Enlarge image
NFL fans have repeatedly expressed their support for Hamlin in recent weeks
Photo: Adrian Kraus / dpa
Football pro Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills has attended his team's game for the first time about three weeks after his cardiac arrest.
Video released by the Bills ahead of the playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals shows Hamlin heading into the catacombs of Highmark Stadium.
Just before halftime, Hamlin's presence was announced over the stadium speakers, and the Buffalo crowd cheered the defender with loud applause and shouts.
Hamlin, seated in a box, stood up, made a heart with his hands and used his arms to encourage viewers to cheer louder, as seen in the CBS TV footage.
Breakdown against the Bengals
In the regular-season game against the Bengals on January 2 in Cincinnati, the 24-year-old collapsed on the field and required CPR.
A week later he was able to leave the hospital in Cincinnati and two days later he was discharged from the hospital in Buffalo.
Most recently, Hamlin had already visited the team site and his colleagues.
He watched their games on TV.
Hamlin's Bulls fail in the playoffs
However, when they met the Cincinnati Bengals again, the Bulls failed in the playoffs.
In the quarterfinals, the team from the US state of New York drew the short straw with 10:27 at their home Highmark Stadium in snowfall.
The Bengals around quarterback Joe Burrow, last year's Super Bowl participant, got off to a better start (14-0), kept Buffalo at bay and earned the win.
Cincinnati meets the Kansas City Chiefs in the semifinals, who progressed despite an ankle injury to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs won 27-20 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Philadelphia Eagles easily beat the New York Giants 38-7.
In the semi-finals of the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys or the San Francisco 49ers are now at stake for entry into the Super Bowl on February 12 in Glendale/Arizona.
mfu/dpa
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/SIL73HWCGXKSZBZRANYT36EZLI.jpg)