NFL: Buffalo Bills battling deep snow to get Sunday's game on
Thursday 20 November 2014 22:10, UK
The Buffalo Bills asked fans to help them clear their stadium of snow in an attempt to get their game against the Jets on for Sunday.
The franchise is dealing with record snowfall for the time of year in upstate New York, with a freak winter storm having dumped more than five feet of snow on Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Bills players have been unable to reach their practice facility and a driving ban is in effect in parts of the city with even more snow expected on Thursday.
Coach Doug Marrone said the Bills are video-taping gameplan information to the team and distributing it to players digitally while the weather troubles continue - they eventually had to cancel Wednesday and Thursday's sessions completely.
The franchise is offering $10 an hour plus game tickets to anyone who comes out and helps with the snow clearing operation, but with more snow on the way it won't be enough to get the game on.
The lake effect storm badly affected the area south of Buffalo, with the city itself receiving relatively little snow, but the Orchard Park area where their stadium is situated was among the worst-hit.
They are working with the NFL to find the best alternative, with a Sunday game now impossible, and they are now considering where and when the game will be played.
Delaying the game to Monday or Tuesday is possible and the league is considering alternative venues for the game - with Pittsburgh, Detroit or even Washington DC possible.
Bills Vice President of Operations Andy Major told reporters Wednesday it's hard to tell whether the field will be cleared.
Major says it usually takes three days to clear a one-foot snowfall. The snow removal has already begun, and Major hopes to round up 500 people working three shifts around the clock to clear the facility.
