Ralph Wilson Stadium will be quiet this Sunday.
The Jets and Bills had been scheduled to play a 1 p.m. EST game in Orchard Park, but the existence of some six feet of snow on the ground in the Buffalo suburb has forced the NFL to move the game to a yet-to-be disclosed location.
Initially, the Bills hoped to clear the stadium in time for Sunday’s scheduled kickoff, offering $10 per hour and free game tickets to fans who could help shovel out Ralph Wilson Stadium.
“It is not practical to play a game in Orchard Park in the condition that our community is in,” [team president Russ] Brandon said. “It really wasn’t an option to try to play the game at any point Sunday, Monday or even potentially Tuesday based on what the forecast is.”
Possible alternate locations, according to sources, include Detroit, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The Lions and Redskins are on the road this weekend; the Steelers have a bye. It’s 215 miles from Buffalo to Pittsburgh, 256 miles from Buffalo to Detroit and 389 miles from Buffalo to FedEx Field in Washington.
Coaches for the teams are preparing with the belief the game will be moved to Monday evening in one of those three cities, sources said. The Bills have been unable to practice for the past two days and will have to leave Buffalo to do so.
Under consideration for the Bills is flying to the alternate site Friday and holding their first practice of the week in that city. However, about 85 percent of players live in the towns south of Buffalo, hit hardest by the storm.
“We’re working through that right now,” Brandon said. “The logistics are very difficult. We’ve had a lot of brainstorming sessions, and really trying to target all of our guys that are in very difficult situations. Some of the guys have been in apartment complexes that are not plowed in any shape or form and very difficult to get out.”
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