To many, Damar Hamlin's recovery from his on-field cardiac arrest in Cincinnati on January 2 has been nothing short of a miracle. But to his Buffalo Bills teammate Josh Allen, the experience has been a more literal religious experience.

'[There was] just kind of kind of a spiritual awakening really for me, and I know for a lot of other people that maybe didn't have the strongest belief, or wasn't one of the biggest [or] strongest Christian followers,' the Bills quarterback told ESPN's Kyle Brandt ahead of Sunday's playoff matchup with the visiting Miami Dolphins.

'Something got a hold of me there,' Allen added. 'It was extremely powerful that I couldn't deny.'


Since his collapse, Hamlin has made remarkable strides, going from University of Cincinnati Medical Center to a Buffalo-area hospital before being released this week. The 24-year-old safety has remained in touch with teammates as he continues to recover after being resuscitated on the Paycor Stadium turf.

.@JoshAllenQB reacts to his own reaction of Nyheim Hines' kickoff return for a TD.

🔗: https://t.co/25bCCxNSV1 pic.twitter.com/Q9Cl86o618

— Kyle Brandt’s Basement (@KBBasement) January 10, 2023 To many, Damar Hamlin 's recovery from his on-field cardiac arrest in Cincinnati on January 2 has been nothing short of a miracle. But to his Buffalo Bills teammate Josh Allen, the experience has been a more literal religious experience Damar Hamlin

To many, Damar Hamlin 's recovery from his on-field cardiac arrest in Cincinnati on January 2 has been nothing short of a miracle. But to his Buffalo Bills teammate Josh Allen, the experience has been a more literal religious experience

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And as if his improvement was enough to galvanize Bills players and fans, last Sunday's game-opening touchdown by Buffalo kick returner Nyheim Hines certainly did the trick. The dramatic play was the Bills' first since their January 2 game in Cincinnati was postponed and then canceled following Hamlin's collapse, sending the Bills Mafia, as fans are known, into hysterics.

Allen, too, was overcome with emotion.

'That kickoff return was pretty crazy, too,' he told ESPN. 'So there's a lot of things that went on and a lot of … eye-opening situations that have stumbled upon us, or we've stumbled upon them.'

Allen discussed his recent experiences with ESPN's Kyle Brandt (far left). After Sunday's game, Allen described the experience as 'bone chilling,' and revealed he told teammates at the time of the touchdown: 'God's real.'

Allen discussed his recent experiences with ESPN's Kyle Brandt (far left). After Sunday's game, Allen described the experience as 'bone chilling,' and revealed he told teammates at the time of the touchdown: 'God's real.' 

Damar Hamlin #3 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Tee Higgins #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Paycor Stadium on January 2. He would suffer a cardiac arrest on the play, but has since been released from the hospital

Damar Hamlin #3 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Tee Higgins #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Paycor Stadium on January 2. He would suffer a cardiac arrest on the play, but has since been released from the hospital 

Buffalo Bills RB Nyheim Hines celebrates as he takes the opening kickoff back for a touchdown on Sunday. The Bills beat the New England Patriots, 35-23

Buffalo Bills RB Nyheim Hines celebrates as he takes the opening kickoff back for a touchdown on Sunday. The Bills beat the New England Patriots, 35-23

After Sunday's game, Allen described the experience as 'bone chilling,' and revealed he told teammates at the time of the touchdown: 'God's real.'

Allen wasn't portraying himself as a perfect Christian, but rather, said his recent experiences with Hamlin have brought him back to the religion.

'I'll be the first to admit, I haven't been the most devoted Christ-follower in my life, and I've had my different beliefs and thoughts and ideas,' Allen told ESPN. 'But something got hold of me there, and it was [something] extremely powerful that … I couldn't deny.'

Allen, a 26-year-old California native who played collegiately at the University of Wyoming, went on to say that 'it's been crazy; it's been not fun, but at the same time it's been very validating.'

"If you want the truth, it was spiritual. It really was. Bone-chilling."@JoshAllenQB got emotional speaking about @TheNyNy7's kick return TD on the first play of the game. #ForDamar (via @BuffaloBills) pic.twitter.com/sd3IvTyt0S

— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2023

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