NFL: Bills win first game after Hamlin's cardiac arrest

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It took Nyheim Hines just 14 seconds for the Bills' first touchdown

Photo: Adrian Kraus / AP

Barely a week after his cardiac arrest, NFL pro Damar Hamlin was able to celebrate a victory for his Buffalo Bills from his hospital bed.

The defender in a baseball cap and T-shirt with the inscription "Love for Damar" followed the 35:23 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, Hamlin formed a heart with his hands.

"Gametime," he captioned the photo posted to social media.

His teammates offered Hamlin a spectacular victory - and it started with the first play: After the Patriots kickoff, Nyheim Hines ran 96 yards into the end zone and scored the touchdown for the Bills.

14 seconds had been played at this point.

"I can't remember any action in my life that has ever touched me so much," said Bills quarterback Josh Allen later.

"I went to my teammates and said, 'God is real'."

Lots of support in the stadium too

As Hamlin commented on the game via Twitter, his name and number 3 shirt were omnipresent at the sold-out Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, with 70,753 spectators.

"Hamlin, Hamlin, Hamlin" chants rang out from the ranks, and signs from Bill's supporters wished the 24-year-old a speedy recovery.

Many Bills players wore number 3 clothing upon arrival, and the 3 was color-coded on the 30-yard lines in other NFL arenas.

The Bills players were visibly touched after the win.

"In my mind I wasn't playing for me, I was playing for him," said Dean Marlowe, who had taken Hamlin's place.

"To be honest, I don't know how some of us did it," said fellow player Tre'Davious White.

After the match, Hamlin joined the dressing room via FaceTime.

"I love you all," he said, Allen reported.

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