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Josh Allen on Bills Returning Opening Kickoff for TD: Can't Write It Up Any Better
January 8, 2023
The Buffalo Bills went into Sunday's matchup against the New England Patriots with safety Damar Hamlin on their minds after he suffered cardiac arrest during last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a contest that was ultimately canceled.
So when Nyheim Hines took the opening kickoff to the house against the Patsโone of two return touchdowns he had on the afternoonโit was a special moment.
"You can't draw that one up, write that one up any better," an emotional Josh Allen told reporters after Buffalo's 35-23 win. "I was just told by [Bills director of communications] Kevin Kearns it's been three years and three months...since the last kickoff return [for a touchdown], so it's pretty cool."
Buffalo Bills @BuffaloBills3 is a special number. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForDamar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForDamar</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LoveForDamar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LoveForDamar</a> <a href="https://t.co/itjpxQ4wKv">pic.twitter.com/itjpxQ4wKv</a>
Hamlin wears the No. 3 jersey for the Bills.
"Bone-chilling," Allen added. "It was special. I can't remember a play that touched me like that, I don't think in my life."
NFL @NFL"If you want the truth, it was spiritual. It really was. Bone-chilling."<a href="https://twitter.com/JoshAllenQB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoshAllenQB</a> got emotional speaking about <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNyNy7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNyNy7</a>'s kick return TD on the first play of the game. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForDamar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForDamar</a> (via <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BuffaloBills</a>) <a href="https://t.co/sd3IvTyt0S">pic.twitter.com/sd3IvTyt0S</a>
Hamlin, 24, collapsed after making a tackle in the first quarter against the Bengals. Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington administered CPR on the field to Hamlin after he lost his pulse and required resuscitation and defibrillation.
Hamlin was then hospitalized and started to awaken Thursday. His breathing tube was removed Friday, and he tweeted throughout Sunday's win:
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง @HamlinIslandGameDay.. Nothing I Want More Than To Be Running Out That Tunnel With My Brothers. God Using Me In A Different Way Today. Tell Someone You Love Them Today! ๐ซถ๐พ3๏ธโฃ let's go <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BuffaloBills</a> โค๏ธ๐ <a href="https://t.co/XgA7S3Bpvn">pic.twitter.com/XgA7S3Bpvn</a>
"He is amazing," head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Sunday regarding Hamlin. "His spirit is so positive. He is going to be 'locked in,' he said, to watch the guys today. We will be thinking of him for sure."
A number of Bills players acknowledged that trying to prepare for a football game while Hamlin's condition was uncertain throughout the week was a difficult task, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds:
"It was definitely an emotional week for all of us. He gave us strength throughout the week, just constant positive updates. Just knowing that he was doing better. And I can't lie, that FaceTime call we had with him earlier this week put a lot of our hearts at ease a little bit just knowing that he's doing better. Knowing that he's going to be fine. Still a long journey for him, but I mean it touched a lot of our hearts because obviously that was a scary moment for a lot of us."
With Sunday's win, the Bills finished 13-3 on the season and will hold the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs after the Kansas City Chiefs won Saturday and clinched the top overall seed.
The Bills will host their divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins, in the AFC Wild Card Round next weekend. And Hamlin will be rooting them on.