It has been a harrowing, terrifying, and oddly optimistic time for the Buffalo Bills. Last Sunday, just shy of a week after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during a football showdown between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bills returned to the field and won against the New England Patriots.

But that was only a bonus to the fantastic news that Hamlin was recovering and could watch the game from his hospital bed, sharing in the joy the 35-23 victory brought. Hamlin’s healing has been an answer to prayer for a nation on the edge of its seat, wondering if the 24-year-old player — whose initial medical state was dire — would pull through.

That emotional toll was palpable, particularly after the Bills’ win last Sunday. Quarterback Josh Allen delivered an emotional statement and gave God all the glory. “It was just spiritual … I was going around my team and saying, ‘God’s real,’” Allen said. “You can’t draw that one, write that one up any better.”

He continued, as he got emotional, “It’s been three years and three months since the last kickoff return.” Allen was addressing the first play of the game, a 96-yard kickoff return — a resulting touchdown that left the Bills in celebration. The significance here, of course, is Hamlin’s number, which is 3.

3 is a special number. #ForDamar | #LoveForDamar pic.twitter.com/itjpxQ4wKv

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 8, 2023

With the players coming out donning Hamlin’s number, Allen saw significance in the fact it had also been three years and three months since that last kickoff return. During the post-game news conference, Allen said he couldn’t remember another play that profoundly impacted him.

“You want the truth? It was spiritual. It really was,” he said. “Bone-chilling. It was special. I can’t remember a play that touched me like that in my life.” Dr. Timothy Pritts, one of Hamlin’s doctors at UC Medical Center in Cincinnati, said Hamlin set off the alarms in ICU by getting out of his chair and jumping up and down at the thrilling runback.

Later in the game, Hines scored a second kickoff return touchdown. In doing so, he became the 11th player in NFL history with two kickoff return touchdowns in the same game and the first since the Seattle Seahawks’ Leon Washington in Week 3, 2010, according to the NFL.

Hamlin on Monday was transferred from the Cincinnati hospital and flown to Buffalo, where he was at a medical facility but has since been sent home. Hines’ two touchdowns were the catalysts in the Bills securing the No. 2 spot in the AFC Wild Card playoff picture with their 35-23 over the Patriots.

Allen threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns – one each to Stefon Diggs, John Brown and Dawson Knox – as the Bills knocked New England out of playoff contention. It’s an actual moment of hope and rejoicing after a terrifying ordeal that could have claimed Hamlin’s life. Continue praying for the player’s recovery and a complete restoration of health.