NFL fans enjoyed a great snow game Sunday night in Buffalo as the Bills and 49ers faced off in a blinding snowstorm.
Western New York was battered by lake-effect snow all weekend, but fans and staff managed to dig through 23 inches of the white stuff to get the game going as planned.
And it didn’t disappoint as fans took to social media to share their love for their current situation from the warmth and comfort of their own homes.
It was a slightly different experience for the fans inside the stadium. A social media clip showed him climbing through the snow to his seat, clad in a coat and scarf for the big game.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, volunteers received $20 an hour and free hot beverages in exchange for arriving at the stadium and helping clear snow from the stadium.
Conditions eased as officials removed tarpaulins from the field a few hours before kickoff, but snow began to fall heavily just before the game began.
Ray Davis dives into the end zone for his first touchdown on a snowy night in Buffalo, New York.
Khalil Shakir is tackled by the 49ers’ Matthew Wright during the first quarter.
On a cold night in Orchard Park, fans had to climb through snowdrifts to get to their seats.
This led to ‘magical’ conditions for the start of the Sunday Night Football showdown, with both teams battling through a snowstorm to score.
‘How can you see snow at an NFL game and honestly say you want to tame it by putting a roof over it? ‘Where is your soul?’ one fan wrote.
Another added: ‘This is a perfect, aesthetically pleasing game,’ while one said: ‘Laws of snow football!’
The Bills took an early lead against San Francisco and were cheered by a strong home crowd who celebrated by throwing snowballs onto the field.
Ray Davis scored the first touchdown of the game by diving into the end zone and landing in the snow, with James Cook adding a snowy celebration of his own.
From there it became The Josh Allen Show. Buffalo’s superstar quarterback truly showed off his dynamism by scoring three touchdowns in different ways against the Bills.
First, he completed a passing touchdown to Mack Hollins, who caught the eye with his bizarre arrival costume, dressed as a mad scientist and no shoes.
San Francisco 49ers fans felt a long way from home Sunday night at Highmark Stadium
A stadium employee blows snow during a timeout on Sunday Night Football.
Bills players had some fun in the snow after James Cook scored the team’s second TD.
The Bills paid fans $20 an hour to come down to the stadium and help shovel snow.
Then, on one of the best plays of the year, Allen found wide receiver Amari Cooper open in the slot.
But when faced with the 49ers’ strong defense, Allen ran and Cooper threw the ball back to the quarterback.
Allen then caught the ball and, in a shining moment, dived into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter to go up 28-3.
San Francisco scored a touchdown on a rush by Isaac Guerendo to make it 28-10.
Gerendo was part of the running back committee that stepped in to succeed starter Christian McCaffrey. He collapsed due to a knee injury and was unable to return..
After the game, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that the injury was to McCaffrey’s PCL and could be a potential season-ending injury.
This comes just weeks after McCaffrey returned from the injured reserve list after dealing with bilateral Achilles tendonitis.
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) left the game with a potentially season-ending injury.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen dives into the end zone after catching his touchdown pass.
Allen became the 12th player in NFL history to run, pass and catch a TD in the same game.
Allen and coach Sean McDermott make snow angels as they celebrate the AFC East title.
Buffalo’s final touchdown was also scored by Allen. Allen rushed in from 8 yards out to make it 35-10, giving the final score to the game.
In the process, Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to run, pass, and catch a touchdown in the same game.
He became the 12th overall player in NFL history, the fifth player in the NFL since 1970, and, coincidentally, the first to score a touchdown each way since McCaffrey did so with San Francisco in 2022.
Three other people who can be said to have done the same since 1970 are San Diego Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson in 2005, New England Patriots wide receiver David Patten in 2001, and Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton in 1970.
With the win, the Buffalo Bills became the first team all season to clinch the AFC East crown with five games remaining. They became the first team to clinch a division so early since the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.
This is the fifth straight season that Buffalo has won the AFC East title, a franchise record.
