The Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals will not have a replay of their game which was suspended after the collapse of Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin during a game on 2nd January. The appeal to replay or resume the game has been rejected by the NFL, who found the reason not enough to resume or replay the game.
The NFL announced that Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals will not replay the game and will play less than other teams in the league. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement announcing the decision that despite the hard week experienced during the collapse of Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin, there won't be a replay of the game.
"We continue to focus on the recovery of Damar Hamlin and are encouraged by the improvements in his condition and the tremendous outpouring of support and care for Damar and his family from across the country. We are also incredibly appreciative of the amazing work of the medical personnel and commend each and every one of them," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
During the night before the injury to Damar Hamlin, many people trooped in to watch the game because it was one of the season's biggest matchups. Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals entered the NFL scores trying to earn the AFC's No. 1 seed, plus home-field advantage throughout the postseason and a first-round bye.
With the NFL not considering the possibility of replaying the game between the two teams, the playoffs will start as scheduled next weekend. Apart from the playoffs, it will also allow the conference championship games to be played on Jan. 29 and the Super Bowl 57 on Feb. 12.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell listed why the league won't entertain the possibility of replaying the game, citing that it will disrupt other planned activities.
"As we considered the football schedule, our principles have been to limit disruption across the league and minimize competitive inequities. I recognize that there is no perfect solution. The proposal we are asking the owner to consider, however, addresses the most significant potential equitable issues created by the difficult, but necessary, decision not to play the game under these extraordinary circumstances," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
Damar Hamlin's Recovery
After having a cardiac arrest while playing during the Bills-Bengals game, Damar Hamlin has already started his recovery from the terrible incident. Reports from doctors showed that he responded very well to treatment and will soon be discharged from the hospital earlier than envisaged.
After waking up from his sedation, Hamlin responded well to communications and could even talk to health professionals through writing. The doctor in charge of Damar Hamlin's treatment said that one of the first questions he asked was who won the game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
Reportedly, the doctor responded, "The answer is yes, Damar, you won the game of life." Dr. Timothy Pritts, the one handling his recovery at the moment, commented on it and said they would be taking things one at a time.
"He still has significant progress he needs to make, but this makes a good turning point in his ongoing care. We cannot credit the Bills medical team enough. It's rare to have something this serious happen and to recognize it so quickly," Dr. Timothy Pritts said.