It was just 10 months ago that the world watched as Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field in Cincinnati. Hamlin went into sudden cardiac arrest after what looked like as a routine hit you see every game. Both teams were on the field watching as CPR had to be administered on Hamlin multiple times to try to revive him. In the biggest game of the year, with playoff seeding on the line, both teams agreed to stop the game and it ended as a no contest. 

As you all know, Damar Hamlin was able to survive and is in great spirits and is now back playing football. Watching it on television was one of the crazier experiences as it all happened so quick. The one thing that stuck with me through all this time was the looks on the players’ faces as this occurred. Many Bills’ players had tears in their eyes as this was all transpired. I think it is hard to imagine what they were going through at the time because it was truly a matter of their teammate being alive or dying on the field. 

It is also important to note that the Buffalo Bills organization had been through a lot the whole season entering that game. For starters, there was a mass shooting at a Topps store in Buffalo before the season started. Then there were massive injuries the team had to deal with all season at key positions. In November, there was such a bad snowstorm in the city that they had to move a game to Detroit just to play. Soon after that they lost their most dominant defensive player, Von Miller who was brought in for big defensive moments. But that moment when Hamlin collapsed on the field was when I thought the season was officially over. 

The following week Buffalo needed two kick return touchdowns to take down the New England Patriots and struggled to a win in the wildcard round against Miami with their 3rd-string quarterback starting. Then, the next week was where their season ended in embarrassing fashion at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

And that brings us to present day, where the Bills are returning to Cincinnati for the first time since that January day. A lot has happened since that day, but that day still looms large in many people’s heads as Buffalo makes their way back to that stadium for a Sunday Night showdown. Many Bills players have downplayed the emotional aspect of going back there, but I think you will see it come game time. It is only natural that it will be emotional heading back there, and as much as people like to think professional athletes are robots, they are not. 

This game has an added meaning for almost everyone associated with the Buffalo Bills organization. This is the same Bengals team that knocked you out of the playoffs last year and almost dare I say punked you in that game and after the game ended. It also matters that Damar Hamlin is still here and will be at the game returning to the field where the most traumatic experience of his life occurred. As the Bills walk out that tunnel on Sunday night, emotions will be high. Let’s hope they can channel those emotions right and deliver a big win against a rival.