Snow Way?! NFL Playoff Postponement; Epic Patriots Weather Games
Mark Henderson and his snow plow in 1982. Tom's "Tuck Rule" in 2001. Maybe even Bill Belichick's Foxboro Farewell last Sunday?
The glorious history of the New England Patriots features countless moments literally frozen in time, framed by the backdrop of inclement weather. It's January. It's the northeast. Therefore, Patriots fans - and a lot of observers around America - are stunned at the NFL's decision to postpone Sunday's playoff game between the Steelers and Bills in Buffalo.
Because of "public safety concerns," the game is being rescheduled to Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Highmark Stadium. We understood it's not their call, but this puts an involuntary dent in the macho image of the famed Bills Mafia.
Public safety? If you've ever seen Bills fans pre-gaming by jumping into tables and diving into fire you acknowledge how silly this sounds.
The Sunday afternoon forecast in Western New York calls for winds reaching 50 mph and up to seven inches of snow. Meanwhile, halfway across the country Saturday night the Chiefs and Dolphins will play in worse, much colder weather conditions in Kansas City.
What in the name of the Ice Bowl is going on here?
On New Year's Eve 2017 the Patriots beat the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. With a temperature of 13 and wind-chill of minus-2, it was the coldest game in Foxboro history. The game was played as scheduled, without question. Because of course it was.
What next? Can the Patriots petition to re-schedule next time they are forced to play in Miami in September in 90-degree temperatures? Too hot! Or the next time they have to play on a rainy day in Seattle? Too wet! Denver? Too much altitude! Los Angeles? Oh my God, the air pollution!
Take away "weather games" and you'd delete a big chunk of priceless Patriots memories.
*Henderson infamously cleared a spot in the snow for John Smith's game-winning field goal in a 3-0 win over the Dolphins.
*Playing in almost a foot of snow, Brady's apparent fumble late in the game was overturned by replay via the "tuck rule" to allow the Patriots to maintain possession and eventually win their playoff game over the Raiders in overtime.
*On Dec. 6, 2021 the Patriots won in Buffalo during a freezing hurricane. Football savant that he is, Belichick ordered 46 hand-offs and only three passes in the epic 14-10 victory.
*Even last Sunday, Belichick shielded himself from a snowstorm in a parka and balaclava as he ended his 24-year career as coach of the Patriots with a loss to the Jets on a blanket of white at Gillette Stadium.
At one point in his Hall of Fame career, Belichick coached the Patriots to 12 consecutive wins in the snow.
There was a time when the "Frozen Tundra" was a badge of honor in the NFL. Now, apparently, it's just a Charmin-soft reason to postpone a playoff game.
