The Buffalo Bills are taking on the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Saturday for their second preseason game, but they didn’t see much action.
Buffalo started with the ball but only got through the first two minutes of the first quarter. Officials paused the game for a lightning delay. Usually, football plays in the rain, but once lightning strikes, the teams have to head to the locker room.
What is The NFL Protocol When it Comes to Lightning
The NFL has a protocol for lightning strikes. If lightning strikes within a 10-mile radius of the stadium, the NFL will delay the game. Typically, the game is not allowed to resume until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last lightning strike within that 10-mile radius.
The NFL typically doesn’t face weather delays. However, if there is a delay, it usually occurs around this time during the preseason or early September in the regular season, when heavy thunderstorms are still common across the country.
Major League Baseball is accustomed to delays throughout the season. However, the NFL typically has a handful of delays from the preseason until the end of the season.
If the game cannot resume, don’t expect it to be rescheduled. Since the game outcome means nothing, the NFL will move on without rescheduling.
The Bills and Browns Held a Joint Practice on Thursday
If the game can’t resume, it might not be the end of the world for some players. The Bills and Browns did hold a joint practice. A lot of the starters got action.
Since many starters played in Thursday’s joint practice, many won’t play in Saturday’s preseason game. This preseason game matters more for players trying to make the 53-man roster. A handful of Browns and Bills players are on the roster bubble, so they need this game to resume.
One player eager for the game to resume is Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders is in competition with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback position. He is expected to start the game and play the first half. Watson had the starting role against the Bears in Chicago during the Browns’ first preseason game last Saturday. Now it’s Sanders’ turn to take the field. If the game cannot resume, it could jeopardize Sanders’ chances of competing for the No. 1 job.
Why is Bills vs. Browns in a Delay?