RICH MCKAY: We never went down this path, and in this discussion of, you're going to create perfect equity - you're not. Rich McKay is chairman of the NFL competition committee. Not everyone can be made completely whole after the Buffalo-Cincinnati cancellation. Now, the Bengals reportedly don't like it, but the NFL explains, you know, this is an unprecedented situation.
Cincinnati could be involved in a coin flip to decide the site of one of its playoff games. RASCOE: And so I understand Cincinnati will also be affected by this special plan team owners approved. But since Buffalo won't have the chance to match Kansas City's record and get the top seed, if Buffalo wins today and then plays Kansas City in the conference championship game in a few weeks, the NFL decided to try to even things out by playing that potential game at a neutral site. Now, Kansas City clinched that top seed in the conference with a win yesterday. They were both in the running for the top seed in their conference, especially Buffalo, which had the better record than Cincinnati. That means those two teams will end up playing one less game than everyone else. GOLDMAN: Yeah, it is right because the game where Hamlin collapsed, Buffalo versus the Cincinnati Bengals last Monday night, was ultimately canceled. But, you know, on the business of football, it's also going to be very meaningful as far as the playoffs for Buffalo, too, right? RASCOE: So, I mean, this is going to be - it's a Bills home game. But again, the mental aspect of it, going out on that field, if you have that thought, that's putting yourself at risk even more, putting your teammates at risk even more. JOSH ALLEN: You know, we've been reassured this is the freakiest of freak accidents, and it took the worst possible timing for this to happen. And when members of the Bills spoke publicly for the first time this week, quarterback Josh Allen said, it's hard not to let fear of what happened creep into your mind - and something they've had to battle this week. But what they all witnessed with Hamlin was on another level - very traumatic. Football players have to push aside fear to play a violent game.
Even though the Bills have talked about their spirits being lighter considering Hamlin's recovery, will it still be hard for them to go out and play? As we mentioned, his team plays today, hosting the New England Patriots. RASCOE: So I guess we can feel a little more comfortable talking about football now, considering he is recovering or seems to be. It's a testament to him being young, incredibly fit and someone who got extraordinary medical care from the seconds after he collapsed up until now. He's still listed in critical condition, but, you know, it's amazing, considering less than a week ago, his heart stopped during a game, then was restarted on the field. He began talking, even FaceTimed his teammates.
Really, it's been a dramatic past couple of days. If you know me, you know this only is going to make me stronger. I'm thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out. And he said, in part, the love has been overwhelming. GOLDMAN: I guess you can call it a recovery benchmark for our time, but he posted on social media yesterday for the first time since his collapse. RASCOE: So, Tom, let's first - let's start with Damar Hamlin. NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman joins me. Today, perhaps the biggest game on the schedule is in Buffalo, where the Bills are playing for the first time since Hamlin's collapse during the Monday Night Football game. The alarming cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on the field shocked many across the nation and galvanized support for the 24-year-old athlete as he recovered. But, of course, the past week leading up to this moment was anything but normal. It's the last Sunday of the NFL's regular season, normally a dramatic day as teams jockey for final playoff positions.
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