The Bills will eventually play the New York Jets, but that game won't happen in Buffalo.
With the city buried under an outrageous four feet of snow, NFL spokesman Michael Signora announced Thursday that the league is preparing to relocate the contest.
"Due to public safety concerns in light of the ongoing weather emergency in Western New York, Sunday's Jets-Bills game will not be played in Buffalo," Signora said in a statement. "We are in the process of rescheduling and relocating the game as part of Week 12. We will provide additional information as soon as possible.
"We have been in contact with the public authorities and we realize the importance of all available public safety resources being available for the community at this difficult time. We are also in discussions with the team and the Red Cross on ways the NFL can support the community through this weather disaster."
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Detroit and Washington loom as two potential alternative sites for the game.
Pittsburgh and Toronto were initially floated as possibilities, but both have been ruled out. Rapoport was told that Heinz Field is scheduled to host four high school district championship tilts on Friday before Pitt plays Syracuse at the venue on Saturday.
It's also a possibility that kickoff moves from Sunday at 1 p.m. ET to Monday or even Tuesday. That would help a Bills team forced to cancel practice Thursday for the second consecutive day in order to adhere to the region's driving ban.
Bills running back Fred Jacksontold NFL Media's Lindsay Rhodes on Wednesday that the team will be at a "huge disadvantage" if it can't practice. With Doug Marrone and his staff cloistered away at the team facility, coaches have spent this week taping segments of the game plan and distributing the information to players digitally.
It's just not practice the players are missing: Bills president Russ Brandon said on a Thursday conference call that "lifting and nutrition have been compromised."
With Ralph Wilson Stadium unplayable for Sunday, the team is already looking ahead to efforts for next Sunday's home against Cleveland.
It's gonna be a full-line effort with our stadium operations crew and everyone at One Bills Drive," Brandon said. " ... There's an extraordinary amount of snow to be removed. ... All efforts will go to doing everything in our power to making sure the stadium is safe and sound when we take on the Browns next Sunday."
With The Ralph resembling a post-apocalyptic moonscape, there's not much more the Bills can do right now to prepare for Gang Green:
UPDATE: The game will be played Monday at 7 p.m. ET at Detroit's Ford Field, the league announced.
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