When was the last time an NFL game was moved due to snow?
In 2014, the New York Jets were set to take on the Bills in Buffalo for their Week 12 game, but a snowstorm forced them to take their matchup to Detroit and play at Ford Field on Monday.
NFL games altered by snow
The Buffalo Bills chose to move Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns to Detroit, but this isn’t the first time the team had to move a game to Ford Field due to snow.
The Buffalo Bills chose to move Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns to Detroit, but this isn’t the first time the team had to move a game to Ford Field due to snow.
In 2014, the New York Jets were set to take on the Bills in Buffalo for their Week 12 game, but a snowstorm forced them to take their matchup to Detroit and play at Ford Field on Monday.
Previous NFL games that were moved, postponed or canceled due to snow.
(FOX Weather)
Several days before the Sunday game, more than 5 feet of snow fell over areas just east of Buffalo, New York.
Storm totals from the two storms from November 17-19, 2014, peaked at nearly 7 feet, with many areas buried under 3-4 feet of dense snowpack by the end of the event, the National Weather Service said.
Officials say that the "epic" lake-effect snow event will be remembered as one of the most significant winter events in Buffalo’s snowy history.
BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 21: The record setting Lake effect snowstorm dumped up to six feet of snow in less than 24 hours closing a one hundred mile section of The New York State Thruway as well as other major roads around Buffalo.
(John Normile / Getty Images)
The Bills demolished the Jets in the Monday matchup, 38-3. Then Bills quarterback threw two touchdown passes, and Bills special teams helped to lead to the team’s victory.
For this week's game, the forecast calls for Buffalo to receive several feet of snow leading up to Sunday.
Due to Highmark Stadium being an open-air stadium, crews were worried about the amount of snow needing to be cleared, as the city could pick up several feet of snow by Sunday.
And as you can see in photos shared by the Bills on Twitter, there is indeed multiple feet of snow that needs to be cleared from Highmark Stadium.
"The decision to move the game from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, was done in consultation with the Buffalo Bills and local and state authorities as the region prepares for the storm," the Bills said.
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While it may not have been a move due to snow, the Steelers vs. Chiefs game in Kansas City, Missouri, was pushed to an evening game during the divisional playoff game in 2017 due to an ice storm.
The NFL said in a statement that they moved the game from a 1:05 p.m. start to a 8:20 p.m. ET start because of the inclement weather.
The Steelers defeated the Chiefs that night, advancing Pittsburg to the AFC championship game.
Snow Bowl of 2017
Frank Gore #23 of the Indianapolis Colts is stopped by E.J. Gaines #28 and Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at New Era Field on December 10, 2017 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Indianapolis in overtime 13-7.
(Brett Carlsen / Getty Images)
And while the Buffalo Bills are no strangers to playing in the snow, an iconic game against the Indianapolis Colts made NFL history.
Just a year before quarterback Josh Allen was drafted to the Bills, an iconic 'Snow Bowl' game was played, where heavy lake effect snow dumped 16.7 inches in Orchard Park, New York.
The Bills and Indianapolis Colts played a game in near-blizzard conditions at Highmark Stadium (then named "New Era Field") on December 10, 2017, and it was projected that up to nine inches of that total fell during the game alone.
Scenes showed near whiteout conditions as players worked to move the ball down the field.
Deonte Thompson #10 of the Buffalo Bills makes a first down reception during overtime against the Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field on December 10, 2017 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Indianapolis in overtime 13-7.
(Brett Carlsen / Getty Images)