The Buffalo Bills and their fans planned several tributes to safety Damar Hamlin for the team’s game Sunday — No. 3 jerseys, homemade T-shirts and even a 10-foot wide get-well card.
Hines had a second kickoff-return touchdown in the second half, and the Bills clinched the AFC’s second playoff seed with a 35-23 win over the Patriots.
“Watching it live, it was sad to see,” said Kyle Blaney, wearing a Patriots jersey. “But it’s good to see everyone coming together to support him, not just Bills fans.”An extended pregame ceremony began with the Bills medical and athletic training staff being introduced on the field to a roaring ovation. The Bills entered the stadium with numerous players carrying flags, which read “Pray for Damar 3.” Fans held cardboard cutouts of the No. 3 and red hearts.
Hines added another return touchdown in the third quarter, this one a 101-yard burst for a 21-17 lead. Only four kickoffs had been returned for touchdowns across the NFL all season before Hines’ pair. It’s the 11th time one player has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game and the first since the Seattle Seahawks’ Leon Washington did it against the San Diego Chargers in 2010.
Players from both teams came out onto the field for warmups wearing shirts honoring Hamlin. Many Patriots players wore black sweatshirts with the words “Love for Damar” printed on the front. Several Bills players wore T-shirts with Hamlin’s likeness on the front and back.The NFL paid tribute to the player during all Week 18 games, which began Saturday, including a pregame moment of support and painting Hamlin’s No. 3 on the 30-yard line. The Bills also wore “3″ jersey patches.
“It’s been so great that Damar is OK,” David Coning said outside the Bengals’ Paycor Stadium. “We’ve seen pictures of him. He’s got a smile. He’s texted. So I think that’s a big relief for everyone. So hopefully we can kind of get back to normal.”
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