‘With two minutes to go in the first half, Hamlin appeared on the stadium video board, opening the window to the suite where he was watching the game and making his signature “heart” sign to an explosion of cheers from the Bills faithful.’
Archives for January 2023
Bengals overwhelm Bills to advance to AFC title game rematch against Chiefs
‘Forced to play catch-up all afternoon, the Bills – eliminated from last year’s playoffs in the divisional round after losing in overtime at Kansas City – could never make up the deficit. Buffalo cut the margin to seven points twice, but the Bengals were quick to respond on a day that Burrow passed for 242 yards and star receiver Ja’Marr Chase seemed to be unstoppable – even in the snow – when it was time for a clutch catch. And, oh, Joe Mixon shredded Buffalo’s defense for 105 rushing yards as the Bengals ran for 172 yards.’
Bills’ Hamlin Attends 1st Game Since Collapse, Waves To Fans
‘Hamlin, wearing a hooded jacket, stood in front of the windows and raised his arms as if saluting the crowd and encouraging it to get on its feet as the Bengals were facing second-and-goal at their 5. He ended by forming a heart sign with his hands, his signature gesture.’
Depleted Bills Produce A Dud In Playoff Loss To Bengals
‘The Bills were flat from the beginning, seemingly spent from a two-month stretch in which they watched in stunned horror as Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati on Jan. 2, had their schedule disrupted by two winter storms, and showed signs of fatigue in a sloppy 34-31 playoff-opening win over Miami last week.’
Bengals Return To AFC Championship With 27-10 Rout Of Bills
‘It was a dud of an outing for the Bills, who opened the season with Super Bowl aspirations, and eventually ran out of emotional and physical gas. Aside from the stunning sight of Hamlin’s collapse, the Bills had their schedule twice disrupted by severe winter storms.’
Bills’ Stefon Diggs, who was frustrated with Josh Allen on sideline, bolts from locker room after loss: report
‘Diggs saw 10 targets from Allen to lead the Bills, but he caught just four of them for 35 yards. There were times when Allen just missed what looked to be big plays to Diggs, but the receiver’s frustration came after the second-to-last drive of the game when the Bills turned it over on downs.’
Damar Hamlin pumps up Bills fans from suite in return to Highmark Stadium
‘As you’d expect, Bills fans went wild as they saw Hamlin hyping up the crowd and making a heart with his hands for all those that have been supporting him since his incident against these Bengals in Week 17 of the regular season.’
Damar Hamlin visits Bills teammates ahead of playoff game vs Bengals
‘Hamlin was spotted in the cart being driven to the team’s locker room.’
Stefon Diggs, Bills express frustration with loss to Bengals
‘”He’s a competitive guy. That’s what makes him good is what you saw,” McDermott said. “He’s very competitive, like we all are. We work extremely hard at these jobs to be the best we can possibly be, and it hurts. I wouldn’t want a guy that doesn’t hurt, right? So, when you put it all on the line out there, we put it all on the line, and tonight it wasn’t good enough. That’s the part that stings.”‘
Damar Hamlin visits Bills’ locker room, salutes fans at Bengals game
‘Eventually, Hamlin came in clear, holding up his hands in the shape of a heart in what has become his signature move, while also pumping up the crowd as it cheered loudly upon seeing him despite the Bills’ on-field struggles.’
Bills’ Stefon Diggs yells at Josh Allen during season-ending loss to Bengals, reportedly leaves stadium early
‘The 29-year-old, who has served as a Bills team captain for both of the 2021 and 2022 seasons after being acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Vikings in 2020, also lit into Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen late in the game on the sideline. Diggs caught four passes for 35 yards on a game-high 10 targets, but only two of them occurred in the fourth quarter with the Bills entered trailing 24-10.’
Bengals vs. Bills score, takeaways: Joe Burrow-led Cincy dominates, earns AFC title game rematch vs. Chiefs
‘The offense let them down, but the Bills’ defense isn’t without fault. The Bills’ defense, after all, allowed Burrow to complete each of his first nine attempts as Cincinnati took a big lead early. They were pushed around by a Bengals’ offensive line that played without three starters.’
Damar Hamlin joins Bills in locker room at halftime of divisional round playoff game vs. Bengals
‘After spending time in the locker room, Hamlin went up to a suite. He did not go onto the field before the game.’
Maybe This Felt Like the Bills’ Year—Until Joe Burrow’s Bengals Stormed Into Buffalo
‘This was at the end of a brutal year, even by the local standards, after the blizzard to end all blizzards and the racist mass shooting at a grocery store and Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest. This was the backdrop of this game, which mattered a whole lot less than life-and-death but was relevant, tethered, tied: A franchise with history and Hall of Famers and four-straight Super Bowl appearances but still no NFL championship could end the misery. Maybe. Please?’
Thurman Thomas Posts Heartbreaking News Before Bills-Bengals Game
‘Thomas’s mother died on Saturday after a battle with breast cancer, the Pro Football Hall of Famer announced on social media. He posted a throwback photo with his mother while sharing the sad news with his followers.’