The NFL decided to cancel the Bills-Bengals game that began Monday, the league announced on Thursday. The original postponement came after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed on the field and went into cardiac arrest.
The Associated Press were the first to report the game would not be resumed.
The Monday Night Football game was suspended and later postponed after the first-quarter medical emergency. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell originally announced on Tuesday that the game would not be rescheduled during Week 18 and the league had not decided at that time when the game would be resumed, if at all. The league officially made their decision on Thursday.
In regards to how the cancellation affects the AFC playoff implications, ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that the NFL owners are set to meet on Friday to go over scenarios. Here’s a list of the possible scenarios as of now.
Hamlin was resuscitated by medical personnel on site after going into cardiac arrest. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he received additional treatment and was sedated while in critical condition. The 24-year-old is now awake and “neurologically intact,” which means he can perform larger motor movements and follow commands. Doctors confirmed Thursday that Hamlin remains on a ventilator but added that he did write a question when he woke up: Who won the game?
Both teams appeared distraught on the field, causing the game to be temporarily suspended for about an hour until the league decided to officially postpone the game. Fans and fellow players gathered outside of the hospital to show their support for Hamlin. Bills receiver Stefon Diggs even reportedly made his way to the hospital to see his teammate.
