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Steelers, Bills face off in wild card game as winter storm threatens strong wind gusts, heavy snowfall

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Steelers, Bills face off in wild card game as winter storm threatens strong wind gusts, heavy snowfall

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A winter storm in western New York is threatening strong wind gusts and the possibility of heavy snowfall for Sunday’s Wild Card game between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers, prompting the Bills to call for extra hands in preparation. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) for Buffalo issued a winter storm warning beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and is expected to last until Monday morning. 

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Fans cheer as snow falls during the first half in the AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.  (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

According to the latest update on Friday night, total snow accumulations are estimated to reach anywhere between one and three feet in some areas with possible “blizzard conditions” impacting the region between Saturday night and Sunday. 

Wind gusts could reach a max of 65 mph on Saturday night. Travel conditions are expected to be “very difficult to impossible at times” with poor visibility due to “widespread blowing snow.”  

The Bills will be hosting the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park in the midst of this. While no stranger to playing in these types of conditions, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said the team is still preparing the best they can. 

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FROM OUTKICK: BILLS-STEELERS GAME PROJECTED TO BE PLAYED IN ‘GAME OF THRONES’-TYPE SETTING

“It takes a little more time, right, just to spend a little bit of time – not a little bit of time, quite a bit of time to make sure we’re prepared for it just like any game plan and we’re ready to adjust,” he said Friday. 

“It’s not within our control, unfortunately, but the good man upstairs’ control, and we’ll adjust where needed.” 

Fans look on as snow falls during the first half in the AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.  (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

CHIEFS-DOLPHINS BRACE FOR SUB-ZERO TEMPS IN WHAT COULD BE AMONG THE COLDEST NFL PLAYOFF GAMES IN HISTORY

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Stadium officials are also preparing. 

On Friday, the Bills called on the public for help in making sure Highmark is ready to go for kickoff at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. 

“Shovelers can shovel snow throughout the night on Saturday into Sunday morning if needed. The rate of pay is $20 per hour. Complimentary food and breaks will be provided throughout the shifts in a comfortable warm area,” a message on the team’s website read. 

Ground crews clear snow from the field before a game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.  (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

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Over in Kansas City, the Chiefs are hosting the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night in a game that is expected to be one of the coldest in NFL playoff history. Forecasters predict there will be sub-zero temperatures, with a low of minus-5 during the game. 

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Four more Dodgers players selected as National League All-Stars

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Four more Dodgers players selected as National League All-Stars

The Dodgers have four more 2026 All-Stars joining Shohei Ohtani on the National League squad.

Center fielder Andy Pages claimed the first All-Star nod of his career. And third baseman Max Muncy (three) first baseman Freddie Freeman (10) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (two) added to their Midsummer Classic honors.

Ohtani (six) bypassed phase two of All-Star voting by earning the most fan votes of any player in the first phase.

All of the Dodgers position players were elected as starters, marking the first time since 1980 that the team has had four All-Star starters.

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The MLB All-Star Game will be played in Philadelphia on July 14.

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Chris Johnson’s former teammate reflects on ex-star’s surprise ALS diagnosis, tight-knit bond after milestone

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Chris Johnson’s former teammate reflects on ex-star’s surprise ALS diagnosis, tight-knit bond after milestone

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The NFL world was stunned on Monday when it became public that Chris Johnson, one of just nine players ever to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, is suffering from ALS.

The news hit close to home for Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played for Johnson’s Tennessee Titans for a season. And despite it being just one year, the two have a special connection.

“He was a great teammate when I got to play with him for the one year, and obviously a super talented guy on the football field. We texted about a year ago. I was just looking back at our text messages, and one of the things that I had sent him — the 100th touchdown pass that I threw in the NFL was to CJ2K, and he signed the football for me and gave it to me. It says, ‘To my cool white boy. Congrats on number 100,’” Fitzpatrick recalled in an interview with Fox News Digital. “So the amount of street credit I have from Chris Johnson calling me a cool white boy has always been awesome to me.”

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Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, No. 4 of the Tennessee Titans, hands off to running back Chris Johnson, No. 28, against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 13, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

But ALS is just such a tough thing to have to deal with, obviously for Chris and for everybody around him. You can just imagine the frustrations of his mind being there but his body starting to fail him and how difficult that is. We’re obviously all hoping for the best for him, and all our love and support goes to him and his wife and his family.”

In a lengthy social media post, Johnson said that there is growing research that shows a link between repetitive head trauma and ALS, and studies have shown that NFL players are four times as likely to develop ALS as the general population.

Fitzpatrick, personally, said that when it comes to football, he would do it all over again, even as the risks are more prevalent now than ever before. However, what comes with age is more grim reality.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson runs against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Aug. 28, 2010. (Sam Sharpe/USA TODAY Sports)

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FORMER NFL STAR CHRIS JOHNSON SAYS HE’S BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ALS

“I do think guys playing football understand at least the broad scope of what the risks are. I think a lot of guys would tell you, and I would be the same way, football has given me so much in my life that it’s something I would do again in a heartbeat. And for my kids that want to pursue it, I’m happy for them to pursue it,” Fitzpatrick said.

“But as you get older, I’m 43, as you get older, and your parents get older, I lost my mom five years ago, there’s just more stuff that seems to happen. It’s really sad. One of my best friends from high school was diagnosed with ALS. So seeing that firsthand, and the difficulties that come with it, not just for him but everybody that is around him, it’s really hard. As you get older, stuff happens, and there are things that you have to deal with and figure out. So unfortunately, it’s a tough part about aging.”

There is no known cure for ALS – known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It’s a progressive disease in which the brain loses connection with the muscles, according to the ALS Association. The afflicted slowly lose their ability to walk, talk, eat, dress, write, swallow and, eventually, breathe.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson breaks free for a long run against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Nov. 8, 2009. The Titans defeated the 49ers 34-27. (Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports)

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The former running back played in the NFL from 2008 to 2017 with the Titans, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and Angelica Stabile contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Letters to Sports: Mixed emotions over LeBron James leaving Lakers

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Letters to Sports: Mixed emotions over LeBron James leaving Lakers

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I will miss watching the greatest maestro and savant in the history of basketball, LeBron James. He is to basketball what Van Gogh was to painting, Coltrane to music, Hemingway to literature. He came from poverty and rose to a global hero and gave back. His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous. To all his detractors and haters? Eat your hearts out, he is a happy man.

Dell Franklin
Cayucos

I have always been in awe of LeBron’s athleticism and basketball IQ. And I greatly admire his dedication to maintaining his physical abilities throughout the years and his philanthropic pursuits.

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But, as a lifelong Lakers fan, I will not miss LeBron. He was never a true Laker. He made it clear when he announced that he was taking his talents to South Beach that he cared only about LeBron, not the team.

So, as he closes out his career elsewhere, I will enjoy watching his superior playing prowess from afar. But I will be grateful that I can now cheer for my Lakers without the drama LeBron brings to every team he’s been on.

Linda Salzman
Rancho Palos Verdes

I agree that it was probably time to move on from LeBron simply in the interest to pursue a long-term player versus one more year from the King. But Bill Plaschke’s argument that he was tired of the mind games LeBron supposedly was playing is a terrible take. Losing 27-7-7 is not replaceable overnight, if ever.

George Metalsky
Redondo Beach

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While acknowledging LeBron James as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, it never really felt as if he was selflessly committed to the Purple and Gold team concept like so many of the legendary players that preceded him.

During his eight years as a Laker there seemed to be countless occasions when Lakers brass capitulated to his “demands.” Year after year we endured a mishmash roster with his hand-picked players, just to appease LeBron.

During the Lakers’ dynasty we had championship teams. With LeBron we had a king shaping his fiefdom to first and foremost best serve him.

He’s a great player but a horrible GM. The Lakers will be a better team without him.

David Griffin
Westwood

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I only have one question regarding LeBron James: What happens to Bronny now?

David Waldowski
Laguna Woods

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