Buffalo Bills ride emotional win into NFL postseason

The NFL regular season reached an emotional climax on Sunday as the Buffalo Bills, inspired by Damar Hamlin, who is recovering from a cardiac arrest suffered during a game last week, beat the New England Patriots 35-23.

With 19 teams still in the postseason hunt entering the final weekend, there was no shortage of gridiron suspense unfolding across the United States.

But the emotional epicentre was Orchard Park, New York, and a seething Highmark Stadium, where the Bills and their fans led a league-wide tribute in support of Hamlin, the 24-year-old safety who collapsed after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals on 2 January.

Hamlin, whose heartbeat was restored on the field, spent most of the week on a ventilator in a Cincinnati hospital intensive care unit, his fight captivating the sporting world.

At every stadium before kick-off there was an announcement acknowledging Hamlin and the first responders and medical caregivers.

Players wore hats and warm-up gear with Hamlin's number 3 on them, and fans held homemade signs offering love and prayers.

But the Bills that provided Hamlin with the best tribute of all, harnessing their emotions to secure a victory and the AFC second seed.

With the stadium already crackling with energy, the game got off to an explosive start when Nyheim Hines returned the opening kick-off 96 yards for a touchdown, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.

Hines returned another kick-off for a touchdown in the third quarter, giving the Bills a 21-17 lead they would never surrender ending the Patriots chances of reaching the playoffs.

"We just wanted to come out and play free, play loose, play for (Damar)," said Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who also threw three touchdown passes.

"The first kick-off,