Browns-Bills game moved from Buffalo to Detroit due to snowstorm

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The first major snowstorm of the season expected to hit western New York this week prompted the National Football League to relocate the Buffalo Bills’ home game against the Cleveland Browns to Ford Field in Detroit.

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In a news release, the NFL on Thursday said the game was being moved from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, “due to public safety concerns and out of an abundance of caution.”

The decision to move the game from the open-air stadium to Detroit’s domed stadium was made because a lake-effect snowstorm was set to hit the Buffalo region between Thursday and Saturday, WRGZ-TV reported.

“Our sole concern was the safety of our players, our fans and our community and make sure we did not divert any resources from the community,” Bills CEO Ron Raccuia said during a Zoom conference, according to The Buffalo News.

The area is expected to get multiple feet of snow through Saturday night, with thunder and other inclement conditions also expected, ESPN reported. The team said the decision to move the game from Highmark Stadium was done “in consultation with the Buffalo Bills and local and state authorities as the region prepares for the storm.”

Kickoff for Sunday’s game remains at 1 p.m. EST. The Bills will then play a second consecutive game in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day against the Lions, according to the News. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m. EST.

Raccuia said Detroit was the only alternate site discussed between the Bills, Browns and the NFL.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane said the plan is for the Bills to fly to Detroit on Saturday, return after the game Sunday and then fly back to Detroit as scheduled on Wednesday, according to the newspaper.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed that the move had nothing to do with the Bills’ stadium being an outdoor facility, ESPN reported. He added that the priority for the area was that resources would not be diverted.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday said the team was prepared for wintry conditions, WJW-TV reported.

“When weather is going to be a factor as it might be, you’re always thinking about having plays you might turn to should it be a major factor,” Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday. “Jacoby (Brissett) played in a whiteout in this stadium in 2017, so he’s used to it.”

It is the second time a Bills home game has been moved to Detroit because of the weather, according to the News. On Nov. 24, 2014, the Bills were designated as the home team and defeated the New York Jets 38-3. The game, originally scheduled for Sunday, was pushed back to Monday to take into account both teams traveling, WGRZ reported.

“They’ve been through it before, we’ve been through it before and handled it well,” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott told reporters on Wednesday. “So full confidence in our team that’s working behind the scenes on that and then the football team has to get ready to play a game and execute, so it’s a good football team coming in here.”

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