FOXBORO — Bills security Damar Hamlin opened his eyes late Wednesday night time for the primary time in additional than 48 hours.
He adopted a collection of easy instructions from his mattress on the University of Cincinnati medical middle. Then, he scribbled out a query.
“Did we win?” he wrote, referring to Monday’s sport towards the Bengals.
News of Hamlin’s query, one signal of his fast, ongoing restoration from cardiac arrest, introduced pleasure and reduction Thursday to a shaken NFL. In Buffalo, Bills gamers and coaches exuded reduction of their first press conferences since Hamlin collapsed and expressed their utmost gratitude to the medical personnel who stored Hamlin alive. In New England, Bill Belichick and the Patriots did the identical.
Now, the Pats are slowly pivoting and asking their very own query as they ahead to Sunday’s sport.
“How can we win?”
The Patriots are slated as seven-point underdogs at Buffalo, the place they are going to confront a supercharged atmosphere and an emotional Bills crew that confronted the prospect of shedding a teammate. Buffalo already held a matchup benefit because the extra proficient crew with the higher quarterback and historical past on its aspect, profitable 5 of the final six collection conferences. No shock, Pats captain Matthew Slater expects Sunday’s kickoff to be an unprecedented problem.
“I expect it to be something that I’ve never experienced before,” Slater mentioned Thursday. “You’re hoping that — and I say this with all honesty — you’re hoping that by the time we get to the game, it’s a little bit more of a joyous one where they’ve got some better news on Damar, and I think we’ll all feel better about it. I know our team will feel better about it and have a little bit more peace.”
To course of Monday’s traumatic occasions, Belichick requested Slater to guide the crew in prayer earlier this week. Belichick additionally contacted gamers individually and addressed them as a gaggle, based on star cross rusher Matt Judon. Asked concerning the Patriots’ psychological state, Belichick repeated a number of occasions Thursday that “everybody’s doing the best they can.”
Hamlin stays critically sick in Cincinnati, based on Dr. Timothy Pritts, vice chair for scientific operations at UC Health. Pritts informed reporters Thursday that Hamlin’s neurological situation and performance look like intact, and he’s reached a turning level in his care. News of Hamlin’s progress broke noon and unfold quick via the Patriots’ facility.
“Every update that we get in the locker room, everyone’s super excited to hear that each time he’s doing better,” Patriots quarterback Mac Jones mentioned. “We’re all super excited. … I’m just so glad he’s doing better, and his family hopefully can start talking with him and doing all that stuff. Really just him and his family, prayers to them.”
Like the Bills, the Patriots admitted optimistic updates on Hamlin’s well being have allowed them to really feel freer to concentrate on soccer. Unlike the Bills, the Patriots have practiced every of the previous two days. They cancelled media interviews on Wednesday, when Buffalo opted to carry a walkthrough and conferences as a substitute of operating a full observe.
To guarantee they make the playoffs, the Patriots should beat Buffalo on Sunday. They may also clinch the AFC’s third and remaining Wild Card spot with a loss if the Jaguars lose on Saturday and the Steelers and Dolphins lose Sunday, although that route seems no safer.
Because profitable at Buffalo ought to require the Patriots’ finest sport of the season, and till the ball is kicked off they are going to be of two minds: supporting the Bills via an unprecedented time and beating them whereas they carry unmatched inspiration of their hearts.
“Regardless of what they try to do before the game or do during the game to uplift him, 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,” Judon mentioned.
“There’s a game on our mind, but there’s also a lot bigger things than football itself,” Jones added. “We’re definitely still feeling it and we feel for him and his family and all that. Just trying to do everything we can to prepare, but at the same time, we’re all there for him.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com