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"Due to public safety concerns in light of the ongoing
weather emergency in western New York, Sunday's Jets-Bills game
has been rescheduled to Monday night at 7 p.m. ET (0000 GMT) and
relocated to Ford Field in Detroit," the NFL said in a
statement.
"Public safety resources in western New York must be fully
available to deal with the recovery from the storm."
The NFL decision came after the National Hockey League announced
that Friday's game between the Buffalo Sabres and the visiting
New York Rangers had been postponed due to the snow.
Snowbound residents, who had been socked by five feet of snow in
some areas earlier this week, awoke to another foot of
accumulation on Thursday with the possibility of a further 30
inches (76 cm) expected.
Bills players have been unable to practice this week, forced to
stay home by travel restrictions imposed by local authorities.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said earlier on Thursday that
holding the Bills game in Buffalo would be impractical because
many roads were either cut off or dangerous to drive.
At least eight deaths have been blamed on the wintry blast.
"While Ford Field could have hosted the game on Sunday, in order
to give the Bills as much practice time as possible under the
circumstances, the decision to play on Monday night was made,"
the NFL said.
The Lions' practice facility will be available to the Bills on
Friday and moving the game to Monday night will enable the Bills
to practice on Friday and Saturday and have their walk-through
on Sunday, the league added.
Jets coach Rex Ryan said shifting the game would not affect his
team.
"We would just aim our plane in a different direction, I guess,"
he joked after his team's practice. "We'll be ready to go one
way or the other."
Detroit has stepped in previously for a weather-related move.
Ford Field was used for the Minnesota Vikings game against the
New York Giants on Dec. 13, 2010, one day later than scheduled
after Minnesota's Metrodome roof collapsed under the weight of
heavy snow.
(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Gene Cherry)
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