Hamlin Plan: NFL’s Next Move

01/06/2023 Hamlin Plan: NFL’s Next Move

By: Jeff Yoder

Damar Hamlin Shows ‘Remarkable Improvement’ as NFL Decides on Bills-Bengals Strategy

A frightful week in the NFL has taken a positive turn as we enter the weekend. Bills safety Damar Hamlin appears to be on the road to recovery after doctors, family, and friends shared details yesterday. Hamlin — who suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday Night Football — has opened his eyes and written messages to family members and doctors. The sports world stood still this week as the NFL dominated the headlines with prayers for Damar. Fans also donated more than $7 million to his charity this week. Amazing.

 

Hamlin’s first words: “Did we win?”

Doctors replied: “You’ve won the game of life.”

 

The NFL’s Plan for Bills-Bengals

With Hamlin’s positive news, the NFL still needed to find a solution to its missing game on the schedule. Monday’s Bills-Bengals clash had major implications for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But the answer to a missing game isn’t as simple as just squeezing it in, especially with one week left in the regular season.

 

Instead, the league opted to cancel the game (no contest), resulting in the Bills and Bengals having one less game on their end-of-season records. Both teams, along with the Chiefs, will make up the top-3 seeds in the AFC, but league owners will vote today on whether or not to make the AFC Championship a neutral-site game to level the playing field of “home field advantage” that could’ve been earned by Buffalo, Kansas City or Cincinnati.

 

Regardless of the NFL’s next move, Damar Hamlin is awake and alive. And we’re about to celebrate with some Week 18 football.

 

Additional Storylines

SI: NFL Considering Two Options for Bills-Bengals Postponement

CNN: Live Updates: The Latest on Damar Hamlin’s Condition

B/R: Doctors Share Damar Hamlin Status: Appears ‘Neurologically Intact’ After Cardiac Arrest

 

Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig / Getty Images