Report: Steelers-Bills could potentially be postponed again until Tuesday

Snow, blustery winds and frigid temperatures may force the NFL to push back the Steelers-Bills game again. There’s now a possibility of a Tuesday afternoon kickoff.

The league, in conjunction with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, announced Saturday that Steelers-Bills wouldn’t be played on Sunday, as scheduled. It’s currently set for a Monday afternoon kick at Highmark Stadium. It’s a federal holiday, so most football fans will be off work. But The Athletic’s Tim Graham said two sources told him that Tuesday still is in play.

Two of my sources say Tuesday still very much in play for Steelers at Bills playoff game.

Check all the latest updates from ⁦@TheAthletic⁩ team here in the coming hours (AND DAYS) … https://t.co/x7NE6d3g17

— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) January 13, 2024

Most of the United States is in deep freeze mode as an Arctic front dominates the nation’s weather. It’s particularly bad in upstate New York. As the cold air sweeps over Lake Erie, it can create bands of snow that can produce two to three inches an hour. That’s what was hitting Buffalo Saturday when the Bills social media team shared a video from inside of Highmark Stadium.

Question. If not for the goal posts, could you tell this was a football stadium?

Current scene at Highmark Stadium.

Stay safe tonight, Bills Mafia. ❄️ pic.twitter.com/FSJvNht1ri

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 13, 2024

Got a snow shovel? Bills are asking for help to clear Highmark

The Bills also are asking for workers to help them shovel the snow out of Highmark. They needed to postpone the shoveling from Saturday night (see video above for why). There even was thundersnow in the area as the governor ordered a travel ban in Erie County. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed on the roads until at least 6 a.m. Sunday. But if the roads reopen, the Bills are opening the stadium for three shifts of snow shovelers. The team is paying $20 an hour and that includes free food served in a warm area.

Also on Sunday, there’s a near 100 percent chance of snow in Buffalo. The National Weather Service says some areas can expect two to three feet of snow this weekend. Chances of snow drop to 65 percent on Monday. The temperatures weren’t as frigid as in other parts of the country. For example, the Chiefs and Dolphins competed at Arrowhead Stadium Saturday night as temperatures plummeted below zero with wind chills in the negative 20s.

It’s not that the Bills and Steelers, or their fans, can’t contend with watching football in the snow. But when the governor orders a travel ban, that’s a different story.

The Athletic reported that the Steelers won’t head to Buffalo until mid-afternoon Sunday. And both the Bills and Steelers are getting an extra day of rest. However, the winner of the game gets a tight turnaround for the divisional round next weekend. If the game gets postponed, again, it’s unclear whether the NFL will tinker with the AFC divisional schedule.

Hochul, the obvious Bills fan, used her press conference to tease the Steelers faithful. “It’s going to be a tough game for you anyhow,” the governor promised.