Thunderstorms could put a dent in Sunday’s NFL schedule, with the National Weather Service flagging weather that may touch six games across the early slate.
The matchups on alert are Bills vs. Patriots, Giants vs.
Cardinals, Eagles vs. Rams, Buccaneers vs.
Packers, Ravens vs. Titans, and the Sunday night Panthers vs.
Lions game. Most of the 1 p.m.
ET window sits under the same broad weather pattern, and the main concern is thunder and lightning rather than simple rain.
That matters because the NFL lets games keep going through ordinary showers, but lightning within 10 miles of a stadium triggers an immediate stoppage. Once that happens, players, staff and officials have to clear the field, and play cannot resume until 30 minutes have passed since the last strike.
Stadium crews will be tracking conditions in real time, while fans are told to look for shelter if storms move in. Game officials then decide whether a delay can end safely or whether the stoppage needs to stretch longer.
Several of the games on the list have already dealt with weather issues this season. The Buccaneers went through a long lightning delay earlier in the year, and wet conditions have affected other outdoor games as well. Teams are already planning for the usual mess that comes with precipitation: slippery footing, wet balls and special-teams adjustments.
The forecast is still subject to change, but the current outlook is enough to keep everyone on edge. The risk is only slight for now, yet one nearby strike could stop a game in a hurry under the league’s strict lightning policy.
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