The Bills Win This One for ‘The Gipper’

The Bills 35 - 23 victory over the New England Patriots provided about as electric an atmosphere as these eyes have ever witnessed. With the Bills and their sellout crowd amped up to the maximum in support of injured safety Damar Hamlin, there was never really much doubt as to the outcome of this contest. The Bills were determined to “win this one for the Gipper.”

Of course, the million-dollar question was whether Hamlin’s near fatal injury on the field would play mind games with the Bills psyche. That question was answered in the most electrifying fashion possible when Nyheim Hines received the opening kickoff and proceeded to take it 96 yards, untouched into the end zone. At that moment, just 14 seconds into the ball game, there was never a doubt in anyone’s mind that the Bills would prevail. But of course, Patriots Head Coach, Bill Belichick, did not become the winningest coach in the history of professional football by rolling over and playing dead. Give the Pats credit. They played hard, but there was just too much emotional juice in Highmark Stadium for the Pats to do anything else other than lose. I must say, it is always a delight whenever the Bills can prevail over Coach ‘Sour Puss.’ Belichick and his Patriots vanquished the Bills for so many years that it is exhilarating to finally see him get his comeuppance in the Sean McDermott era.

Besides the two electrifying kickoff returns by Hines, the Bills finally earned some ‘style points’ on Josh Allen’s three touchdown passes, two of the long ball variety. Both TD bombs were things of beauty. The first, a 42 yard strike to John Brown, came after Josh was flushed from the pocket, but signaled to ‘Smoke’ to turn his short underneath pattern, into a deep route. Thereupon, Brown, the veteran speedster, turned on the jets and made a spectacular diving catch to barely get under Allen’s beautiful rainbow of a pass.

The other play, a 49 yard toss to Stefon Diggs, was equally a thing of beauty, as Allen hit Diggs in perfect stride over close pass coverage by the New England secondary. Along with his 3-yard TD to tight end Dawson Knox, Allen hit the trifecta.

And now, let the playoffs begin. Sunday’s game against the Miami will be the third meeting between the teams, with this one being the ‘rubber match’ as the teams split their two regular season games. The Dolphins, however, are coming to town with great uncertainty at the quarterback position. Starting QB Tua Tagaviola has been in the concussion protocol for the past couple of games and it is not certain whether he will return. If Tua is unable to go, the Bills will have a definite advantage if the Dolphins are forced to start rookie QB Sylar Thompson. With Teddy Bridgewater, the normal backup, also out with an injury, Thompson is the junior varsity replacement and has seemed in way over his head.

The Bills, on the other hand, are warriors and the season long adversity which they have faced and overcome has made them ready for the moment. They will not falter.

Damar Hamlin Thankful For The Love

Just days after his stunning on-field cardiac arrest, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said on Instagram he was thankful for the love he’s received and asked for continued prayers for a “long road” ahead.

“When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you 3x’s as much,” he wrote in his first Instagram post since his collapse Monday. “The Love has been overwhelming, but I’m thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out.”

“If you know me you know this only gone make me stronger,” he added. “On a long road keep praying for me!”

Later he added on Twitter the “love is felt, & extremely real. No matter race or religion everybody coming together in prayer.”

Hamlin, who has received an outpouring of support from across the nation since he collapsed in cardiac arrest early in a game Jan. 2, was released Monday morning from intensive care at University of Cincinnati Medical Center and was flown back to Buffalo, where he was transferred to Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute to continue his treatment.

He was released from Buffalo General on Wednesday!

Dilemma of Defibrillators

As we all held our own breath, at the sight of one of our own Buffalo Bills players' - take his last, we must see the big picture.

A man's life - hung in the balance, as we watched. Defibrillation to the rescue! Professionals trained to administer this life sustaining measure in critical minutes.

NFL has the access to this equipment but what about High School Sports Teams, Public Venues, Churches, Community Centers and the like?

Training to utilize this equipment, can we take this unimaginable crisis and create opportunity? So much so, that others lives will be saved.

Continued prayers for our beloved Damar Hamlin, his family and teammates.....a speedy full recovery!

-Broderick Cason