NFL postpones Bengals vs. Bills after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffers cardiac arrest during 'MNF' game

Hamlin is currently in critical condition, the team said, after receiving CPR on the field

The Week 17 finale between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills on Monday night has been postponed, the NFL announced. 

The league's decision came after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter. Hamlin's heartbeat was restored on the field, the Bills announced in a statement early Tuesday morning. The team further divulged that the 24-year-old Hamlin is "sedated and listed in critical condition."

The play came on a second-and-3 play from the Cincinnati 39-yard line. Bengals receiver Tee Higgins caught a pass from Joe Burrow for 13 yards and appeared to have his hemet hit Hamlin in the chest. Hamlin was initially able to get on his feet, but then fell to the ground and required medical attention. After he was given CPR, Hamlin was driven away in an ambulance, where he was reportedly accompanied by his family. 

Per the NFL statement, Hamlin was transported to a local hospital and is in critical condition. 

The delay lasted well over 50 minutes and saw both clubs depart for their respective locker rooms. Head coaches Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor were seen outside of the locker rooms talking along with various players from both clubs. Not too long after their exchange, word came down from the league that this game was set to be postponed. 

"Tonight's Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game has been postponed after Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin collapsed, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced," the league said in a statement. "Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition. Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available.The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game." 

Coming into Monday night, this game was billed as a heavyweight matchup between two AFC contenders with the No. 1 seed hanging in the balance. Cincinnati was able to go on a 75-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession, while Buffalo managed a field goal before the game ultimately was paused and subsequently suspended following the Hamlin injury.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 10:01 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The game is over for the night. The league will try to communicate with the teams to figure out if and when it will be continued.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:55 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

There is no official word just yet but it is looking like this game is over for the night, whether postponed or canceled. We're all just hoping for the best for Damar Hamlin. That's all that matters.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:37 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

According to ESPN, the ambulance left the stadium at 9:25 p.m. ET and Hamlin's family came down to be with him.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:36 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The latest from the broadcast is that if there is any postponement of the game, the decision will come from Roger Goodell after speaking with both teams.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:19 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The gamed is suspended "until further notification."

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:17 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The referee just announced that the game has been temporarily suspended.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:17 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Now both McDermott and Taylor are talking to the refs. Stefon Diggs gave a speech to his team to fire them up but now you can see Bills players in heavy tears on the sideline.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:14 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Both teams are remaining on the field and it appears the game will go on.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:13 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

I just don't know how these guys can be expected to keep playing. Officials have been conferring with both Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor, and we'll see what happens next.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:11 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Apparently Hamlin was being given oxygen as he was taken into the ambulance. Bills players huddled in a group near the ambulance as he was taken off the field.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:09 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

You can see that the Bengals players look just as scared as the Bills. This is terrifying stuff.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:08 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Hamlin is now on the stretcher, according to reporters on scene. Apparently that development was met with cheers from the crowd, as it was an improvement from the necessity of CPR.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:05 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

According to reporters on scene they are administering CPR to Hamlin on the field right now. 

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:04 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Honestly, I have no idea how the Bills players even go on playing a game after this. It has to be so difficult mentally and emotionally to lock back in.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 9:02 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

ESPN came back from commercial, showed Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs nearly in tears and an ambulance on the field, and went right back to break. Really scary stuff here, folks.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:59 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Oh man. That is a scary sight. Bills coach Sean McDermott clearly looks shaken, and rightfully so.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:57 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The stretcher is coming out for Hamlin, which makes it seem like this could be a pretty serious situation. 

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:56 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

A ton of room underneath for Tee Higgins on that play, and now Damar Hamlin is down on the ground getting attention. He's already filling in for All-Pro Micah Hyde. If he goes out, it'll likely be Jaquan Johnson getting into the mix. 

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:54 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Josh Allen is getting his ankle re-taped on the sideline after taking a low hit on that pass to Beasley. Let's see how that affects his mobility the rest of the night, if at all.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:51 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Cole Beasley settled that route short of the first-down marker and it seemed like Allen was expecting him to be another yard or so up the field. That's probably a missed throw, because Beasley was open and the ball was just too far for him to haul it in. Bills settle for a field goal and it's 7-3.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:48 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

James Cook getting some early work, splitting the snaps with Devin Singletary. Usually the Bills lean heavily on Singletary in these types of game, but Cook is involved from the jump.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:47 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Diggs already has as many catches tonight as he did all of last week. Allen looking his way on the first read quite often early.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:44 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Now Buffalo gets Josh Allen involved in the run game on the third snap of the night. The Bills usually save those designed runs for games against elite opponents, and Cincinnati certainly qualifies.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:42 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Bills get Stefon Diggs matched up on a linebacker on the first snap of the game and it goes for a big play. Look for Ken Dorsey and Co. to move him around the formation quite a bit to generate advantageous matchups.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:38 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

And then Burrow beats Tyler Boyd for the second time in just over two minutes, finding Tyler Boyd for a touchdown in the back of the end zone. Gorgeous throw. 

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:37 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Nice design on that pass over the middle to Hayden Hurst. It looks like a fake trap run with Hurst then sneaking over the middle past Damar Hamlin.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:34 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Looks like Buffalo is trying to keep White on Chase's side of the field early, with Dane Jackson following Tee Higgins to the opposite side. But now slot corner Taron Johnson is down on the field, which would be a big loss if he can't return to the game. Buffalo lives in nickel and is already a little banged up in the secondary.

[Jan 2, 2023 at 8:32 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Bills design their defense to take away big plays, but the Bengals went right after one on the opening snap. Ja'Marr Chase got behind Tre'Davious White, so White had to interfere with him to prevent a long completion.