Safety Damar Hamlin Improves Significantly
NFL Season Final Weekend Schedule
The NFL announced today that Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin, who has been hospitalized at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center since Monday, has had substantial improvement in his condition. Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during Monday’s game which had huge impact on the players, coaches and fans who witnessed the traumatic collision. Though he still remains in critical condition, he has made improvement in 72 hours which is very encouraging. Currently, they have removed his breathing tube and continues to make amazing improvement. He has spoken to family and teammates and is addressing team via Facetime. The miracle continues to unfold with prayers for a return to full health from the nation and NFL community.
The Bills host AFC East rival, the Patriots Sunday afternoon this home field advantage through the conference playoffs at stake, along with the Patriots fighting for the final AFC playoff berth.
The NFL announced that the Week 17 Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals game will not be resumed and has been cancelled. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed all clubs of his decision on Thursday, after speaking with the Bills, the Bengals and NFL Players Association leadership.
“This has been a very difficult week,” Goodell said. “We continue to focus on the recovery of Damar Hamlin and are encouraged by the improvements in his condition as well as 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.”
Key factors in arriving at this decision:
Not playing the Buffalo-Cincinnati game to its conclusion will have no effect on which clubs qualify for the postseason. No club would qualify for the postseason and no club will be eliminated based on the outcome of this game.
The AFC Championship Game will be played at a neutral site if the participating teams played an unequal number of games and both could have been the number one seed and hosted the game had all AFC clubs played a full 17-game regular season. Those circumstances involve Buffalo or Cincinnati qualifying for the game as a road team and are listed below:
The NFL regular season closing weekend will determine the final three divisional winners with the Bengals/Ravens matchup for the AFC North title and the Titans/Jaguars deciding the AFC South winner key games.
The Eagles hold a one game lead over the Cowboys in the NFC East and host the Giants. A win and they clinch the divisional title. Three East teams, the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants are the only division with multiple clubs already in the postseason. On Sunday night, the Packers-Lions matchup closes out the season with the winner qualifying for the final wild card spot. Both teams made strong pushes over the second half of the season to get to the .500 mark entering their final contest.
Final NFL Weekend Schedule
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Matchup / Time / TV / Location
Kansas City @ Las Vegas – 4:30 PM – ESPN
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Tennessee @ Jacksonville – 8:15 PM – ESPN
TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
Sunday, January 8, 2023
Matchup / Time / TV / Location
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta – 1:00 PM – FOX
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
New England @ Buffalo – 1:00 PM – CBS
Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Minnesota @ Chicago – 1:00 PM – FOX
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Baltimore @ Cincinnati – 1:00 PM – CBS
Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Houston @ Indianapolis – 1:00 PM – CBS
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
New York Jets @ Miami – 1:00 PM – FOX
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Carolina @ New Orleans – 1:00 PM – FOX
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Cleveland @ Pittsburgh – 1:00 PM – CBS
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver – 4:25 PM – CBS
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
New York Giants @ Philadelphia – 4:25 PM – CBS
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Arizona @ San Francisco – 4:25 PM – FOX
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle – 4:25 PM – FOX
Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Dallas @ Washington – 4:25 PM – FOX
FedEx Field, Landover, MD
Detroit @ Green Bay – 8:20 PM – NBC
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wi.
