Steelers-Bills game moved to Monday
A potentially dangerous winter storm forecast to hit the Buffalo region over the weekend led the NFL on Saturday to push back the Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Steelers from Sunday to Monday.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the NFL cited public safety concerns as the reason for the postponement, with up to 2 feet of snow projected to fall on the Buffalo region over a 24-hour period starting Saturday night.
“The decision to move the game to Monday was made in consultation with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in the best interest of public safety, and with the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the region prepares for the storm,” the NFL and Bills said in a joint statement.
Hochul said she started talking with the NFL on Thursday about the possibility of having to reschedule the game because of what she called a “dangerous storm.” Hochul, who is from just outside of Buffalo, closed her news conference by saying, “Go, Bills.”
“We want our Bills to win, but we don’t want 60,000 to 70,000 people traveling to the football game in what’s going to be horrible conditions,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said at a news conference in the Buffalo suburbs.
Officials advised residents to stay off the roads starting at nightfall on Saturday, with a driving ban taking effect at 9 p.m. The game will now be played at Highmark Stadium at 4:30 p.m. EST on Monday instead of 1 p.m. Sunday.
The forecast for the Buffalo area called for heavy snow and winds gusting as high as 65 mph (105 kph) Saturday, with 1 to 2 feet or more of snow eventually piling up. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning lasting through 7 a.m. Monday, saying that “travel will be very difficult to impossible at times,” with the combination of snow and very strong wind causing near-zero visibility.
Much of the storm was expected to be concentrated in a narrow band of lake-effect snow hovering over Buffalo’s southern suburbs, which includes the Bills’ home in Orchard Park.
Postponing the game frees up sheriff ’s deputies, who are usually assigned to Bills game-related duties, to deal with storm-related emergencies, Poloncarz said. Officials were concerned about Steelers fans making the trip to Buffalo through treacherous conditions.
The Steelers themselves have pushed back their travel plans and will now head to Buffalo on Sunday.
Davis, Rapp will not be available for Bills’ playoff game against Steelers:
Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis and reserve safety Taylor Rapp will not be available for their wild-card round playoff game against the Steelers, Bills coach Sean McDermott said Friday.
The injury report for both teams was not expected to change with the game moved to Monday, so Steelers’ edge T.J. Watt remains out.
Eagles WR Brown out for wild-card game:
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will miss Monday night’s playoff game against the Buccaneers with a knee injury.
Brown was hurt in the first quarter of last week’s loss to the Giants after a short reception. Cornerback Nick McCloud punched the ball out of Brown’s hands for a fumble, and the two went to the turf at MetLife Stadium. Brown lay on the field for a couple of minutes, walked gingerly to the medical tent favoring his right knee and then went to the Eagles’ locker room.
“It was going to be a stretch for A.J. to play,” coach Nick Sirianni said Saturday. “He did everything he possibly could to get himself ready.
“He fought like crazy to try and do everything he could do.”
Lions returner Raymond out; Lions TE LaPorta, Rams S Fuller questionable:
Lions punt returner and receiver Kalif Raymond will miss Sunday’s wild-card round playoff game against the Rams due to a knee injury.
The Lions ruled out Raymond on Friday along with backup tight end James Mitchell, who has a hand injury, and backup cornerback Jerry Jacobs.
Rams safety Jordan Fuller is questionable with an ankle injury. The Rams’ second-leading tackler worked out with a trainer during the early portion of the Rams’ practice Friday, and coach Sean McVay said the team will wait until shortly before game time Sunday night to determine whether Fuller will play at Ford Field.
Star Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is questionable with a knee injury, but the record-setting rookie did some work during practice Thursday and Friday. The Lions are likely to wait until game time to determine whether LaPorta will make his playoff debut in his Pro Bowl season.
Raymond is a significant loss for the Lions as the only player who has returned a punt for the team this season. He also has 35 catches for 489 yards and one touchdown as a backup receiver.
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, who dislocated his shoulder two weeks ago, and right guard Kevin Dotson (shoulder) are both questionable. McVay seemed confident both will play.