A snow-removal mishap Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y., heralded a potential headache for NFL groundskeepers around the nation.
The second-half kickoff in the NFL Week 14 game between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed seven minutes after rubber pellets which backfill the artificial turf at New Era Field overtook large swathes of the field, including the sidelines and bench areas. Buffalo’s groundskeepers used leaf blowers and shovels to clear the playing area of the rubber pellets.
Current situation #Bills #Steelers @WKBW pic.twitter.com/E3uRPyMCMK
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) December 11, 2016
Blame lies with a snow-removal tractor that scooped up the precipitation and then some.
Massive amounts of rubber turf pellets are being pushed off the field to remove a thin blanket of snow. 🤔 #bills #steelers pic.twitter.com/kFHUDMe9er
— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) December 11, 2016
MONSTROUS https://t.co/tpXzbeFMuR pic.twitter.com/bY3gUNZaOI
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) December 11, 2016
The Bills explained what happened, per ESPN’s Mike Rodak.
Bills issue statement on halftime delay that was caused by a "too firm" brushing of turf… https://t.co/LT1JegpR8m pic.twitter.com/dmhEYiXv7N
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) December 11, 2016
Play eventually resumed, and the Steelers went on to win 27-20.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images
