Winter weather is expected for the Steelers’ clash against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park on Sunday. With the potential for heaps of snow and wintry conditions, speculation arose that the team could have their game moved. One such report from KDKA Radio’s Marty Griffin stated that the game could be moved to Cleveland if Western New York declares a state of emergency from the snowfall.
However, a Steelers team spokesperson said on Thursday that the team had not been informed of plans to move the game to Cleveland. The NFL would have to come to the team with official communication of the move and has yet to do so.
That does not mean the Steelers and Bills could not play in snow or highly windy conditions. But the game being moved has not come under consideration.
WGRZ-TV in Buffalo is predicting a high temperature of 26 degrees on Sunday, with 14 mph winds and snow showers in the mix, as well. The Steelers just came off a bad winter-weather game, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in a freezing monsoon in Baltimore last week.
The Steelers are preparing for those conditions to change how they play and have practiced in the elements at Acrisure Stadium for the past two days. That has given them the wind off the river and a mix of slippery conditions, too.
“Just like last week, there were things that we adjusted,” quarterback Mason Rudolph said. “It’s good to get work like we did today. Weren’t great conditions either, so you try to prepare yourselves, but we know it’ll be tough weather conditions, but I think that’s one of the many pluses of playing in Pittsburgh as we start to get a dose of that in October. So, we know it’s quite a tough place to play and I’ve been up there a few times over the last few years.”
The wind can be terrible at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park because much of the stadium is set below ground level and doesn’t provide for a wind break. A December 2021 game in Buffalo saw the Patriots beat the Bills 14-10, while attempting only three passes. That game saw wind gusts up to 50 mph.
The Bills have artificial turf at Highmark Stadium, but the Steelers generally prefer not to practice on turf unless they must practice indoors. With this week’s game going to be played in some nasty conditions, he wanted to be outside in the slop all week.