Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - The winter storm set to impact Western New York this weekend has forced the NFL's hand with handling Sunday's AFC Wild Card Round matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.
During a press briefing early Saturday afternoon in Western New York, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the Bills and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were in agreeance with her administration to postpone Sunday's game, as conditions in the region are expected to be at their worst right around the originally scheduled 1 p.m. EST kickoff in Orchard Park.
The NFL has announced the game will still take place at Highmark Stadium, but will now be scheduled for Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. EST.
"Due to public safety concerns in light of the ongoing weather emergency in Western New York, Sunday's Steelers-Bills game has been rescheduled to Monday at 4:30 p.m. EST, and will be televised by CBS," said the Bills in an official statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"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 Pittsburgh Steelers, as the region prepares for the storm."
Hochul says the location of the wind bands are continually changing by the hour, but forecasts are predicting the storm will be at its fiercest in the Southtowns and in South Buffalo come Sunday in the afternoon.
"You may see clear skies in the morning, but don't be fooled. The bullseye of the storm is predicted to hit midday Sunday afternoon, right during the scheduled Buffalo Bills game," said Gov. Hochul.
Coverage of Monday afternoon's Bills-Steelers AFC Wild Card showdown will begin at 6 a.m. EST on our sister station, WGR Sports Radio 550.