Toxic Air Threatened The Patriots-Seahawks Sunday Night Game

NFL officials are keeping an eye on air quality ahead of Sunday night's game between the Patriots and Seahawks in Seattle, where raging wildfires from along the West Coast have caused the air to be deemed unhealthy at points this week.

The fires at points caused Seattle's Air Quality Index to reach levels above 200, which is the the NFL threshold to relocate or postpone a game.

Fortunately it appears that barring something unforeseen, the Patriots and Seahawks will play Sunday night. Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune reported Saturday that the Air Quality Index has plummeted all the way from 200 to 19, meaning the air should not pose a health risk for the players.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick addressed the air quality about as one would expect him to.

"I’d say from our standpoint we’re going to control the things that we can control," he said.

The game will be the Patriots' second in front of an empty stadium. No fans are allowed in CenturyLink Field due to the coronavirus pandemic. In normal times, the Seattle fans give the Seahawks one of the top homefield advantages in the NFL.

Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. on NBC. Fans can listen to the local broadcast on WBZ-FM (98.5 The Sports Hub.)