The Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills game was supposed to happen on Sunday at 1pm EST at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. However, due to a state of emergency, the state of New York and the NFL have decided to move the game from Sunday to Monday at 4:30pm EST. With blizzard conditions ripping through western New York Sunday, it makes sense to move the game, from a safety standpoint. However, it does beg the question about competitive balance.

Who does the change to Monday help? Anyone?

Before diving into that topic, you have to start with asking the question of what the weather is supposed to be Monday. Here is the current weather forecast for the game Monday, courtesy of our own Jeremy Betz:

Orchard Park forecast for Monday:

High: 19
Low: 11
Snow %: 35%
Wind: 10-15 mph

— Jeremy Betz (@thebetz93) January 13, 2024

If fans think the weather won’t be a factor, that is a lie. It will be a factor, but the question is how much of a factor will it be in the game? With a high temperature of just 19 degrees and winds between 10-15mph, it will still have an impact on the game. Will it have the air attack for both the Steelers and Bills “grounded”? Not like what was expected if the game was played Sunday.

If you listen to the national media, they will tell you this gives the Bills a glaring advantage, and the Steelers are now facing a severe uphill battle. But is that accurate? We know the Bills passing attack with Allen and Diggs, but what about the Steelers passing attack with the likes of George Pickens and Diontae Johnson?

Since Mason Rudolph took over at quarterback prior to the game at Acrisure Stadium vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers have

vs. CIN: 284 yards

at SEA: 266 yards

at BAL: 152 yards

While those aren’t eye-popping statistics, and we all know the conditions the Steelers and Ravens played in last Saturday in Baltimore, the Steelers are certainly more than capable of moving the ball through the air. In fact, they have been a quick strike, big play offense with Rudolph at the helm. Whether it’s passes to George Pickens or Diontae Johnson, the Steelers have shown the ability to make big plays, something which was relatively non-existent with the previous quarterbacks at the helm.

Does this mean the Steelers will be slinging the ball around the field Monday afternoon? Hardly, but it should show that the Steelers are capable of moving the ball through the air, and the improved weather conditions, if you’d call them that, won’t be an advantage for just the Bills, but also the Steelers.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Bills on Monday at 4:30pm EST in the Wild Card Round of the AFC Playoffs.