Will Vikings playoffs be affected by wildfires in LA?

The NFL is monitoring conditions in the Los Angeles area as several wildfires burn out of control ahead of the Vikings’ wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.

“The NFL continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA.” Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s vice president of communications, said in a statement Wednesday.

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is about 15 miles southeast of the largest fire in the Pacific Palisades, and it has a roof that is open on three sides to allow “a great ocean breeze to flow through the seating bowl.” according to HKSthe architectural firm that designed the building. Concerns about air quality and the allocation of public safety resources may factor into the league’s decision-making. More than 1.5 million customers are without power Wednesday afternoon, and water shortages and high winds are hampering efforts to contain the fires.

The NFL has previously postponed or delayed playoff games for weather-related reasons, including last season when a wild-card game between the Steelers and Bills in Buffalo was moved from Sunday to Monday afternoon because of a snowstorm. In January 2017, a divisional round game between the Chiefs and Steelers in Kansas City was delayed several hours due to an ice storm.

But the Vikings-Rams game is already in the latest slot of wild-card weekend: 7:00 PM central time on Monday night. A postponement would be detrimental to the winning team, who will play again the following weekend.

Regular NFL games have been moved due to natural disasters or severe weather. The Vikings know this well after having to move December games in 2010 when the Metrodome roof collapsed after a snowstorm. Air quality concerns from wildfires in Northern California threatened the 49ers’ 2020 season opener at Levi’s Stadium.

The Rams said their headquarters in Woodland Hills, about 13 miles north of Pacific Palisades, has not been affected and no players or employees had been evacuated. Like the Vikings, the Rams did not practice Wednesday and will resume practice Thursday.

The Los Angeles Chargers, who play a road game in Houston on Saturday afternoon, practice well south of Pacific Palisades in El Segundo and limited their players’ time outdoors Wednesday.