Steelers' playoff game moved back to Sunday night

The Steelers and their fans have waited 52 weeks for a chance to advance to an AFC championship game.

Now they will have to wait another seven-plus hours.

Sunday's Steelers-Chiefs divisional-round playoff game was moved to an 8:20 p.m. kickoff because of an ice storm in the Kansas City area this weekend, the NFL announced Friday afternoon.

“Due to public safety concerns in light of the forecasted storm this weekend in the Kansas City area, Sunday's Steelers-Chiefs divisional playoff game … has been moved to 8:20 p.m. ET … (to) provide local authorities more time to clear roads in the area as the weather is expected to improve throughout Sunday,” a league statement read.

The NFL said the teams were consulted in the decision.

“The Steelers have been monitoring the potential storm near Kansas City and fully support the NFL's decision to move the game to Sunday night,” Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said.

The most recent instance of a kickoff time being moved for a Steelers game was against the Dolphins on Sept. 26, 2004, when Hurricane Jeanne hit the Florida coast. That caused Ben Roethlisberger's first NFL start to begin at 8:30 p.m. rather than 1 p.m.

Driving rain fell throughout much of the game, a 13-3 Steelers victory.

The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning for the Kansas City/Pleasant Hill areas in Missouri. It is set to expire at noon CT Sunday — roughly the original kickoff time.

Part of the NWS warning reads: “Travel is strongly discouraged.”

“I'm a football player. We can't let weather conditions (affect) how we play,” star Steelers receiver Antonio Brown said. “I'm just excited to have an opportunity to play. And whatever the conditions are, we'll find a way to get the job done.”

The time change is similar to one for a high-profile sporting event in Pittsburgh earlier this decade. The 2011 NHL Winter Classic between the Penguins and Washington Capitals on New Year's Day was moved back seven hours from its original 1 p.m. faceoff because of the effect rain and warmer temperatures could have had on the outdoor ice surface at Heinz Field.

Before Friday's announcement, the Steelers had decided to adjust their travel schedule to arrive in Kansas City earlier than they typically would.

The Steelers lost in the divisional round last January, 23-16, at Denver. If they win Sunday, they'll advance to their first conference championship game since the 2010 season.

Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.