The Buffalo Bills made an emotional show of support for Damar Hamlin as they won their first NFL game since the safety suffered a cardiac arrest.
The Bills beat the New England Patriots 35-23 at home to clinch second seed in the AFC for the play-offs.
After a stirring build-up to Sunday’s game, Bills running back Nyheim Hines returned the opening kick-off for a touchdown to spark wild celebrations.
Hines scored another stunning kick-off return touchdown in the third quarter.
“I felt like Damar was with me on the field,” said Hines.
“The Bills are the best fanbase in the NFL, a lot of teams talk about family and we really mean it here.”
Watching from his hospital bed, Hamlin, 24, tweeted his support for his team throughout the game, exclaiming “Free Hines” and “Hines free” to celebrate the remarkable touchdowns.
There had been only four kick-off return touchdowns in the NFL all season prior to this game, while Hines becomes the first Bills player to ever score two such touchdowns in a single game.
On the first play, Hines carried the ball 96 yards into the endzone, leaving Bills coach Sean McDermott in tears, while star quarterback Josh Allen put his hands on his helmet in disbelief.
The Patriots hit back to move into a 17-14 lead, only for Hines to return the ball 101 yards for a touchdown from the subsequent kick-off.
The Bills scored five touchdowns overall as Allen hit three receivers in the endzone, with defeat meaning the Patriots missed out on a play-off spot.
“You couldn’t have scripted it any better,” said Allen. “A lot of emotions went into this game – it played hard on our minds for a week, it was not the best showing we’ve had, but it was pretty special.
“I urge everyone to keep praying for Damar, he’s in good spirits and I hope he can feel the love and emotion everyone in the stadium has for him.
“We love you brother and we can’t wait to see you.”
The Bills players wore patches of Hamlin’s number three on their jerseys.
They also arrived wearing T-shirts and caps bearing his picture, name and number, while fans held up banners with messages of support.
Big screens at the Bills’ Highmark Stadium displayed the message ‘Love for Damar 3’.
Hamlin collapsed during Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, with the Bills saying on Saturday that he is making “continued progress” yet is still in a “critical condition”.
“Game day – nothing I want more than to be running out that tunnel with my brothers,” Hamlin tweeted prior to kick-off.
“God using me in different way today. Tell someone you love them today!”
The Bills’ medical staff who helped resuscitate Hamlin on the field were thanked and cheered.
There was a rapturous round of applause for Hamlin prior to the US national anthem being sung, with the Bills players and staff visibly moved.
Prior to leading his team onto the field, Allen tapped the number three patch on his jersey and told his team-mates: “They always say don’t play for the name on the back, you play for the name on the front.
“It’s pretty special that we play for that number on our front too.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell attended the game wearing a blue cap with the number three on it.
The ‘3’ on the 30-yard mark was given a painted blue outline, as it is one of the Bills’ team colours.
There were similar displays of support throughout all of Sunday’s final regular season games, with the number three painted on the field and NFL players wearing ‘Love for Damar 3’ T-shirts during their warm-ups.
Prior to the game between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers, Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Chargers safety Derwin James Jr, who both wear the number three jersey, met and prayed at midfield while their respective teams locked arms.
Hamlin has had his breathing tube removed, and in a tweet the Bills quoted his doctors by saying his neurologic function remains intact and that he has been able to talk to his family and care team.
The NFL cancelled the Bills’ game against the Bengals in the wake of the incident.
NFL owners subsequently approved changes to the AFC play-off structure, given that the outcome of the game would have affected play-off seedings, with both sides already having secured postseason spots.
It now means that if the Bills beat the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the play-offs, the AFC Championship game against the top seed Kansas City Chiefs will be played at a neutral venue because the home team would ordinarily would have been settled by the result of the cancelled game between the Bengals and Bills.
The Chiefs secured a first-round bye by beating the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
