CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Browns (3-6) hit the road for their Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills (6-3) this weekend, they'll now be heading west instead of east.
On Thursday, the NFL announced that it has moved this Sunday's contest from Buffalo to Detroit's Ford Field due to the lake effect snow event affecting Western New York.
The NFL had been monitoring weather forecasts in Buffalo, which have been calling for multiple feet of snow expected to affect the area in the coming days. According to our sister station WGRZ, current forecasts call for Buffalo to receive around 20-24 inches of snow in the days ahead, with the city potentially serving as the midpoint of the storm.
ESPN's Adam Schefter also noted the possibility of "thundersnow," which the
National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service defines as "a rare weather phenomenon in which thunder and lightning are accompanied predominantly by snow rather than rain."
Asked about the possibility of the weather affecting this week's game, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski admitted the team will likely need to have contingency plans in place.
“I am sure some people are having some conversations about that. I am not in that circle right now. They will fill me in on a need to know," Stefanski said. "For us, we just have to focus on our preparation. If something changes, we will tell the players and we will tell you guys.”
While the game will no longer be played in Buffalo, playing in a dome instead of the outdoors could very well benefit the Bills, who lay claim to one of the league's top quarterbacks in Josh Allen. Meanwhile, a game in the elements could have benefitted the Browns, who possess one of the NFL's most potent rushing attacks.