Tomorrow marks the kickoff of the 2024 NFL Playoffs, but the Steelers vs Bills game may already be the most chaotic. Over the past few years, the NFL Playoff weather has been relatively calm, but that will change in a big way this year. The Steelers vs Bills AFC Wild Card game will be heavily affected by freezing temperatures and horrible weather conditions this weekend.
The question becomes, how should the NFL Playoff weather impact Steelers vs Bills predictions?
Steelers vs Bills NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend Preview
NFL Playoffs 2024 — Wild Card Weekend
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, 5-3 Away) vs. Buffalo Bills (11-6, 7-2 Home)
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. EST
Venue: Highmark Stadium — Orchard Park, NY
Coverage: CBS
NFL Playoff Weather Forecast for Steelers vs Bills Wild Card Weekend
Multiple Weather Warnings Will Play a Role
Although two of them will no longer be in effect at game time, the city of Buffalo will be under four separate weather warnings from Saturday until early Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. As of 1:00 pm EST, Buffalo will be under a high wind warning, winter storm watch, gale warning, and a lakeshore flood warning all at the same time.
With kickoff slated for 1:00 pm on Sunday, the two warnings that will be under effect at kickoff through the end of the game will be the winter storm watch and gale warning. A total snow accumulation of over a foot is possible which will make travel extremely difficult if not impossible.
Historically, snow isn’t a problem in Buffalo. Hell, it’s often embraced. What will be a problem on Sunday is the wind. Southwest winds will get up to 45 knots (approximately 51 mph) Sunday and will continue until midday Sunday.
NFL DFS Weather Impacts for Steelers vs Bills
At cold temperatures, extremities (including fingers) start to lose feeling pretty quickly. Anybody from the Midwest or Northeast can tell you how quickly that can happen even when you’re just shoveling your driveway. At temperatures that low, it’s going to be virtually impossible to move the ball offensively.
Cold hands are going to make it harder to catch and hold on to the football. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the incredibly high amount of snow that is likely going to be falling will make visibility a real issue. For a team like the Buffalo Bills, that has a solid running game, they will likely be pounding the rock and trying to make this Steelers defense break down early.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they already have a less-than-stellar option at quarterback in Mason Rudolph. While he is a competent quarterback, he is certainly not someone you trust to throw the ball in this kind of weather. The Steelers will also look to run the ball often and utilize short passes to move the chains.
Josh Allen is known for his turnovers and bad decision-making. This weather will make it much harder to hold on to the football, and he will likely still take plenty of risks throwing the ball down the field. With that in mind, expect this game to be an incredibly low-scoring affair with plenty of turnovers.
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NFL Playoff Weather Impacts on Steelers vs Bills Predictions
In reality, fans of both teams watching at home love this weather. Steelers fans will love it because it’ll make life hell for Josh Allen, and Bills fans will love it because they’re crazy and embrace chaos in all forms. For those of you who like to play daily fantasy on sites like Underdog Fantasy, this weather makes it much easier to place entries.
With this type of weather, it seems almost a given that the game will be full of turnovers. Feel confident taking both Mason Rudolph and Josh Allen to commit a turnover. It also seems like a given that Allen will throw an interception, and it’s hard to see Rudolph able to keep control of the football if he gets sacked.
This game should be a perfect opportunity for the main running backs for both teams. The Bills have shown countless times that they can run the ball down their opponent’s throats, which would give James Cook a healthy dose of touches. For Pittsburgh, the key is backup Jaylen Warren. Warren has had four or more targets in each of the last five weeks. If he can stop Buffalo from loading the box against Najee Harris, then Harris should be able to continue his hot streak that has seen him amass 234 rushing yards over the last two games. Take Harris and Cook to hit over on their rushing yards props, while betting Warren to hit the over on his receiving yards.
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