Philadelphia or Pittsburgh could host Dolphins-Buccaneers game
The Week 1 game between the Dolphins and Buccaneers could be played in Pennsylvania as a result of Hurricane Irma.
With Hurricane Irma making its way along a track that could see it impact Florida, the NFL announced on Tuesday the game between the Dolphins and Buccaneers that was scheduled to take place at Hard Rock Stadium would not be played in Miami. The league is exploring contingency plans, and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have reportedly emerged as possible sites for the game.
Sources: Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are neutral sites under consideration if Bucs-Dolphins play this week. Decision likely tomorrow.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 6, 2017
The Eagles will be away facing the Redskins and the Steelers will be in Cleveland to face the Browns. That would leave Lincoln Financial Field and Heinz Field available for use this weekend.
Miami and Tampa Bay share a bye in Week 11 but, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk pointed out earlier in the day, that would lead to a less than ideal scenario for both teams.
If Bucs-Fins moves to Week 11, both teams will play 16 straight games with no break. Miami will play one of them in London. #playersafety
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 5, 2017
Florio also added a neutral site would have to be an NFL stadium due to the NFL’s replay technology.
If NFL picks neutral site for Bucs-Dolphins it will have to be an NFL stadium due to the real-time replay technology.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 5, 2017