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LAS VEGAS \u2014 Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson threw the ball 75 yards into the opponent’s end zone to start the game with a touchback. Then Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his offense tormented his opponents for 60 minutes in a 31\u201313 win. A familiar site for Raiders fans.<\/p>\n
And just like that, the National Football League kept fighting after a week of anguish and unanswered questions.<\/p>\n
Five days after Buffalo Bills safety Dumar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after collapsing on the field during a game – 10 terrifying scenes as medical personnel repeatedly squeezed his chest and teammates and opponents cried Minutes lasted – the NFL is back on Saturday afternoon. AFC Contest.<\/p>\n
It was just one game, but it was a very important game for the NFL. The NFL spends billions of dollars marketing violent sports, but it hopes to never suffer the worst consequences of that violence. The severity of Hamlin’s injury has created a crisis for the league. Because he was a stark reminder to fans that he could end up far worse than a concussion or a torn ligament.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The game progressed while players were still processing what they witnessed Monday night.<\/p>\n
“I’ve never seen someone on the field doing CPR or anything like that,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday. \u201cI don\u2019t know if any of us have seen it.<\/p>\n
Asked if Kansas City should play again this weekend, Mahomes hesitated. “It’s hard for me to say,” he said. “It’s not something I can control either way.”<\/p>\n
But when he stepped onto the field, it looked like any other NFL game. There were epic plays, terrible fumbles, camera-stealing fans, halftime entertainment provided by a band past its prime, and, finally, the familiar result of Kansas City winning and Las Vegas losing.<\/p>\n
It was one particular Saturday with a little twist on the old saw. The signs of weakness that Hamlin’s injury threw at the league were mostly seen before the game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Mahomes prepared for the game in one of Hamlin’s many tributes at Allegiant Stadium, a cut-off hooded sweatshirt with the image of Hamlin and the words “Hamlin Strong” on the back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Las Vegas Raiders players wore black warm-ups that read “Love for Dummer” and had his number 3 on the front. No. 3 was outlined in Buffalo his Bills his color dark blue at every 30 yard line.<\/p>\n
“The entire NFL family has been praying all week as Buffalo Bills forward Dumar Hamlin continues to recover,” the announcer said before the national anthem. “The Raiders are asking you to join us in this moment of support and love for Damar and to support him and his family as they continue to fight.”<\/p>\n