FOXBORO — The Patriots are in an especially delicate spot.
The chilly, harsh actuality is that they should go to Buffalo, and do their greatest to crush a Bills crew that’s hurting, and can eternally be traumatized having watched Damar Hamlin, their teammate and brother, get revived from cardiac arrest on the sector proper in entrance of them throughout Monday night time’s showdown with the Bengals.
Hamlin stays in vital situation at a Cincinnati hospital, however has fortunately proven indicators of enchancment, which has lifted the spirits of many, together with the Patriots. And whereas the Bills seem prepared to maneuver on to the following recreation given the encouraging information, the feelings are positive to be working excessive inside Highmark Stadium on Sunday.
How do the Patriots, whose playoff lives are on the road, block out their emotions of compassion for the Bills? How do they keep away from getting wrapped up in all of uncooked emotion and sentiment with the Bills returning to the sector for the primary time, to not point out deal with their very own feelings relating to what occurred to a fellow participant?
For the Patriots, it’s going to be a tall order to disregard and block out the apparent after they’re confronted with it head on in Buffalo. It’s going to be powerful to ratchet up the depth. Players are human. They aren’t robots with out feeling.
And but one way or the other, the Patriots should do their greatest to keep away from being drawn in, which might be anybody’s pure inclination. At the very least, they should put a lid on it when the sport begins.
If they don’t, it’s going to be a really lengthy day, and that’s with out realizing how the Bills will deal with it internally.
“It’s tough thinking about the environment, what we’re going to go into Sunday,” Patriots defensive captain Devin McCourty acknowledged Thursday. “We’re the team that has to go play in Buffalo this week, after I’m sure was just a roller-coaster of emotions for them. I’m sure they’re still dealing with so many different things.”
Roller-coaster is an efficient description with the Bills anxiously awaiting each replace.
And with information of Hamlin enhancing with every day, the belief is that Josh Allen & Co. can be extraordinarily motivated and fired as much as win one for his or her fallen teammate, though nothing is for certain. The week has certainly been emotionally and bodily draining for the Bills. It’s arduous to know for positive how lengthy their adrenaline will preserve them going.
While placing a stability goes to be a troublesome task for the Patriots, they’re going to should discover a manner.
Linebacker Matthew Judon mentioned he thinks every thing will in the end maintain itself, and the gamers will be capable of muster up the drive and stage of depth wanted to compete with the Bills.
“When you go out there, it’s going to be hard not to think about it,” mentioned Judon, “but it surely’s not going to be arduous to go on the market and compete. I believe the Bills and our crew are going to go on the market and do the most effective we are able to with the circumstances and the state of affairs.
“But I don’t think it’s going to be any less competitive of a game regardless of what they try to do before the game, or during the game, to uplift Damar and his family. I don’t think it’s going to be hard for us to get up for that type of game.”
Bill Belichick, who additionally addressed the media on Thursday, mentioned he had consulted totally different coaches on how greatest to deal with the Hamlin state of affairs from all sides.
He additionally acquired enter from assistants Troy Brown and Jerod Mayo, citing their expertise taking part in the sport at a excessive stage for a few years, on how greatest to maneuver ahead.
As it’s, coping and getting targeted on taking part in soccer in wake of what occurred to the Bills security hasn’t been a straightforward job simply in the course of the lead-up to the sport alone. It’ll be even more durable on Sunday. There’s no playbook for easy methods to cope with this type of state of affairs, although Judon believes the Patriots can be simply high quality.
“Everybody’s doing the best they can,” Belichick mentioned a number of instances throughout his briefing.
The gamers are anticipating what’s positive to be an emotional setting. They wish to be supportive of the Bills, however on the identical time, wish to be able to play and take down a crew the nation has rallied round, supported and embraced since Hamlin went down Monday night time.
“Obviously, on the game, there’s a lot of emotions flying. That’s every game, but obviously this game, very much so, too,” mentioned Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. “Really, it’s just trying to accept all the emotions, just be there for their team … and then when the kickoff starts, you’ve gotta go out there and play against a really good team.”
The gamers and coaches talked about how “bone-crushing and heartbreaking” it was to look at it play out on the sector, simply hoping Hamlin would survive.
McCourty mentioned it’s nonetheless powerful serious about that state of affairs. Center David Andrews mentioned it’s “been unlike any football week I’ve ever had, that’s for sure.”
The Patriots, as an entire, have been glad to listen to Hamlin was doing higher and making substantial progress as of Thursday. With that, they have been doing their greatest to try to keep targeted on the duty at hand.
But actually, there’s no strategy to put together for what occurred Monday night time, or within the aftermath, prepare for what lies forward in Buffalo.
“I wish I had the answer,” mentioned Patriots security Adrian Phillips. “You just try to go through it the best you can. You say your prayers, you talk to the players on the other side and let them know you’re praying for them, and go out there and have the mindset to win the game. That’s pretty much all you can do. Just be in the moment at the time … we all have the desire to be in the playoffs, and we gotta do what we gotta do to be in the playoffs.”
Is it one thing to dam out, or simply roll with and embrace?
“I don’t think you can block it out,” mentioned Andrews. “That’s just part of it … everyone’s dealing with it. We just have to do our best to move forward and get ready to play this game.”
Added Matthew Slater: “We’re navigating that as we proceed through the week. I think everyone’s trying to, as best they can, focus on doing their job, and being prepared to play on Sunday. I’d be lying if I said it was an easy thing to do, because it’s not an easy task. We’re just doing our best to take it day by day.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com