BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Snowed out in Buffalo, the Bills are heading to Detroit to play their “home” game against the New York Jets on Monday night.
The NFL announced the location and date of the game on Thursday night after a severe lake-effect storm paralyzed much of the Buffalo region. More than 5 feet of snow has fallen in the Buffalo area since Monday, and another 1 to 3 feet was projected to fall by Friday.
The storm forced the Bills to cancel their past two days of practice because of impassable roads and driving bans in Orchard Park and many communities neighboring Ralph Wilson Stadium. The team intends to travel to Detroit on Friday and practice at the Lions’ facility.
The Lions are at New England on Sunday.
“We greatly appreciate the hospitality of the Detroit Lions in hosting the Bills and this game,” NFL spokesman Michael Signora said.
This marks the second time the Bills will play at Ford Field this season following a 17-14 win over the Lions on Oct. 5. It also is the second time in four years the facility has hosted a neutral site game.
The last time an NFL game was moved to Ford Field unexpectedly, the fans who did show up witnessed a bit of history. Brett Favre’s streak of 297 regular-season starts came to an end that night — on Dec. 13, 2010 — when the Minnesota Vikings lost to the New York Giants 21-3. Favre was sidelined by shoulder and hand issues.
That game was moved to Detroit because the Metrodome roof collapsed.
