NFL cancels Bills-Bengals game. Damar Hamlin health update. Plus, Week 18 lookahead.
Welcome to Week 18. While NFL teams prepare for the regular-season finales, much of the football world's attention remains on the Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin.
Here are the latest developments:
- Damar Hamlin woke up and asked who won Bills-Bengals game.
- The postponed Bills-Bengals game was officially canceled on Thursday night.
- Doctors spoke Thursday about Hamlin's recovery in a Cincinnati hospital.
- Bills coach Sean McDermott and QB Josh Allen met with the media for the first time since Hamlin's collapse.
- Bengals WR Tee Higgins was relieved to hear about Hamlin's progress.
Damar Hamlin improving
Damar Hamlin remains in an intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but there were positive signs for recovery on Thursday.
The 24-year-old second-year NFL player woke up after being sedated, and his first thoughts after waking up were about Monday night's Bills-Bengals game that was suspended. Doctors said Thursday that Hamlin was making substantial progress and his neurologic condition and function are intact.
- OPINION: Hamlin's story has pierced our tribalism and hardened cynicism
- OPINION: Nothing prepared Bills, NFL for trauma that lingers from Hamlin's collapse
- A Bills year like no other: Unprecedented challenges met with remarkable resilience
Bills-Bengals game canceled
The NFL made the call to not resume the Bills-Bengals game, so both teams will finish the 2022 regular season with one fewer game played than every other team. So, what does that mean for playoff seeding?
Not having to carve out time to replay the Bills-Bengals game will allow the NFL to begin the playoffs next weekend as scheduled, a factor that played into the NFL's decision.
- 'Life is bigger than this game': How will NFL players suit up after Damar Hamlin collapse?
NFL Week 18
- Lorenzo's Locks for Week 18: Will the Packers clinch a playoff berth in the regular-season finale?
- Power rankings: See how all 32 teams stack up entering Week 18.
NFL news, notes and analysis
- Seven coaches on the hot seat: As the NFL's regular season nears its end, "Black Monday" draws near. Recent history suggests at least a half-dozen openings by mid-month.
- Bears, Texans in contention for top pick in draft: Heading into the final week of the regular season, the race for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft comes down to two teams.
- 15 finalists for 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class named: Darrelle Revis, Dwight Freeney and Joe Thomas are among the modern-day finalists for this year's class.
- Jim Harbaugh NFL rumors grow louder: Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has talked to Harbaugh about his team's opening head coaching position. Harbaugh, meanwhile, said he expects to be coaching the Wolverines next season.
Week 18 NFL schedule
(All times Eastern)
Saturday
Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, ABC)
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN, ABC)
Sunday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. (CBS)
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (CBS)
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
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