ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – After a brutal loss on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers will face one other robust competitors throughout Week 13’s Sunday Evening Soccer matchup in opposition to the Buffalo Payments as snow, freezing temperatures and gusty winds from a potent winter storm are anticipated to douse western New York.
The FOX Forecast Middle is looking for heavy lake-effect snow, with a number of ft of snow potential for areas close to and south of Highmark Stadium by means of the multi-day occasion lasting into subsequent week.
A Lake-Impact Snow Warning for Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park by means of the sport, although newest projections as of Friday morning point out the snow could drift south of Orchard Park throughout Sunday night’s sport.
Snow totals can fluctuate significantly relying on the place the lake-effect snow bands arrange.
“Multiple feet of snow will be possible through the weekend in the most persistent lake snows,” the Nationwide Climate Service workplace in Buffalo mentioned. “Snowfall rates will average 1 to 2 inches an hour, but higher rates will be possible.”
Forecasters warned that journey might be very troublesome and, at occasions, “nearly impossible” attributable to poor visibility and deep snow cowl on roads.
Fantasy soccer implications
The Payments are coming off a bye week after profitable in opposition to the beforehand undefeated Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Relaxation and being no stranger to taking part in in excessive climate may set the Payments aside for a possible seven-game win streak.
Payments tight finish Dalton Kincaid could possibly be again Sunday for the 49ers sport. He might be an ideal possibility to make use of as your major tight finish or perhaps a flex possibility, as he may very nicely lead the Payments in targets this season.
Additionally, hopeful to be again might be rookie large receiver Keon Coleman from a wrist harm.
San Francisco’s beginning quarterback, Brock Purdy’s standing remains to be up within the air for Sunday after he injured his shoulder in Week 11 in opposition to Seattle.
In the meantime, a now-healthy Christian McCaffrey needs to be an automated begin in your RB1 place. The reigning NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr was held to solely 31 yards throughout their sport in opposition to Inexperienced Bay, however attributable to the potential for poor visibility attributable to snow and wind, fantasy house owners can financial institution that he ought to get greater than 11 carries on this sport.
With winds doubtlessly gusting to 30 mph and arctic air invading, temperatures will really feel anyplace from the one digits to the decrease teenagers. Gusty winds will make kicking robust, and chilly temperatures have been proven to have an effect on the efficiency of how a quarterback can throw the ball.
Ought to heavy snow bands arrange over Orchard Park, Highmark Stadium could possibly be in for one more snow globe sport just like ones seen in years previous.
The Payments head coach Sean McDermott mentioned the crew is ready for no matter climate comes their means. “It’s just about how we respond to it. Our staff does a phenomenal job,” he mentioned.
McDermott mentioned if snow must be shoveled from the stadium like in years previous, they’re prepared for it.
“I’ve always been amazed since moving here, that you can get a foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 7 feet (of snow), and the roads are cleared in some miraculous way,” McDermott mentioned.
Highmark Stadium no stranger to lake-effect snow
Whereas Payments followers keep in mind final season when their Tremendous Wild Card sport in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers needed to be postponed, it was the November and December of 2022 that Buffalo will always remember.
Snow from the historic lake-effect snowstorm that hit Orchard Park in November 2022 was so deep that you may make an over 80-foot-tall snowman with all of the snow on the Buffalo Payments’ soccer area.
The Cleveland Browns have been alleged to play the Payments at Highmark Stadium on that snow day, however NFL officers determined to maneuver the sport to Detroit’s coated Ford Subject as an alternative.
Only a month later, a historic blizzard dropped ft of snow in close by areas, stranding motorists and forcing a state of emergency throughout Erie County.
The FOX Forecast Middle says that this Thanksgiving weekend storm isn’t anticipated to provide as a lot snow as these historic days, however snow may trigger highway closures and vital journey delays throughout the state.
