surf following a storm that brought high winds and rain to the area on January 10, 2024 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Southeast of the United States has experienced days of unusually severe storms that have lead to power outages, school closings and localized flooding. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Winter weather DES MOINES, IOWA - JANUARY 09: Cars drive along a freeway amidst a snow storm on January 09, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. A weather system is bringing the first winter snowfall to central Iowa as voters prepare for the Republican Party of Iowa's presidential caucuses on January 15th. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Winter weather DES MOINES, IOWA - JANUARY 12: A car is buried by blowing snow along the Interstate 235 John MacVicar Freeway as winter storm Gerri dumps inches of snow with high winds on January 12, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Republican presidential candidates postponed or cancelled many campaign events in Iowa days before the all-important caucuses, the first primary competition of the 2024 election year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Winter weather SIOUX CITY, IOWA - JANUARY 12: A person walks down 4th street as heavy snow continues to fall on January 12, 2024 in Sioux City, Iowa. The second winter weather system in a week is bringing blizzard conditions across Iowa as voters prepare for the Republican Party of Iowa's presidential caucuses on January 15th. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Winter weather NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Migrants leave their tents at Floyd Bennett Field to board school buses bound for a local high school in anticipation of a storm with expected wind speeds of more than 70 mph on January 09, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Amid the arrival of winter weather, many migrant families are being forced to re-apply for shelter after reaching the 60-day limit for city housing. More than 4,000 families have been served notice on a rolling basis that they will need to re-apply without guarantee of receiving a place. More than 100,000 migrants have arrived in New York City over the last year. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Winter weather SIOUX CITY, IOWA - JANUARY 12: A front loader drives down a street as heavy snow continues to fall on January 12, 2024 in Sioux City, Iowa. The second winter weather system in a week is bringing blizzard conditions across Iowa as voters prepare for the Republican Party of Iowa's presidential caucuses on January 15th. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Winter weather DES MOINES, IOWA - JANUARY 12: Plow trucks work to clear the Interstate 235 John MacVicar Freeway Freeway as winter storm Gerri dumps inches of snow with high winds on January 12, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Republican presidential candidates postponed or cancelled many campaign events in Iowa days before the all-important caucuses, the first primary competition of the 2024 election year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Winter weather DES MOINES, IOWA - JANUARY 09: Judah Lock enjoys sledding near the Iowa State Capitol building on January 09, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. A weather system is bringing the first winter snowfall to central Iowa as voters prepare for the Republican Party of Iowa's presidential caucuses on January 15th. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Winter weather DES MOINES, IOWA - JANUARY 12: Leslie Hines shovels snow outside his home as winter storm Gerri dumps inches of snow with high winds on January 12, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Republican presidential candidates postponed or cancelled many campaign events in Iowa days before the all-important caucuses, the first primary competition of the 2024 election year. Hines, a military historian and veterans advocate, said he voted for former President Donald Trump in previous elections but said he will not vote for him again and isn't sure if he will caucus this year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Winter weather NEW YORK CITY - JANUARY 10: A man uses a metal detector along the beach at Rockaway during heavy surf following a storm that brought high winds and rain to the area on January 10, 2024 in New York City. Much of the East Coast and Southeast of the United States has experienced days of unusually severe storms that have lead to power outages, school closings and localized flooding. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Winter weather DES MOINES, IOWA - JANUARY 12: Single tracks move east and west on the Interstate 235 John MacVicar Freeway as winter storm Gerri dumps inches of snow with high winds on January 12, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Republican presidential candidates postponed or cancelled many campaign events in Iowa days before the all-important caucuses, the first primary competition of the 2024 election year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Winter weather DES MOINES, IOWA - JANUARY 12: Plow trucks work to clear the Interstate 235 John MacVicar Freeway Freeway as winter storm Gerri dumps inches of snow with high winds on January 12, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Republican presidential candidates postponed or cancelled many campaign events in Iowa days before the all-important caucuses, the first primary competition of the 2024 election year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)