As Buffalo Bills players return from their long weekend off and hit the practice field in advance of next Monday night's game against the New England Patriots, they'll enjoy above-average temperatures and calm conditions most of the week.

The sunny skies and low-60s will be a welcome change from this week last year, when -- as most in the region remember well -- Buffalo's southtowns were buried in six or more feet of snow, shutting down roads for up to five days.

The lake-effect system wiped out practice and forced the NFL to relocate the Bills' Week 12 game to Detroit's Ford Field, where the Bills romped Rex Ryan's New York Jets, 38-3.

It's a week that Ryan and most from Buffalo would prefer not to repeat, but for the Bills, the adversity fueled one of their best games of last season.

Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo is shown on Nov. 21, 2014, after an incredible lake-effect storm buried the Buffalo area in six feet of snow and forced the Bills to move a game to Detroit. AP Photo/Gary Wiepert

Here were some of the key moments:

Nov. 18, 2014: Bills players react as lake effect snow buries Buffalo

Nov. 19, 2014: Status of Jets-Bills game in question as Buffalo buried by snow

Nov. 19, 2014: Mario Williams helps Jim Kelly dig out from mountain of snow

Nov. 20, 2014: Snow continues as driving ban hampers Bills' clearing

Nov. 20, 2014: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says New York Jets-Buffalo Bills game is impractical

Nov. 20, 2014: Photos: Several feet of snow blanket Bills' Ralph Wilson Stadium

Nov. 20, 2014: Mario Williams delivers food, gas to neighbors

Nov. 21, 2014: New York Jets-Buffalo Bills game moved to Monday in Detroit

Nov. 21, 2014: Bills players walking, riding snowmobiles to stadium

Nov. 22, 2014: Bills hold second practice at Lions' facility

Nov. 24, 2014: No food, no heat: Bills players look back on snow daze

Nov. 24, 2014: Doug Marrone gives game ball to Erie County emergency responders

Nov. 25, 2014: Bills' victory in Motown is feel-good gift for fans in snow-covered Buffalo