The Buffalo Bills edged out the Miami Dolphins 34-31 in Sunday’s AFC wild-card matchup between division foes, establishing a rematch with the Cincinnati Bengals two weeks after the final recreation between the 2 groups was canceled following the on-field collapse of Bills security Damar Hamlin.
Hamlin, who was discharged from a Buffalo hospital Wednesday after being transferred from the Cincinnati hospital the place he was being handled after struggling cardiac arrest mid-game on Jan. 2, tweeted that he was watching the sport from dwelling.
“My heart is with my guys as they compete today!” Hamling wrote. “Supporting from home as I focus on my recovery. Nothing I want more than to be out there with them! LFG #BillsMafia.”
An individual with direct data of the participant’s schedule had informed The Associated Press on Sunday that Hamlin deliberate to attend the sport in particular person. He later stated these “plans may have changed.”
The particular person spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of Hamlin has saved his schedule and restoration personal since being launched from a Buffalo hospital.
Hamlin visited teammates on the Bills’ stadium on Saturday however has not been seen in public since being rushed off the sector in Cincinnati in an ambulance on Jan. 2. He spent greater than per week within the hospital, a lot of the time in essential situation.
On Sunday, Cole Beasley scored the go-ahead landing with a 6-yard catch, and Gabe Davis prolonged the result in 34-24 with a 23-yard TD reception in a recreation the place Buffalo squandered an early 17-0 lead.
The Bills protection, which pressured six punts and two turnovers, then held on to safe the win when Miami turned the ball over on downs on its remaining possession.
Rookie Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson’s cross on fourth-and-6 went simply off the fingertips of tight finish Mike Gesicki with 2:22 remaining.
Buffalo was capable of run out the clock when Devin Singletary bulled his manner for a 7-yard acquire to transform a third-and-7.
It was a sloppy recreation performed between two division rivals, and the end result becoming after Miami and Buffalo cut up their regular-season collection in video games determined by a mixed 5 factors. The Dolphins beat Buffalo 21-19 at Miami in September, with the Bills rallying to beat Miami 32-29 final month.
Buffalo’s Josh Allen completed 23 of 39 for 352 yards and three TDs, but in addition threw two interceptions, which resulted within the Dolphins scoring 10 factors. He additionally misplaced a fumble whereas being sacked by Eric Rowe, with Zach Sieler recovering the ball and returning it 5 yards for a landing to place Miami forward 24-20, simply 61 seconds into the third quarter.
“It’s a one-week season, that’s it,” Allen stated. “All that matters is surviving and advancing.”
As the AFC’s second seed, Buffalo advances to host both the third-seeded Cincinnati Bengals following their victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night time.
Hamlin was with the workforce in spirit, live-tweeting through the recreation from dwelling, the place he continues to get better.