The NFL has moved the Bills-Browns game to Detroit due to a severe blizzard in Buffalo.

According to ESPN, the last time snowfall forced an NFL game to be relocated was in 2014, when a Bills-New York Jets game was shifted to Detroit.

"Due to public safety concerns and an abundance of caution in light of the current weather situation in western New York," the NFL stated in a statement. "Sunday's Cleveland Browns-Buffalo Bills game will be relocated to Ford Field in Detroit at 1 p.m. ET."

"As the region prepares for the storm, the decision to relocate the game from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, was made in consultation with the Buffalo Bills and local and state authorities."

The NFL Network reported Thursday morning that the league was "watching" the situation in Buffalo and has spoken with both clubs.

"At this moment, of course, the NFL is monitoring the storm," NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero said Thursday morning. "They have frequent contact with the Bills and Browns."

On December 6, 2021, in Orchard Park, New York, a glimpse of Highmark Stadium is seen as snow falls before a game between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills. (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

"If the game were to be relocated, there are other alternative locations," Pelissero remarked. "Detroit is undoubtedly a possibility. According to my knowledge, there is no debate of rescheduling the game by a day or two. This is due, in part, to the Bills' Thanksgiving morning game in Detroit."

While there is hope that the storm will have passed by the time the game begins, the quantity of snow forecast to fall in the city would have caused a logistical nightmare.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters on Wednesday that the team has begun to prepare for the prospect of being unable to practice Friday and Saturday.

"I know our team is in discussion with the NFL," McDermott told the New York Post on Wednesday. "They've gone through it, and we've been through it." The football team must prepare for and execute a game.

Following a game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 13, 2022, in Orchard Park, New York's Highmark Stadium, the Buffalo Bills' head coach Sean McDermott. (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

"This is a tough town." I'm sure all the people with snow plows and snowmobiles and all that nonsense will pitch in and help. We have a lot of guys from Florida, the south, and the west who have never seen snow.

"Our development staff does an excellent job of outfitting them with scrapers and deicing devices." We've already begun to plan... What if we can't get in (for practices) on Friday and Saturday... We're working on it as well."
According to FOX Weather, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the Buffalo and Watertown areas due to the amount of snow expected.

Sunday's game between the Browns and the Bills is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET.

author, youssef shnino.