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Buffalo Bills Schedule Could Be Disrupted With Another Snowstorm

The Buffalo Bills schedule could be disrupted by Mother Nature, leaving coach Sean McDermott to evaluate his options on Tuesday. The Bills, who defeated the Steelers 31-17 to open the playoffs on Monday, are slated to host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in the AFC divisional round.

Buffalo Bills Schedule Could Be Disrupted With Another Snowstorm

Gabriel Martinez

Jan 18, 2024

The Buffalo Bills schedule could be disruptedby Mother Nature, leaving coach Sean McDermott to evaluate his options on Tuesday.

McDermott stated that the team's Wednesday and Thursday practices remain on schedule despite the monitoring of a forecast that predicts a lake-effect storm will drop nearly two feet of snow in the Buffalo area.

The Bills, who defeated the Steelers 31-17 to open the playoffs on Monday, are slated to host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in the AFC divisional round.

Bills Schedule Could Be Disrupted By Snowstorm

A person sitting on a bench stadium full of snow
A person sitting on a bench stadium full of snow

Mother Nature appears determined to add an additional layer of challenge to the Buffalo Bills' playoff journey, prompting Coach Sean McDermott to navigate the unpredictable weather conditions as the team readies for the AFC divisional round clash against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite coming off a triumphant 31-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, the Bills are now facing the potential disruption of a lake-effect storm forecast to blanket the Buffalo region with nearly 2 feet of snow. Coach McDermott, undeterred, expressed the team's commitment to its practice schedule while vigilantly monitoring the evolving weather scenario.

We've got a plan in place to make sure we're getting the playersin at the right time, as well as the staff, and trying to be on top of that from a scheduling standpoint. So we'll handle it. Confident in that. And the best thing we can do right now is just have great communication around it for right now.- Sean McDermott

Erie County currently faces a travel advisory, and County Executive Mark Poloncarzis encouraging businesses to allow employees to work from home for the remainder of the week. The possibility of a travel ban, which could impede Bills players from commuting to their facility, remains uncertain.

This potential snowfall would mark the second time in less than a week that the region has been impacted, following a previous lake-effect storm that dumped between 1 and 3 feet of snow. This earlier storm prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the NFL to postpone the Bills' wild-card playoff game against Pittsburgh from Sunday at 1 p.m. to Monday at 4:30 p.m. for public safety reasons.

The Bills are already grappling with a shortened practice week, and the Chiefs, having enjoyed a restful break after a 26-7 victory over Miami, pose a formidable challenge. Additionally, injuries have plagued the Bills, with at least nine players' status uncertain.

Coach McDermott, however, remains resolute in the face of adversity, emphasizing the team's season-long resilience and determination.

There's nothing we can do about it other than getting ourselves ready to go. Our team has fought all season long. We're not going to stop fighting now.- Sean McDermott

Our players have done a phenomenal job of stepping up when someone has gone down. We've got to make sure that we are putting all the time that we need to put it into, whether it be treatment opportunities right now, maximizing those opportunities to get ourselves as healthy as we possibly can for game time on Sunday.- Sean McDermott

Final Thoughts

The U.S. deep freeze is easing, but winter still has a say in the NFL playoffs. Buffalo faces potential disruption from lake-effect snow as they prep for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. While not expected to impact the game, it poses challenges in an already short week.

Mother Nature adds an unpredictable layer to the playoffs, making teams navigate both opponents and weather whims. As the NFL drama unfolds, players and fans brace for the blend of skill and atmospheric unpredictability in these winter showdowns.

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