BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) "It was a tough week, but got better as the week went on. With the news of Damar Hamlin getting better every single day, everyone could exhale a little bit," said Sal Capaccio, Bills sideline reporter for WGR and the Buffalo Bills Radio Network when appearing on WBEN on Monday.
"I thought they did a really excellent job of going out there and performing and winning a football game with very limited preparation for the New England Patriots."
Capaccio said Sunday's game at the stadium was more like a celebration because of all of the good news surrounding Hamlin's recovery.
"That opening kickoff, couldn't have been scripted any better. "It was kind of a release, if you will. It allowed everybody to say, it's going to be OK." Capaccio said it was so loud he couldn't hear Chris Brown doing play by play in his ear piece.
The opening drive is being described as an "all-time moment" for the Bills. Capaccio adding, "there were a lot of tears on the sideline. You knew right there at that moment what it meant because of the week they had and for Damar."
Capaccio also saw it as a community moment. "There were a lot of hugs, high fives and fist bumps. Everybody checking on each other. I can't tell you how many people came up to me, and said how are you doing? We all came together knowing that what happened last week impacted everyone. And now that Damar is doing much better, we can all heal together."
Something else was missing from Sunday's game. Longtime Bills Radio Network Play by Play man John Murphy was not in the radio booth. Murphy is recovering at home after a suffering a stroke.
"We love Murph and we missed him yesterday," said Capaccio. "Chris Brown did a fantastic job, filling in. He really did. It was a tough situation to be thrown-into, especially given what happened Monday night, and Sunday.
It's something nobody expected. We worked with Mark Murphy yesterday, John's son. He's a spotter in the booth. It was nice to talk with him and connect about Murph. We know he's home and recovering. We all can't wait to get him back and I hope it's this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
We want Murph calling the playoff game," added Capaccio.