ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Piles of rubber pellets from the artificial turf surface at New Era Field delayed the start of the second half of Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers by seven minutes.
After moderate snowfall in the first half, groundkeepers used tractors equipped with large brushes to clear snow off the artificial turf surface. In addition to removing the snow, the brushes also kicked up large amounts of black rubber pellets used to backfill the turf.
The rubber pellets covered the white sideline paint in front of both teams' benches, as well as large portions behind each end zone.