The NFL announced on Wednesday afternoon that, for now, the NFC Wild Card game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Monday night is still on as planned.
But as the devastating wildfires tear through southern California, that may need to change. And if it does, the league turned to the Cardinals to help, and the game will be moved some 380 miles east, to Arizona and State Farm Stadium, if necessary.
UPDATE: The NFL officially moved the game to Arizona on Thursday evening. Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. Arizona time.)
It wouldn’t be the first time the Cardinals have been helpful with a California team, either.
In 2003, wildfires in the San Diego area forced a Chargers home game against the Miami Dolphins to Sun Devil Stadium in October. The league made the game on a Monday night — the day after the Cardinals won a home game there — and while tickets were free, fans who attended were asked to donate money for the wildfire victims.
In 2007, air quality issues from more fires forced the Chargers to share the practice fields with the Cardinals at the Dignity Health Training Center for the week, although the Chargers were able to play their game normally that weekend.