BUFFALO, N.Y.  — Snowed out in Buffalo, the Bills are heading to Detroit to play their “home” game against the New York Jets on Monday night.

The NFL announced the location and date of the game Thursday night after a severe lake-effect storm paralyzed much of the Buffalo region. More than 5 feet of snow had fallen in the Buffalo area since Monday, and another 1 to 3 feet was projected to fall by Friday.

The storm forced the Bills to cancel their past two days of practice because of impassable roads, and driving bans in Orchard Park and many communities neighboring Ralph Wilson Stadium. The team intends to travel to Detroit on Friday and practice at the Lions’ facility.

The Lions are at New England on Sunday.

“We greatly appreciate the hospitality of the Detroit Lions in hosting the Bills and this game,” NFL spokesman Michael Signora said.

This marks the second time the Bills will play at Ford Field this season after a 17-14 win over the Lions on Oct. 5. It also is the second time in four years the facility has hosted a neutral-site game.

The last time an NFL game was moved to Ford Field unexpectedly, the fans who showed up witnessed a bit of history. Brett Favre’s streak of 297 regular-season starts came to an end that night – on Dec. 13, 2010 – when the Minnesota Vikings lost to the New York Giants, 21-3. Favre was sidelined by shoulder and hand issues.

That game was moved to Detroit because the Metrodome roof collapsed.

“We are pleased to be hosting the Bills and Jets for their game Monday night,” Lions president Tom Lewand said. “While our thoughts are with the people of the Buffalo area during this difficult time, our team at Ford Field will do everything we can to be good hosts to their team.”

The decision should help the Bills get back on track after their routine was disrupted by the storm. It also gives them an extra day to prepare, with the game pushed back from Sunday.

“A big part of preparation is practice and lifting and nutrition, and that’s been compromised,” Bills president Russ Brandon said before the location of the game was announced. “And it’s certainly something we’re looking into.”

Bills Coach Doug Marrone and his staff have been living at the Bills’ headquarters since Tuesday. They’ve been going over the game plan and consulting with the team by phone and computer because a majority of the players have been snowed in. And those who can get out are unable to travel to the facility.

The next step is devising a way to get all the players and staff to the airport, which has remained open because it is north of where much of the storm hit.

The Bills (5-5) are already coming off an extended break. They had last weekend off following a 22-9 loss at Miami on Nov. 13. The Jets (2-8) are coming out of their bye week, and haven’t played since a 20-13 win against Pittsburgh on Nov. 9.

Jets Coach Rex Ryan said his team wouldn’t be hampered by a change of venue.

“It wouldn’t affect us,” Ryan said. “We’d just aim our plane in a different direction, I guess.”