DETROIT – Due to the heavy snowfall in New York, the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will play at 7 p.m. Monday at Ford Field in Detroit.
The teams were scheduled to play Sunday at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, but the wintry weather has forced a change in plans.
This is not the first time a scheduled game has been moved out of a team's city and into Ford Field. In December 2013 the Minnesota Vikings played a home game in Detroit against the New York Giants because the Metrodome's inflatable roof collapsed due to heavy snow.
Detroit's enclosed stadium is becoming quite the sanctuary for teams pushed out of town by weather conditions.
"We are pleased to be hosting the Bills and Jets for their game Monday night," Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand said in a statement. "While our thoughts are with the people of the Buffalo area during this difficult time, our team at Ford Field will do everything we can to be good hosts to their team this weekend."
"As mentioned earlier today, public safety resources in western New York must be fully available to deal with the recovery from the storm," said NFL officials. "We continue our discussions with the team and the Red Cross on ways the NFL can support the community through this weather disaster."
While Ford Field could have hosted the game 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, according to the NFL.
"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 walkthrough on Sunday," NFL officials said. "The Bills have been unable to practice this week in Buffalo."
Ticket details and other game day information for Monday night will be announced at a later date, the NFL said.
Meanwhile, the Lions are out of town this week for their road game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.