BUFFALO, N.Y. — Looks like the overcast sky will clear just in time for one of the first games of Super Wildcard Weekend. That's, of course, happening at Bills Stadium with an AFC matchup against the Colts Saturday at 1 p.m.
The forecast will still include some cloud cover over Orchard Park, but sunshine as well. Temperatures at kickoff will be seasonal, and stay in the low 30s through the game. Winds will be light, out of the northwest, at 5 to 10 mph.
In retrospect, this game will be much colder (rightly so) than the last playoff game held in Orchard Park on December 28th, 1996 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Weather conditions for that late-December game were well above average for Western New York. Gametime temperatures in the low-mid 50s.
But most of the playoff games that the Bills hosted in the early 90s were more typical to that of winter in Buffalo. Temperatures were in the upper 20s or low 30s with snow either falling the day of or on the ground from previous weather systems.
The only other standout playoff game of the last 10 was on January 15, 1994 where the recorded temperature at kickoff was 0 degrees. Morning lows began below zero and only rose into the single digits that day. According to the Bill's organization, this is the coldest game on record at the stadium. The Bills also defeated the Raiders in this AFC Divisional game, 29-23.
The 6,700 plus fans who will be in attendance at Bills Stadium should dress warmly with several layers, though any sunshine will help make it feel warmer than it actually will be. Fans are also required to adhere to New York State, CDC and NFL guidelines when it comes to precautions surrounding COVID-19. All fans were required to get a COVID-19 test done prior to attending the game. This took place at Bills Stadium Wednesday and Thursday via a drive-through testing site.
This is the first home, playoff game for the Bills since 1996. Because of this, and the limited number of tickets available, the game is sold out.