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Nyheim Hines has ignited an emotionally charged atmosphere celebrating injured Bills safety Damar Hamlin by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns as Buffalo clinched the AFC’s second play-off seed with a 35-23 win over the New England Patriots.
The loss, coupled with Miami beating the New York Jets, eliminated the Patriots from the play-offs for the second time in three years.
Emotional tributes flowed before the game both on social media and at the ground, with many teammates wearing Hamlin’s number three on their jerseys, as well as the stadium filled with “Pray for Damar” signs.
‘‘If you want the truth, it was spiritual,’’ said Bills quarterback Josh Allen said as he choked back tears following the victory. ‘‘It was bone-chilling, it was special.’
Hamlin shared his support on Twitter to his over half a million followers from his hospital bed, cheering on his teammates.
“GameDay… Nothing I Want More Than To Be Running Out That Tunnel With My Brothers,” tweeted Hamlin.
“God Using Me In A Different Way Today. Tell Someone You Love Them Today.”
“OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!” he posted after Hines’ second touchdown.
An emotional Tre’Davious White also shared how hard the past week has been on the team, and how they all came together on the field today.
“We’re so connected. We hang out outside of the field and football never comes up most of the time,” said White in the post-game press conference.
“To see everything transpire from the hit, to him getting up, to him falling . . . It’s just something that I can’t unsee. Every time I close my eyes it replays.”
White also spoke of the heartfelt text Hamlin sent his teammates in the early hours of game day.
“Damar is one of the most resilient, honest and pure people that I’ve met,” said White. “We got a text from Damar (on Saturday) around 2:31 in the morning. For him to text us, and what he said was, ‘I’m thinking about y’all. I’m sorry that I did that to y’all.’ For him to check on us when he’s the person going through what he’s going through, that just shows what kind of person he is . . . I just want to hug the s— out of him.”
The Bills (13-3) closed by winning their last seven regular season games and overcame an emotional week after Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati on Monday night.
The Patriots needed only a win to clinch a play-off berth, but wound up ending the season with five losses in seven games.
Miami beat the New York Jets to make the play-offs for the first time since 2016.
The banged-up Dolphins (9-8) snapped a five-game losing streak, then had to wait a few minutes for Buffalo to defeat New England to make their post-season appearance official.
Cincinnati took advantage of four Baltimore turnovers to set up a rematch in the first round of the play-offs next week.
The AFC North champion Bengals (12-4) – playing on the same field where Hamlin suffered his cardiac arrest six days ago – beat a Ravens team that rested key players ahead of the post-season.
Cincinnati also avoided a coin toss to determine the site of its play-off game against Baltimore.
Ravens starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (knee) and backup Tyler Huntley were inactive, and the Ravens rested two of their biggest offensive weapons, Mark Andrews and JK Dobbins.
Pittsburgh beat Cleveland but were eliminated from the play-offs when Miami edged the Jets.
The Steelers (9-8) will have to settle for a 16th straight non-losing season under coach Mike Tomlin, fuelled by a 7-2 finish.
Davis Mills threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Akins on fourth down with 50 seconds left and connected with Akins on the 2-point conversion as Houston beat Indianapolis to cost itself the first pick in April’s draft.
Houston (3-13-1) won twice in the final three weeks to finish second to the Chicago Bears in draft positioning.
Chicago, who lost 29-13 to NFC North champions Minnesota, get the No.1 pick in the draft for the first time since 1947.
Rookie Desmond Ridder’s first two career touchdown passes powered Atlanta past play-offs bound Tampa Bay after Tom Brady broke his own NFL record for completions in a season.
He began the day needing nine completions to top his 2021 single-season record of 485. He set the mark on a five-yard pass to Russell Gage early in the second quarter. Brady left the game late in the first half with 490 completions.
Buffalo will now host division rival the Dolphins in the wild-card round next weekend.
Elsewhere, the Carolina Saints beat New Orleans 10-7.
© AAP
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