NFL’s Titans asked to delay Saturday’s kickoff due to Nashville’s power grid strain amid cold temps

The Tennessee Titans postponed Saturday’s kickoff against the Houston Texans by one hour at the request of Nashville mayor John Cooper over concerns about the city’s power grid amid frigid temperatures in the region. 

Cooper made his request with only hours to spare ahead of kickoff, which was scheduled for 1pm EST and 12pm local time. The game will now kickoff at 2pm EST. Rolling blackouts have been planned by the Tennessee Valley Authority to ease the demands currently overwhelming the area’s power grid.

‘Due to the extreme weather and power outages affecting our region, kickoff for today’s game has been postponed one hour to 1pm CT,’ read a team statement. ‘This decision was made in partnership with the NFL, Office of Emergency Management, Nashville Electric Service and the Mayor’s Office in an abundance of caution to ensure that the game would not negatively impact our community in any way. 

‘We are exploring every possibility to minimize non-essential power around the stadium. Gates are currently open and fans are welcome to enter.

‘At all times, the operation of the game remained secondary to the well-being of our community and we can’t thank the OEM and NES enough for their dedication to the safety of our neighbors,’ the statement concluded. 

Cooper made his request on Twitter earlier Saturday morning:  ‘I’ve been informed that TVA’s unilateral rolling blackouts will continue. All non-essential businesses should reduce power usage. I’ve asked the Titans to postpone their 12pm game in solidarity with our neighbors. TVA needs to invest in infrastructure to withstand extreme temps.’

The NHL’s Nashville Predators hosted the defending champion Colorado Avalanche on Friday, losing in overtime, but Cooper explained on Twitter that the game was powered by generators.

The NFL has traditionally tried to accommodate such requests from authorities, but delaying Saturday’s kickoff was no easy task, particularly at a time when many fans had already begun their journeys to the game.

To accommodate fans who arrived early, the Titans did open their doors at the regularly scheduled time.  

Crews were seen before Saturday’s kickoff removing the tarp at Nissan Stadium and using leaf blowers to warm up the turf. 

Rookie quarterback Malik Willis will get the nod under center for Saturday’s game after a likely season-ending ankle injury for Ryan Tannehill last week. 

Tannehill was carted off the field on Sunday after when Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack landed on his right foot during the Titans’ first offensive drive. Tennessee would go on to lose, 17-14, pushing the team’s losing skid to four games.

Because they play in the miserable AFC South, the Titans have their playoff fate in their own hands with three games remaining.

The Titans face the Houston Texas (1-12-1) on Saturday in Nashville and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 before closing the regular season on the road against their division rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars.