Because I mentioned the upcoming Bengals vs. Bill match-up on Monday Night Football in my last post, and it was hyped as the game-of-the-year, I figured I’d better provide an update. Indeed what unfolded during the game is likely something none of us will ever forget.
Let me set the stage from the perspective of a Bengals fan. This was a big game. It was the next to last game of the year. The Bills were 12-3 while the Bengals were 11-4. Both sat atop their divisions and both had a chance for the number one overall seed in the playoffs. The combined 23 wins was the most by two teams in a MNF game for many years. With a win, the Bengals would clinch the division AND put themselves in great position for the #1 or #2 seed going into the final week. For this team, I don’t think the home field advantage is critical. They won two road playoff games last year, but don’t kid yourself. Homefield is an advantage AND it’s a huge deal for the city. Fans were pumped. The local news was broadcasting live from the stadium with the weatherman doing his thing from down at the Banks. Fans started arriving downtown at like 10AM. I’m not trying to over-dramatize this, but it was a big night for the city of Cincinnati.
The Bengals received the kick-off. They drove 75 yards in about 2 1/2 minutes, against one of the better defenses in football, and Joe Burrow throws a TD to Tyler Boyd. Bengals lead 7 – 0. We kick off to the Bills. They also march fairly easily down the field but are stuffed, and forced to kick a field goal. Bengals lead 7 – 3. Bengals receive the kick off. Again, they are marching easily down the field. From their own 40, Burrow completes a pass to Tee Higgins who cuts back and runs across the 50 where he is tackled by Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Seems like any normal football play. Both players pop up quickly to head back to their respective huddles. Then Damar Hamlin collapses. And when I say he collapses, I mean he falls back onto the field in a way that makes it clear he is unconscious. Medical staff runs onto the field and then things get really scary. You quickly see that something is very wrong. The young man is not moving. Many Bills players are in tears and then the announcers state that he is being given CPR on the field. This goes on for several minutes. It is scary. An ambulance drives on to the field and he is taken to UC Medical Center. Burrow walks over to console Josh Allen. Players are in a prayer circle on the field.
As a fan at home, you’re not sure the young man is alive at this point. The stadium is quiet. There’s some random announcement that tells us the players will be given to warm up and then play will resume. I think as a fan, just watching the players, you realize there’s no way this should happen. Now Zach Taylor walks over to talk to Sean McDermott (the Bill coach). This is where as a fan and as a human, you’re really grateful for these two guys, who are clearly faced with an unprecedented situation. They speak for a few minutes and decide to remove their teams from the field. If we’re being honest here, that may not have happened with different teams involved. I’m by no means saying that other coaches would have been less empathetic or less human, but I do believe that some would have felt the pressure on MNF with millions watching and the high stakes to compartmentalize and resume play. Because that is what these guys are paid to do. In this moment I gained so much respect for Zach Taylor. Based on the situation, he was the driver for all the good choices that followed.
Teams went to their locker rooms. Now that the teams are off the field, and as a fan at home you are seeing some of the earlier footage of these men in tears and hugging each other, it’s clear there is no way in hell this game can resume. The announcers at the game and in studio are left with the impossible job of keeping the broadcast going and talking about what happened. Give these folks some credit. They’re not news people used to talking about crime, war and death as a part of their job. While at times the broadcast was uncomfortable, I think they did an admirable job. Fans are in shock. It’s quiet and some some fans are praying in the stands. Fans watching the broadcast learn that Damar is 24 years old and very popular among his teammates. He has a charitable foundation that buys toys and other items for kids in need. Apparently he started collecting and donating toys for local kids while still in high school.
After some time, cameras show Coach Taylor in the tunnels under the stadium walking over to talk to Coach McDermott. Again, kudos to Zach who had the common sense to simply go over there so that NFL officials were not going back and forth between locker rooms. From the beginning, every action he took, no matter how small, clearly had the best interest of the players in mind. Finally it’s announced that the game has been suspended.
The next day, we learn that Damar is intubated and in a medically induced coma. Thankfully his parents were at the game so they didn’t have to watch all of this go down from across the country. The media coverage of this is insane. This becomes a huge story around the country. People from around the country begin donating money to Damar’s charity. As of today, the total collected is at 8 million. To put that in perspective, his fundraising goal prior to the holidays was $2500. In Cincinnati there are vigils at UC Medical Center. Billboards around the city with Prayers for Damar messages. Around the country cities light up their stadiums or landmarks with red & blue – the Buffalo Bills colors. Every NFL team and people around the country change their social media logos to his number (3). We learn that he suffered a cardiac arrest and the his heart stopped twice on the field. On Wednesday we learn there is some improvement. While still sedated, his vitals are good and the oxygen level being administered is reduced. On Thursday he wakes up. I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but the joy this brought me was incredible. He was neurologically in tact and while still intubated, he was able to communicate in writing. Yesterday, doctors were able to extubate him and he was able to speak with his family. He even joined a Zoom call with his team and said a few words to them.
The NFL declared the game cancelled so the Bengals and Bills will finish the season with one fewer game played than other teams.
At the end of the day, it’s wonderful to see this young man alive and healing. I am incredibly proud of our city and team for the way the entire situation was handled. And although the most important thing is this young man’s life, I’m also sad that subsequent decisions by the NFL after the game was cancelled unfairly penalized Cincy.
As Tom Berenger said in Major League, “I guess there’s only one thing left to do. Win the whole fucking thing”.
XOXO
