The Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills that was moved from Sunday afternoon will be moving forward with their 4:30 PM EST Monday kickoff time. After a very unpopular move to change the game from Sunday to Monday, the league and New York officials deemed the situation safe enough to hold the game. While snow will certainly still play a role, at least fans of both teams can stop waiting and start getting psyched for the matchup.
Abigail Dean | Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie edge rusher Nick Herbig coming off the edge to put pressure on Bills QB during Week 2 of the 2023 preseason.
Steelers Ready For A Monday Afternoon Kickoff
It has been a strange few days with the weather throwing the Steelers and Bills Wild Card game into confusion. Thanks to a nasty blizzard sweeping across the Northeast, the safety of fans and anyone traveling in the area was put first, and the game was moved. The change from Sunday at 1 PM to Monday at 4:30 PM sent fans into an uproar across X/Twitter with cries of cheating and conspiracy filling social media.
Bills v Steelers update:
— Josh Reed (@4JoshReed) January 14, 2024
NFL spokesperson just told me “everything is moved forward as planned for Monday.”
Now that Josh Reed has given the all-clear, according to a spokesperson from the NFL, the waiting game is done. Pittsburgh is flying to Buffalo on Sunday afternoon, and the team will have a little less than a day to acclimate to the harsh conditions they will be playing in.
So this is what @HighmarkStadm looked like roughly an hour ago… pic.twitter.com/zP0eVCFmeP
— Trainwreck Sports (@TrainwreckSprts) January 14, 2024
With the snow in Buffalo piling up and travel virtually impossible or banned, it is looking like the NFL and New York made the right call. As angry as the decision made fans, the reality is that had the game not been moved, it may have actually been impossible for teams to be expected to function in these conditions. When the moment finally arrives, and the game begins, all the anger and frustration being felt over the past few days can be fully focused on football.
Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills 2023 Wild Card matchup was already moved once due to weather
Steelers Eager To Get Going
The waiting has been the hardest part, with Pittsburgh unsure for the last day or so when they would actually be playing. Weather is always unpredictable, but when it involves a massive undertaking like an NFL Wild Card game, the amount of moving pieces to take into consideration is crazy.
Jordan Schofield / Steeler Nation (X: JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has divided fans ever since he was drafted by the Steelers in the 1st round
With word being given that Monday's 4:30 PM EST kickoff time is moving forward as planned, the Steelers can finally start moving rather than just preparing and then adjusting again. Najee Harris carried the Steelers to victory through awful weather in their final game of the 2023 season, so a second game in similar conditions isn't as daunting as it would have been a few weeks ago.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul: Steelers-Bills is still on for 4:30 ET Monday.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 14, 2024
"I'm not saying it's going to be pleasant, but it's not going to be life-threatening either."
"Go Bills".
If the wind continues to be an issue, the passing game will probably not be the primary way of moving the football. Harris and the offensive line are ready for whatever is asked of them, and that is exactly what the Steelers need in a game like this. Buffalo will be viewing the weather as their own homefield advantage, but Pittsburgh has the ability to turn the tables and ride the snow to a playoff win.
How will the Steelers' 2023 playoff run end?
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