NFL reportedly won’t resume Bills-Bengals game, impacting AFC playoffs
Rob Tornoe, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The NFL has decided not to resume Monday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, according to the Associated Press. The game was suspended after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a tackle in the first quarter.
The news come after doctors announced that Hamlin has made “substantial improvement” in his recovery. The 24-year-old Bills safety is moving his hands and feet, communicating through writing, and appears to have all his neurological function intact, doctors said.
The NFL has yet to make an official announcement about the Bills-Bengals game, a decision that could have a big impact on the AFC playoffs. The game could be declared a tie, or the league could turn to winning percentage, and not records, to determine the AFC’s top playoff seed.
In addition, the NFL Players Association must approve any changes to the schedule and the playoffs.
The Bills entered Monday night’s game in control of their playoff destiny, needing two wins to secure the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1993. If the league turns to winning percentage, the Kansas City Chiefs could secure the top playoff seed with a win on Saturday night against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Bengals were also still alive in the hunt for the AFC’s top seed entering Monday night’s game, needing two wins and a Chiefs loss on Saturday. Depending how the NFL decides seeding, the best the Bengals could be playing for Sunday is the AFC North title.
Here’s the AFC playoff picture heading into Week 18:
1. y — Kansas City Chiefs (13-3, first in AFC West)
2. y — Buffalo Bills (12-3, first in AFC East)
3. x — Cincinnati Bengals (11-4, first in AFC North)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8, first in AFC South)
5. x — Baltimore Ravens (10-5, second in AFC North)
6. x — Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, second in AFC West)
7. New England Patriots (8-8, second in AFC East)
x: clinched playoffs; y: clinched division
In the hunt: Miami Dolphins (8-8), Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8), Tennessee Titans (7-9)
The Titans-Jaguars game will decide the winner of the AFC South. The winner clinches the division and heads to the playoffs, and the loser likely heads home. The Jaguars could also sneak in as a wild card, but would need losses by the Patriots, Dolphins, and Steelers.
The Patriots will enter Week 18 needing just a win against the Bills to secure a wild-card spot. (They could lose and still get in, but would need a lot of help).
The Dolphins still have shot to land the final wild-card spot. A win in Week 18 against the Jets paired with a Bills victory over the Patriots, and the Dolphins would be in the playoffs.
Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do
Peter Dejong
The scene in Cincinnati was in some ways reminiscent of what Denmark soccer player Christian Eriksen went through during his team’s appearance at the European Championship in June 2021. He collapsed in the 43rd minute of a match against Finland, with doctors later revealing how incredibly close he came to death.
Several medics worked frenetically to give Eriksen chest compressions while his teammates choked away tears and formed a circle around the midfielder to shield the scene from public view. A defibrillator was needed to restart his heart.
That game eventually resumed after a delay of about 90 minutes. Eriksen recovered and played in the World Cup that was held late last year.
Peter Dejong
The scene in Cincinnati was in some ways reminiscent of what Denmark soccer player Christian Eriksen went through during his team’s appearance at the European Championship in June 2021. He collapsed in the 43rd minute of a match against Finland, with doctors later revealing how incredibly close he came to death.
Several medics worked frenetically to give Eriksen chest compressions while his teammates choked away tears and formed a circle around the midfielder to shield the scene from public view. A defibrillator was needed to restart his heart.
That game eventually resumed after a delay of about 90 minutes. Eriksen recovered and played in the World Cup that was held late last year.
Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do
Matt Stamey
On Dec. 12, 2020, Johnson was playing for Florida in a game against rival Florida State. He scored on an alley-oop dunk with 16:18 left in the first half for an 11-3 lead. The Seminoles called time-out and Johnson went to the Florida huddle with his teammates. As he returned to the court, he was walking toward the midcourt stripe and collapsed, face-first.
His teammates were asked twice if they wanted to continue the game, and decided to do so. Play was delayed, but only briefly.
He spent two days in a hospital in Tallahassee, then eight more at a hospital in Gainesville, Florida, where the Gators’ campus is. The preseason Southeastern Conference player of the year recovered, but never played for Florida again -- except for a ceremonial start 15 month later. He has since transferred to Kansas State and resumed his playing career.
Matt Stamey
On Dec. 12, 2020, Johnson was playing for Florida in a game against rival Florida State. He scored on an alley-oop dunk with 16:18 left in the first half for an 11-3 lead. The Seminoles called time-out and Johnson went to the Florida huddle with his teammates. As he returned to the court, he was walking toward the midcourt stripe and collapsed, face-first.
His teammates were asked twice if they wanted to continue the game, and decided to do so. Play was delayed, but only briefly.
He spent two days in a hospital in Tallahassee, then eight more at a hospital in Gainesville, Florida, where the Gators’ campus is. The preseason Southeastern Conference player of the year recovered, but never played for Florida again -- except for a ceremonial start 15 month later. He has since transferred to Kansas State and resumed his playing career.
Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do
Mark J. Terrill
Playing for the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 11, 2020, Bouwmeester went into cardiac arrest on the bench during the first period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Athletic trainers from both teams immediately responded, and Bouwmeester eventually received an implantable defibrillator to regulate his heart rhythm. He did not play in the NHL again.
The game was postponed.
Mark J. Terrill
Playing for the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 11, 2020, Bouwmeester went into cardiac arrest on the bench during the first period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Athletic trainers from both teams immediately responded, and Bouwmeester eventually received an implantable defibrillator to regulate his heart rhythm. He did not play in the NHL again.
Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do
PAUL SANCYA
It was the first period of a Detroit game against Nashville on Nov. 21, 2005. Fischer slumped over while seated on the Red Wings bench, and coach Mike Babcock began furiously waving for help.
Fischer had a seizure, fell forward and CPR was quickly administered. His heart had stopped and medical personnel could not find a pulse, Babcock said, before emergency workers shocked his heart and got it beating again.
The game was delayed, then ultimately postponed. Fischer never played again.
PAUL SANCYA
It was the first period of a Detroit game against Nashville on Nov. 21, 2005. Fischer slumped over while seated on the Red Wings bench, and coach Mike Babcock began furiously waving for help.
Fischer had a seizure, fell forward and CPR was quickly administered. His heart had stopped and medical personnel could not find a pulse, Babcock said, before emergency workers shocked his heart and got it beating again.
The game was delayed, then ultimately postponed. Fischer never played again.
Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do
Doug Sheridan
On March 4, 1990, Hank Gathers -- one of the leading scorers in the country -- collapsed and died during Loyola Marymount's West Coast Conference men’s college basketball tournament game against Portland.
Less than three months earlier, Gathers had collapsed during another game and subsequent tests revealed that he had arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat. He was given medication, and the dosage was eventually lowered.
After a dunk in the tournament game, he collapsed near midcourt. Efforts to resuscitate him on court, in an ambulance and at a nearby hospital failed, and he was pronounced dead about two hours later.
Doug Sheridan
On March 4, 1990, Hank Gathers -- one of the leading scorers in the country -- collapsed and died during Loyola Marymount's West Coast Conference men’s college basketball tournament game against Portland.
Less than three months earlier, Gathers had collapsed during another game and subsequent tests revealed that he had arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat. He was given medication, and the dosage was eventually lowered.
After a dunk in the tournament game, he collapsed near midcourt. Efforts to resuscitate him on court, in an ambulance and at a nearby hospital failed, and he was pronounced dead about two hours later.
Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do
DM
On Oct. 24, 1971, Chuck Hughes of the Detroit Lions had a heart attack late in the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Chicago Bears.
He was officially pronounced dead about 50 minutes after the game, with an autopsy revealing that the heart attack was caused by a massive stoppage in his left coronary artery.
But doctors later said he was essentially dead on the field -- and the closest defender to him when he collapsed, Bears star Dick Butkus, immediately began waving for help when Hughes tumbled to the turf, clearly aware of the severity of the situation.
The game was delayed — reports vary as to how long the delay was — and the final 62 seconds were eventually played.
DM
On Oct. 24, 1971, Chuck Hughes of the Detroit Lions had a heart attack late in the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Chicago Bears.
He was officially pronounced dead about 50 minutes after the game, with an autopsy revealing that the heart attack was caused by a massive stoppage in his left coronary artery.
But doctors later said he was essentially dead on the field -- and the closest defender to him when he collapsed, Bears star Dick Butkus, immediately began waving for help when Hughes tumbled to the turf, clearly aware of the severity of the situation.
The game was delayed — reports vary as to how long the delay was — and the final 62 seconds were eventually played.
Column: The games will go on after Hamlin — they always do
Bob Wands
Masterton died Jan. 15, 1968, two days after suffering a severe head injury while playing for the Minnesota North Stars against the Oakland Seals. His death was believed to be the only caused by an on-ice incident in NHL history.
The game was stopped while doctors worked on Masterton, then resumed later that night.
He never regained consciousness and died from a severe brain injury. Most players of that era in the NHL, Masterton included, did not wear helmets.
Bob Wands
Masterton died Jan. 15, 1968, two days after suffering a severe head injury while playing for the Minnesota North Stars against the Oakland Seals. His death was believed to be the only caused by an on-ice incident in NHL history.
The game was stopped while doctors worked on Masterton, then resumed later that night.
He never regained consciousness and died from a severe brain injury. Most players of that era in the NHL, Masterton included, did not wear helmets.
NFL reportedly won’t resume Bills-Bengals game, impacting AFC playoffs
Dylan Buell/Getty Images North America/TNS
An announcement is displayed on the scoreboard as the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills is postponed following the injury of Damar Hamlin (3) of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images/TNS)
Dylan Buell/Getty Images North America/TNS
An announcement is displayed on the scoreboard as the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills is postponed following the injury of Damar Hamlin (3) of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images/TNS)
