Power goes out at Chargers-Bills game

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Power was restored at Ralph Wilson Stadium after 45 minutes with the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers having played about 16 minutes of game time Sunday.

The power came back on with about 11 minutes left in the second quarter, and just after Bills kicker Rian Lindell missed a 52-yard field goal wide right, which would have cut the Chargers’ lead to 7-6.

Buffalo won 23-14, and the lack of power was much of the buzz following the game.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson made a crack about a fan who came up to him during the game.

“Some guy with a beer, said, ‘Why don’t you pay your electricity bills,’” Wilson said, with a laugh. “I said, ‘I knew it would be my fault.’”

Chargers linebacker Marques Harris did wonder whether the Bills might have pulled the plug.

“I’ve never personally been involved in something like that. Maybe they planned it,” Harris said.

That was most certainly not the case.

The electricity went out at the stadium about a half-hour before the game after three helium balloons became entangled in power lines across the street from the facility.

Power was restored throughout most of the stadium within 15 minutes, although it blinked on and off just before the 1 p.m. start, and the game kicked off on time.

Emergency officials and work crews blocked off part of the area in front of the stadium on Abbott Road as they worked to remove the balloons, which appeared to be affecting the electrical flow. A New York State Electric and Gas worker also said that a breaker blew and had to be restored.

The outage occurred at about 12:29 p.m. while both teams were practicing on the field. The stadium lights and scoreboard blinked off, as did the power in the press box. The main scoreboard was the last to power up, about 5 minutes before the start of the game.

The CBS TV feed was out until 2 p.m., or about 5 minutes after the power came back on in the stadium. The game, which had been delayed for 15 minutes in the first quarter, resumed with on-field officials keeping time while shouting out the time left on the play clock.

That didn’t help much, as both teams were penalized once each for delay of game.

The power went out once again at the 2-minute warning of the second quarter, and was out for 19 minutes, returning just before the start of the third quarter in the press box — though the TV feed was still out. The stadium scoreboards were out except for the play clock at each end of the field.

Referee Jeff Triplette’s on-field microphone was working, as was the public address system.

“TV has not said anything to us at all,” NFL officiating observer Art McNally said of resuming the game with no TV coverage. “New York (the NFL) told us, ‘It’s your game. It’s your call. They (network) will have to do what they can to get their commercials in.”’

The network was able to air all the commercials that were promised to advertisers,a CBS spokesman said. The game was being shown in 37 percent of the country.

Neither team had any communication with its coaches upstairs, as the headsets were not working. Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, who normally calls the game from the coach’s booth, left for the sideline in the first quarter.

The audio receivers in the quarterbacks’ helmets also weren’t working.

Bills quarterback Trent Edwards said he got the plays from the sideline using hand signals from quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt.

At the time of the delay, on-field officials addressed both teams at the line of scrimmage. Players from both teams then went to their respective sidelines. Some stretched, while others stood around talking with their helmets off. Lynch rode a stationary bike, while Bills quarterback Trent Edwards played catch with backup J.P. Losman.

Triplette was on the Bills sideline talking to an NFL official and Marc Honan, Bills vice president of marketing and broadcasting.

Numerous fans inside the sold-out stadium stood up to stretch or headed to concession stands. A few loud cheers went up.

Bills cheerleaders continued their routines along the sidelines.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens junior Tessa Anastasi is The Herald’s 2024 Girls Soccer Player of the Year on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Herald’s Girls Soccer Player of the Year: Tessa Anastasi

The Lake Stevens goalkeeper recorded 13 shutouts during the Vikings’ historic season.

X
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Dec. 13

Everett’s Shaw sisters combine for 47 to beat crosstown rival.

X
Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Dec. 13

Glacier Peak boys basketball wins battle of standout scorers

Wesco announces All-League girls prep soccer teams

Wesco has released its All-League 4A and 3A girls high school soccer… Continue reading

Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72) lines up in Seattle's 20-17 win over San Francisco at Levi's Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks’ Abraham Lucas, offensive line making strides

The Archbishop Murphy grad is part of an offensive line showing more cohesion.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Dec. 1-7

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Dec. 1-7. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Kraken honor late owner David Bonderman before beating Bruins

Jared McCann remembered back to the first time he was… Continue reading

Prep roundup for Thursday, Dec. 12

A 30-2 quarter powered Getchell to their biggest win.

Prep boys swimming roundup for Thursday, Dec. 12

Shorecrest boys dominate in dual-meet action.

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, Dec. 11

Nina Wilson sets freshman record in Lynnwood win.

Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf (14) runs with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
DK Metcalf dealing with double coverage this season

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and other Seahawks seeing the benefits of star receiver’s presence.

Kenneth Walker III, who missed the Dec. 8 game in Arizona, runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Kenneth Walker III expected back soon for the Seahawks

Starting running back considered day to day, and status for Sunday is unknown.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.