The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to take on the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2023 NFL Playoffs. The game will take place in Buffalo, where dangerous and horrific weather is expected. The game was originally scheduled for 1 PM EST on Sunday, but it was postponed to Monday at 4:30 PM EST due to a lot of snow being expected and blizzard-like conditions. Steelers fans are furious about the game time being moved. The poor weather that was expected Sunday certainly would have evened the playing field between the two teams.
AP Photo / Gene J. Puskar
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie linebacker Nick Herbig (#51) plays in a NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.
Steelers Fans Victim Of Rant By Former Bills Center Eric Wood
Steelers fans have been vocal about their resentment for the game being moved to Monday, when the conditions are expected to be slightly better, but still not great. The weather on Sunday certainly would have been a factor for the players on the field, but the game was moved in an attempt to protect those traveling to the game, including the players. Longtime Bills center Eric Wood took to X to explain why moving the game was so important.
The amount of ignorance being spewed at me right now is next level. So for all of you that I don’t have time to respond to, 47 people died last year in a blizzard in Buffalo. It’s not about having a dome, it’s about travel to and from the game being impossible and/ or dangerous.…
— Eric Wood (@EWood70) January 13, 2024
Since the news of the game being postponed broke, the Bills and the state of New York have been called 'soft' by many fans across the league. Rough weather in Buffalo is nothing new, and some of the best snow-covered games in NFL history have taken place in Buffalo. However, as Wood said, the decision to move the game was made to protect everyone traveling to the game. This includes players, and the large amount of fans in Buffalo and those traveling from Pittsburgh.
Joshua Bessex / AP
Pittsburgh Steelers' ability to play in inclement weather will be put to the test regardless of when the game is played
The Steelers team was initially supposed to fly to Buffalo on Saturday, but when the news of the postponement happened, their flight was changed to Sunday. The entire Steelers team and staff still need to get to Buffalo safely, and flying in the blizzard-like conditions would not have been a smart move and could have been extremely dangerous. Wood spoke about this, while scrutinizing Steelers fans who were going out of their way to ridicule the city of Buffalo.
All in all, the game being postponed is good for the Steelers. They now will avoid having to travel by plane in 65 miles per hour winds, and fans already in Buffalo will have a safer time getting to the stadium on Monday for kickoff. The game has already been postponed once, and the weather will only be slightly better on Monday. Snow is still expected, along with 15-25 mile per hour winds. With that being said, a report has already come out that the NFL is still considering all options, even postponing the game again to Tuesday.
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Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills 2023 Wild Card matchup was already moved once due to weather, and another move could be on its way
The Steelers come into this matchup against the Bills as huge underdogs, but the rough weather does level the playing field between the two teams. It is likely throwing the ball will be difficult, or even impossible, so the running game for both teams will be the focus. Steelers running back Najee Harris is expected to be a key part of the Steelers offense as he has stacked some incredible performances over the last couple of weeks of the regular season.
No matter when the game is played, the Steelers will need to pull off a miraculous upset in order to move on to the next round of the playoffs. Do you think they can do it? Let us know in the comments below!
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