Damar Hamlin could give Bills the ultimate form of playoff motivation

Damar Hamlin could be healthy enough to watch the Buffalo Bills play in person on Sunday.

If Damar Hamlin is able to watch the Buffalo Bills play the Cincinnati Bengals in person on Sunday, it could serve as the ultimate form of playoff motivation for the home team.

While Hamlin’s ongoing recovery after suffering cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati earlier this month is the only thing that matters, for him to potentially be able to watch his team take on the Bengals in person would be absolutely phenomenal. Although he has been back in the Bills’ building recently, Hamlin’s return to Highmark Stadium means the Bills are winning by a million.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Sunday that Hamlin could be attending the game.

Damar Hamlin may be in attendance for Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals game

While Hamlin was healthy enough to watch the Bills’ most recent playoff game vs. the Miami Dolphins last week, he was not able to make the trip to the stadium. Given that he had one more week to recover, Hamlin could make his triumphant return to Highmark Stadium. Not only would it be a huge emotional lift for Bills Mafia, but this will be Buffalo’s last home game of the playoffs.

This is because if the Bills were to advance to the AFC Championship Game, they would have to face the Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The reason the AFC Championship Game would be played at a neutral-site location is that Buffalo did not play a 17th game during the regular season, as the one with the Bengals was canceled for obvious reasons.

For Hamlin to not only be back at Highmark Stadium for the first time since his life-changing event, but to do so against the team he nearly lost his life playing against, in a playoff game nonetheless, only an AFC Divisional Round victory over the visiting Bengals could make it better. While it remains to be seen if Hamlin will be returning to the stadium, he is in everyone’s thoughts.

Hamlin’s onging recovery after suffering cardiac arrest is as miraculous as it is awe-inspiring.