Browns-Bills game could be moved due to weather

General view of snow covered seats. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Browns-Bills game could be moved as NFL monitors weather situation

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/17/22

The NFL is currently monitoring the weather situation in Buffalo ahead of Sunday's Bills-Browns game and could be forced to relocate the game to a neutral site if the weather progresses as expected.

The Buffalo area is in the crosshairs of a major snowstorm that could dump more than 50 inches of snow between Thursday and Sunday. It also includes the possibility of "thundersnow."

That would obviously create all sorts of travel and safety issues for teams, stadium personnel, and fans, as well as the allocation of emergency and first responder resources.

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

This seems like a decision that would need to be made much sooner rather than later. As soon as that snow begins the issue would switch from the Browns being able to arrive in Buffalo (and stadium employees being able to arrive at the stadium) to the Bills being able to actually leave Buffalo if they need to for the game.

If it does escalate to a relocation situation it would not be the first time the NFL has had to move a game for weather-related issues. That includes one semi-recent game involving Buffalo.

Back in 2014, a Bills-New York Jets game had to be relocated to Detroit in the aftermath of a major blizzard that shut down the city and made traveling to the game unsafe.

A 2010 Vikings-Giants game had to be relocated due to heavy snow that damaged the roof of the Metrodome, while another Vikings game that year had to be delayed 48 hours (and pushed to Tuesday night) due to blizzard conditions.

There have also been several games over the years relocated out of Florida or postponed due to hurricanes.

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