Bills' Damar Hamlin predicted Nyheim Hines kickoff returns for touchdowns
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin knew Nyheim Hines would eventually return at least one kickoff for a touchdown after the Indianapolis Colts traded Hines to Buffalo in November.
"You’re gonna take one," Hamlin told Hines during practices following the transaction, per NBC Sports' Peter King. "I can feel it."
Hines proved Hamlin right by returning the opening kickoff of what became Sunday's 35-23 win over the New England Patriots 96 yards to the house for a score less than one full week after the safety went into cardiac arrest in Cincinnati last Monday night. Interestingly, Bills head coach Sean McDermott admitted to King following Sunday's victory that he would have deferred had Buffalo won the coin toss.
Hines is likely glad McDermott never had an opportunity to make such a decision because the 26-year-old went on to produce more fireworks in the third quarter of Sunday's encounter:
"He would say, "Hashtag free Hines!'" Hines said to King about conversations the player had with Hamlin. Hamlin referenced that mantra via Twitter after Hines found the end zone for a second time against New England:
"I’m the new guy here," Hines added, "but hopefully I had a little impact on something that’s way bigger than myself."
As for Hamlin, ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg pointed out that the 24-year-old received a game ball via FaceTime after Sunday's result.
"[Hamlin] said, 'Love y'all boys, Bills on three, Bills on me. 1-2-3 Bills,'" quarterback Josh Allen said about that experience.
Meanwhile, Hamlin was active on social media throughout Sunday's game. His recovery seems nothing short of miraculous considering his condition last Monday night into Tuesday morning:
The Bills finished the regular season at 13-3 and in possession of the AFC's No. 2 playoff seed. They'll host the 9-8 Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round of the postseason tournament this coming Sunday.
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