The Buffalo Bills were playing for more than just a win in Week 18 against the New England Patriots, and that was clear from the very first play of the game. Nyheim Hines took the opening kickoff to the house for a massive touchdown that had Bills Mafia going crazy, and when asked about it after the game, head coach Sean McDermott boldly stated he wasnât surprised. Via CBS Sports, McDermott told reporters that a kick return TD to start the game was actually something heâd envisioned in the days leading up to the game.
"Respectfully I wasn't surprised."
Sean McDermott on the Bills returning the opening kick for a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/flxkFd3Ltj
â CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) January 8, 2023
âTo be honest with you, I thought before, in the days leading up to the game, âwouldnât it be special if we could take that opening kickoffâŚ'â said McDermott. âAnd then when it happened⌠Respectfully I wasnât surprised. Just by the way the weekâs gone⌠Honestly, also not surprised by our guys⌠They were set on doing that. Just a good moment for everyone.â
While McDermott may not have been surprised, the rest of the football world was. And that includes Damar Hamlin, who expressed his excitement with a series of tweets while watching from the hospital. Hamlin is recovering after collapsing on the field in Week 17 against the Bengals after suffering from cardiac arrest.
Not only did Hines take the opening kickoff to the house, but the Billsâ return specialist also added another kick-return TD to his tally, becoming just the 11th player in NFL history to return two kickoffs for TDs in the same game.
It was truly a special performance from the Buffalo Bills in Week 18, and Sean McDermott couldnât have drawn up the first play any better if he tried.