Bills-49ers preview: Could snow bury Buffalo ahead of Sunday Night Football?

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Significant lake-effect snows pummeling parts of the Great Lakes for days

Several feet of snow are expected through the middle of next week as an arctic blast rolls over the mild waters of the Great Lakes.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - After a brutal loss on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers will face another tough competition during Week 13's Sunday Night Football matchup against the Buffalo Bills as snow, freezing temperatures and gusty winds from a potent winter storm are expected to douse western New York.

The FOX Forecast Center is calling for heavy lake-effect snow, with multiple feet of snow possible for areas near and south of Highmark Stadium through the multi-day event lasting into next week.

FEET OF LAKE-EFFECT SNOW FOR GREAT LAKES AS ARCTIC BLAST LOOMS FOR DAYS

A Lake-Effect Snow Warning for Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park through the game, though latest projections as of Friday morning indicate the snow may drift south of Orchard Park during Sunday evening's game.

Snow covers the stadium and seats at Buffalo Bills stadium on December 10, 2017 in Orchard Park, New York. 

(Brett Carlsen / Getty Images)

Snow totals can vary greatly depending on where the lake-effect snow bands set up.

"Multiple feet of snow will be possible through the weekend in the most persistent lake snows," the National Weather Service office in Buffalo said. "Snowfall rates will average 1 to 2 inches an hour, but higher rates will be possible."

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Forecasters warned that travel will be very difficult and, at times, "nearly impossible" due to poor visibility and deep snow cover on roads.

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Fantasy football implications

The Bills are coming off a bye week after winning against the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Rest and being no stranger to playing in extreme weather could set the Bills apart for a potential seven-game win streak.

Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid could be back Sunday for the 49ers game. He will be a great option to use as your main tight end or even a flex option, as he could very well lead the Bills in targets this season.

Also, hopeful to be back will be rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman from a wrist injury.

FILE – Frank Gore #23 of the Indianapolis Colts is stopped by E.J. Gaines #28 and Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at New Era Field on December 10, 2017 in Orchard Park, New York.

(Brett Carlsen / Getty Images)

San Francisco's starting quarterback, Brock Purdy's status is still up in the air for Sunday after he injured his shoulder in Week 11 against Seattle.

Meanwhile, a now-healthy Christian McCaffrey should be an automatic start in your RB1 position. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year was held to only 31 yards during their game against Green Bay, but due to the possibility of poor visibility due to snow and wind, fantasy owners can bank that he should get more than 11 carries in this game.  

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With winds potentially gusting to 30 mph and arctic air invading, temperatures will feel anywhere from the single digits to the lower teens. Gusty winds will make kicking tough, and cold temperatures have been shown to affect the performance of how a quarterback can throw the ball.

Should heavy snow bands set up over Orchard Park, Highmark Stadium could be in for another snow globe game similar to ones seen in years past.

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Watch: Bills coach discusses winter weather ahead of Sunday matchup against 49ers

Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott discusses winter weather ahead of their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers this weekend and praised those who are out in the elements clearing roads as a winter storm blasts the Northeast.

The Bills head coach Sean McDermott said the team is prepared for whatever weather comes their way. "It's just about how we respond to it. Our staff does a phenomenal job," he said. 

McDermott said if snow needs to be shoveled from the stadium like in years past, they're ready 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 said. 

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Highmark Stadium no stranger to lake-effect snow

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Buffalo Bills stadium buried under feet of snow during historic snowstorm

Buffalo Bills' Highmark Stadium is buried under feet of snow during a historic snowstorm. 

While Bills fans remember last season when their Super Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers had to be postponed, it was the November and December of 2022 that Buffalo will never forget.

Snow from the historic lake-effect snowstorm that hit Orchard Park in November 2022 was so deep that you could make an over 80-foot-tall snowman with all the snow on the Buffalo Bills’ football field.

The Cleveland Browns were supposed to play the Bills at Highmark Stadium on that snow day, but NFL officials decided to move the game to Detroit’s covered Ford Field instead.

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Christmas week blizzard brings whiteout conditions to Buffalo, NY

A Buffalo, New York resident documented a ‘terrifying’ drive through the beginning of blizzard on Friday, December 23. (Credit: Steven Madsen via Storyful) 

Just a month later, a historic blizzard dropped feet of snow in nearby locations, stranding motorists and forcing a state of emergency across Erie County.

The FOX Forecast Center says that this Thanksgiving weekend storm isn’t expected to produce as much snow as these historic days, but snow could cause road closures and significant travel delays across the state.

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