The regular-season debut of Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets, plus the return of Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, and the rest of the Buffalo Bills, could be put on hold due to Mother Nature.
Latest Weather Update Now in Effect
Update 7:45 p.m. ET: The field is now open and Jets fans have started posting pictures of clear skies on social media. Players on the field and practicing. The game will start at its regularly scheduled time.
Omen for the Jets? pic.twitter.com/Tun0bGkEz6
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) September 11, 2023
A thunderstorm has hovered above East Rutherford, New Jersey, and it is in close proximity to the Monday Night Football opener.
MORE: What Channel Is the NFL Game Tonight? Bills vs. Jets Set To Kick Off Monday Night Football
Caught by Alex Brasky of Bills Digest, lightning strikes are seen visible above MetLife Stadium.
Lightning strikes over a rainy MetLife Stadium. There is a chance that #Bills vs. Jets will be delayed by weather. pic.twitter.com/rdylVDdOtO
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) September 11, 2023
Meanwhile, near the field, this was the scene captured by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter as of 5:32 p.m. ET. No one, including stadium personnel, was allowed onto the field.
What Kind of Storm Has Effected the Game?
Per the Weather Channel, a special marine warning along with scattered thunderstorms has affected the surrounding area for Monday night’s game.
Skies aren’t expected to become clear until midnight in the New York region, and the area also currently has 86% humidity. However, as of 6:31 p.m. ET, NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo captured skies briefly clearing up.
Latest update via CBS Sports HQ’s Josina Anderson: Teams and stadium personnel were still awaiting for clearance to head onto the field.
Has the Game Been Called Off?
As of 7:24 p.m. ET, Garrett Wilson of the Jets was seen warming up underneath an orange evening sky — signifying the game will go on as scheduled.
Again, the MNF opener serves as the highly anticipated first regular-season game for Rodgers in New York after being traded from Green Bay in the offseason.
Standing in the way of him and a debut victory is a Bills team with their own high expectations in pursuing the Lombardi Trophy.
For his career, Rodgers owns a 2-2 overall record against the Bills. However, it was Allen, Diggs and the Bills who got the better end of last year’s meeting 27-17 on October 30 at Orchard Park. Rodgers threw two touchdown passes that day: 19-yarder to Romeo Doubs and a 37-yard connection to Samori Toure. Rodgers went 19 of 30 for 203 yards with one interception that game.
