Positive news has come from doctors about Buffalo Bills safety Dumar Hamlin’s health continues to improve despite remaining in intensive care at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. .
The NFL’s focus remains on Hamlin’s health, but the league is expected to continue with its Week 18 games. rice field.
But the league has to figure out what it wants to do with the postponed Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game from Monday night. During the game, Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after being hit by wide receiver Tea Higgins.
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Dummer Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on September 25, 2022.
(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Fox News Digital that “no decisions have been made on how the league will proceed with the Bills-Bengals game. We will continue to explore all options.” increase.”
One of those options is to not restart the game. And ESPN NFL Insider’s Adam Schefter believes it will happen.
“Like someone told me last week, the game is bad mojo. It’s time to leave it behind,” Schefter said on ESPN’s “First Take.” do.”
Damar Hamlin asked about Bills game results after waking up, doctor says
For the Bengals to move ahead without restarting the game, which was leading 7-3 at the time, the NFL must understand how that affects playoff seeding. Schefter presented a scenario proposed by his colleague and former NFL quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck.
“He said you call the Bengals Bills a draw,” Schefter said. “The 1st seed can choose a home field through the playoffs or a bye. The 2nd seed gets whatever is not picked.”
Schefter added that he believed the league had considered letting the No. 1 seed choose between home field and bye-bye.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, 85, runs near Buffalo Bills’ safety Dummer Hamlin, 3, during the first half of a game in Cincinnati on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. Hamlin was injured while playing.
(AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
He also believes a neutral place in the AFC Championship Game may be in the cards.
“If there’s an AFC championship game at the end, teams that don’t have the same number of games are involved, and Monday night’s result is a factor in gaining home field advantage, I think the league will look something like this,” said Shefter. explained. “The league will say, ‘We’re not going to have a home field advantage this year. We’re going to play a conference game in a neutral location.'”
The AFC’s current No. 1 seed is the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 13-3, but with a 1-1 tiebreaker, the Bills could have retained their lead with a win Monday night. .
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Cincinnati Bengals long snapper Clark Harris hovers above the NFL logo during the Super Bowl warmup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., February 13, 2022. standing in
(Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Bengals were also looking to maintain their top spot in the AFC North, which will be decided against their Week 18 opponents, the Baltimore Ravens.
With only a few days left before Week 18 begins, the team continues to prepare for Sunday.
While everyone is awaiting the league’s decision, there was some relief when doctors at UC Medical Center reported that Hamlin had improved significantly in the last 24 hours. He was in written communication with doctors because the breathing tube was still in use, and Hamlin was also able to hold his family’s hand.
Buffalo Bills safety Dummer Hamlin (3) warms up before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Peycoe Stadium in Cincinnati on Jan. 2, 2023.
(Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NFLPA medical director Dr. Tom Mayer said Hamlin is expected to make a “complete neurological recovery.”
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“When he asked, ‘Did you win?’ The answer was, ‘Yes, Damar, you won the game of life,'” said Dr.
