"GAMETIME!!" - Damar Hamlin posts a message for his teammates from hospital bed as Bills take field against Patriots
The Buffalo Bills took the field on Sunday afternoon for the first time since Monday night when safety Damar Hamlin collapsed after suffering from cardiac arrest. The 24-year-old has shown great improvement in the last six days and even posted to the social media for the first time on Saturday afternoon. In that post, he thanked everyone for the love and support that they have shown him.
On Sunday afternoon, just before kickoff, Hamlin took to Twitter to show that he is watching his Buffalo Bills from his hospital room. Captioned 'Gametime', the photo shows the Bills safety and his family wearing 'Love for Damar' shirts, the same shirts that have been worn by players across the National Football League this weekend.
"GAMETIME!!! @BuffaloBills 💙
GAMETIME!!! @BuffaloBills 💙 https://t.co/PQYClonUHb
While Hamlin is still listed as in critical condition and in the intensive care unit, his recovery at this point is just so miraculous. And for his teammates and fans to see the love and support that he has been receiving and watch his teammates take the field is something that many could only have hoped and prayed for less than one week ago.
Damar Hamlin reacts to Bills opening kick return touchdown
Just after Damar Hamlin tweeted that he was watching his Buffalo Bills team this afternoon, they immediately put on a show for him. After an emotional opening to the game that saw Bills Mafia celebrate his recovery, the New England Patriots, who won the toss, did the opening game kickoff.
Nyheim Hines secured the return and took it all the way back as he scored a touchdown within the first 15 seconds of the game. Giving the Buffalo Bills an early 7-0 lead. What an amazing way to return to the field after Monday night.
Hamlin immediately responded on Twitter, showing that he too couldn't believe what he just watched.
"OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While the Buffalo Bills are already playoff bound, they are playing for some important seeding on Sunday afternoon. A win over the New England Patriots, which would be a season sweep of their AFC East division rival, would give the Bills the number two seed in the AFC.
The Kansas City Chiefs secured the number one seed with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday afternoon, which would then give the Cincinnati Bengals the third seed in the AFC playoffs. If the Bills were to lose, they would need the Bengals to also lose to retain the number two seed.