The forecast for Sunday: Steelers and Bills set to play in historic weather playoff game in Buffalo

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, left, and Houston Oilers Gregg Bingham slip and slide in rain-drenched artificial turf in an AFC championship game, Sunday, Jan. 7, 1979, Pittsburgh, Pa. Bradshaw ran with the ball after being unable to find pass receiver until Bingham pulled him down.

The forecast for Sunday: Steelers and Bills set to play in historic weather playoff game

RAY FITTIPALDO
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
[e-mail]
JAN 11, 2024 1:32 PM

The Steelers have played in some memorable weather games in their long and storied playoff history. The 1978-79 AFC championship game against the Houston Oilers was played in freezing rain at Three Rivers Stadium. There are some iconic NFL Films shots of Terry Bradshaw sliding and spinning in slow motion on the artificial turf, as well as icicles forming on the goalposts.

The conditions set the stage for the sloppiest playoff game in NFL history. There were 14 turnovers in the game, including nine by the Oilers, as the Steelers coasted to a 34-5 victory and a berth in Super Bowl XIII.

Twenty-six years later, another Super Bowl berth was on the line at Acrisure Stadium. The game-time temperature for the 2004-05 AFC championship game against the Patriots was 11 degrees with a wind chill of minus-1. The Patriots iced the Steelers 41-27 en route to their third Super Bowl win in four years.

Sunday’s AFC wild card game in Buffalo is trending toward being another playoff contest where the Steelers will have to battle the elements. The forecast for Buffalo on Sunday is calling for a temperature of 26 degrees at kickoff with possible snow showers, with winds whipping at 25 miles per hour and gusts up to 50 mph.

{snip}

Ray Fittipaldo: [e-mail] and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First Published January 11, 2024, 1:31pm

[Deep State Witch]

1. My parents were at that game!

My mom's manager at PNC had tickets, but didn't want to go because of the weather. My mom jumped in and took them. Big fucking mistake! Not only was it a sheet of ice, but they got into an accident on the way home!

[lastlib]

2. Chiefs-Dolphins game Saturday might be worse.

Temps around game-time might rival those of the infamous "Ice Bowl" Packers-Cowboys 1967 NFL championship game. KC's Saturday forecast is for near zero at game-time, and below zero by 4th quarter.


I'm staying home, thanks.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. I checked the Virtual Railfan camera at the La Plata, Missouri, Amtrak station the other day.

There was snow on the ground. Ft. Madison, Iowa, too. La Plata is in northeastern Missouri, and Ft. Madison is in southeastern Iowa.

[lastlib]

8. Kansas City area got 6-8 inches of snow Tuesday.....

More forecast for tonight into tomorrow.

And then it gets cold. And STAYS. COLD.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. If the wind chill isn't -59, it will not be historic.

UNLESS they are just considering these two teams.

[JT45242]

5. AMEN -- THe freezer bowl in Cincy with Dan Fouts' Chargers vs Kenny Anderson's Bengals

The saddest part is that I was given tickets to that game but my mom would not let my 10 year old self go "You'll catch your death a cold."

I always wish that I could have been at the game in person instead of watching on TV.

The Bengals O-line came out in short sleeves and totally intimidate the defensive line from CA. If you ever get a chance to hear Dave Lapham or Anthony Munoz talk about that game it is impressive.

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. I watched it live on tv.

And, your mother was smarter than 10 yr old you.

[Probatim]

6. I was at the 2004-05 Steelers/Pats game and it was COLD.

Several entrepreneurial souls were walking through the parking lots selling handwarmers at 1000% markups - and selling out.

Upon entry into the stadium, EMTs had an individual bundled on a stretcher. I assume they had waaay too much to drink and started to experience hyothermia.

Later in the game, I bought a beer and by the time I got back to my seat, the top 1/2" was frozen over. It was pretty damned cold.