Bills Safety Damar Hamlin in Critical Care After Collapsing, Getting CPR

The sports world stopped during a Monday Night Football game when Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin was given CPR in the first half and players from both the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals stopped to take a moment to hope he was OK.

The game got postponed after an hour's wait, and the status of Hamlin remained unknown.

Things started looking more bleak, though.

"I think people are aware that people know we are done watching football tonight," ESPN's Joe Buck said as play was postponed by the NFL. "I'm sick to my stomach."

Hamlin collapsed on the field during the first quarter Monday night in Cincinnati. The event happened after he tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin stood back up before collapsing to the ground during this pivotal game, which took an immediate backseat after the medical emergency Monday night.

Hamlin received treatment for an apparent life-threatening injury during the game. He was given CPR and administered oxygen on the field for nearly 10 minutes. Team members from both the Bills and Bengals took a knee before Hamlin was taken away in an ambulance.

Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for emergency care and his care at 10:45 p.m. ET was still unknown at time of this publication.

"Tonight's Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game has been postponed after Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin collapsed," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.

"Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

"The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game."

Coaches from both teams met at midfield after this and both teams eventually left toward their respective locker rooms for an unforeseen amount of time until they were brought back. But they were ultimately told that Monday night's game would not be concluded until later.

Monday night's game was paramount in the AFC's jockeying for playoff positioning. A win by the Bills would put them in first place in the AFC standings, and a win by the Bengals would put Cincinnati in second place and the Bills in third, with the Kansas City Chiefs leading the conference in the last scenario.

None of those scenarios meant as much to the players and coaches Monday night after Hamlin's collapse.

Players on both sidelines watched silently as Hamlin received CPR. As medical officials administered CPR, the Bills players formed a wall around them.

As the game was postponed, Bills quarterback Josh Allen was embraced by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, both of whom have already begun their own stardom, but understood the tough situation.

The Bengals led Buffalo, 7-3, at the time of the event.

This is a developing story and will be updated.