NFL fans, rejoice. The first potential “snow game” of the 2022 NFL season may soon be here.
To nobody’s surprise, the potential snow game is taking place in Buffalo. The Bills are preparing to host the Browns in Week 11, but Buffalo and the surrounding areas are set to be rocked by a snowstorm in the days leading up to it.
Snow has already begun falling in Buffalo as of Thursday, and it should pile up over the course of three days. There is the potential for lake-effect snow during the storm which could make this blizzard an all-timer.
The snow is also forcing the NFL to monitor the Bills-Browns game just in case it cannot be staged in Buffalo and needs to be moved or postponed.
What’s the weather like in Buffalo? Here’s a look at the forecast for the Sunday afternoon clash between the Bills and the Browns.
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Bills vs. Browns weather updates, forecast
The Bills-Browns game is set to take place as a massive snowstorm hits the Buffalo area.
Meteorologists are forecasting that nearly six feet of snow (70 inches) could fall in Buffalo as a result of this storm. In fact, one model projects that much snow will fall nearby the city in less than a 24-hour span.
The newest HRRR model run has 70 inches of snow falling in less than 24 hours just south of Buffalo, NY.
This is shaping up to be potentially one of the most extreme snowstorms in US history. pic.twitter.com/PDP0bA4pzc
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) November 17, 2022
Snow is expected to continue to fall from Thursday through Saturday, as there is a greater than 80 percent chance of precipitation each day, per Weather.com.
And as many Buffalonians showcased on Thursday, a good amount of snow has already begun to fall.
Snovember take 2 has started!! ❄️@TomNiziol @JimCantore @NWSBUFFALO @AaronCh7Weather @ReedTimmerAccu @andyparkertv @pathammer @TheBuffaloNews @WeatherNation pic.twitter.com/nWVnbNEAao
— BuffaloWeather (@weather_buffalo) November 16, 2022
The weather for Sunday in Buffalo isn’t as ominous as it is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Weather.com forecasts that there will be “a few flurries or snow showers possible” during the contest, but lists the chance of precipitation at just 16 percent.
So, the bigger issue isn’t necessarily about the weather during the game. It’s about whether Buffalo will be able to clear enough of the snow to stage it.
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What is lake-effect snow?
The “extreme” nature of this Buffalo snowstorm is expected to be fueled by lake-effect snow. That is defined by the National Weather Service as the following:
Lake Effect snow occurs when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes. As the cold air passes over the unfrozen and relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, warmth and moisture are transferred into the lowest portion of the atmosphere. The air rises, clouds form and grow into narrow band that produces 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour or more.
Both Buffalo and Cleveland are positioned right next to Great Lakes. As such, the Bills and the Browns are both familiar with lake-effect snow and how quickly it can pile up.
Even still, while both teams are familiar with it, that won’t necessarily make it easier to play the game. It will all depend on the condition of the city and the stadium once enough of the snow stops falling.
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Will Bills vs. Browns game be moved, postponed?
As of Thursday, the NFL is planning to play the Bills vs. Browns game as scheduled at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. That said, the league is keeping a close eye on the weather conditions in Buffalo as they assess whether it will be safe to stage a game during or in wake of the storm.
“We continue to monitor the weather and have been in contact with both clubs,” Chief NFL Spokesman Brian McCarthy told Pro Football Talk.
The NFL is weighing whether to move the game, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Ford Field in Detroit is among those being considered to host the game if it is moved. That said, “several other locations are in the mix,” so nothing has been firmly decided.
Cabot reports that the NFL will likely make a decision about the game’s location by Friday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was among the first to point out that the NFL had moved a game out of Buffalo and to Detroit before. That occurred in when the Jets and Bills played on Monday night in 2014.
Forecasts calling for snow totals of 3-to-6 feet by Sunday in Buffalo, including possible “thundersnow.” Last time snow forced NFL to move a game out of Buffalo was 2014, when Jets and Bills played that Monday night in Detroit. NFL monitoring storm, talking to Bills and Browns.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 17, 2022
It’s also notable that the Bills play in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, so staging the game — if moved — there would cut down on Buffalo’s travel. Of course, it would also give them a strange advantage over the Lions, who are set to be on the road against the Giants in Week 11. As such, Detroit could object to that plan.
Still, wherever the game is held, it is far more likely that the NFL would move it than postpone it given that the Bills are set to play on Thanksgiving at 12:30 p.m. ET; that would make it impossible to move the game to Monday or Tuesday. So, the possibility of the game moving will be something to watch on Friday.
Both teams are expecting to have more clarity on the situation in the coming day or so. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was told that the “logistics” of the game could be impacted by the weather but he is just trying to make sure the team is focused and ready for the game, wherever and whenever it may be.
“For us, we just have to focus on what we have to do,” he said, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal.
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How Browns, Bills are preparing for snowy conditions
Neither the Browns nor the Bills seem particularly worried about playing in snowy conditions. Both teams are focusing on controlling what they can control and being prepared for whatever weather is present on game day.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski explained that his No. 1 focus is making sure the Browns have an offensive game plan ready for a bad-weather game.
“When the weather is going to be a factor as it might be, you are always thinking about having plays that you might turn to should it be a major factor,” he said, per The Chronicle-Telegram.
Additionally, Stefanski believes that the team’s experience playing in these types of games will prove beneficial, especially at the quarterback position.
Jacoby played in a whiteout in this stadium in 2017, so he is used to it. [Offensive coordinator] Alex Van Pelt is on staff. He played there for many years. The guys are prepared for if that is what it ends up being but can’t spend too much time worrying about that. Just on the front end, put together a plan and [be] ready to pivot on the moment if need be.
Meanwhile, Bills coach Sean McDermott’s focus was less on the on-field performance of the Bills. After all, his team is used to playing in Buffalo and played through a brutally windy game and single-digit temperatures in their two games against the Patriots last season.
Instead, McDermott wants to make sure his younger players who aren’t as familiar with the snow are equipped to deal with it. He also wants to make sure the Bills have practice contingency plans in case they aren’t able to get to the team facilities Thursday through Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot of guys from Florida, a lot of guys from down south, out west even, that have never seen snow before,” McDermott said, per the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “Our development team does a great job. They equip them with scrapers and de-icing mechanisms.
We’ve already started to put a plan in place behind the scenes of what happens if we can’t get in Friday, what happens if we can’t get in Saturday, or to the hotel Saturday evening (where the team stays the night before games) with that being downtown.
While the coaches and some of the veteran leaders on both sides are focused on preparation, others are simply looking forward to playing in the snow.
“There’s a little bit of excitement in there,” said Browns running back Nick Chubb. “It always looks like fun.”