FRISCO, Texas — Officials in Texas have released the official cause of death of former NFL running back Marion Barber III.

On Monday, a report by the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office said he died of heatstroke, stating his death was an accident, USA Today and NBC News reported.

Last month, the Associated Press reported that Frisco Police made a welfare check at an apartment “believed to be leased” to Barber and discovered his body.

When they arrived, the Fort Worth-Star Telegram reported that police found the thermostat inside the apartment was set to 91 degrees.

In the autopsy report, the coroner wrote that the former NFL player was “known to exercise in sauna-like conditions," The Washington Post reported.

Barber was 38, the news outlets reported.

The AP reported that the former NFL player spent six seasons with the Cowboys before ending his career in 2011 with the Chicago Bears.

CINCINNATI —

Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow is set to miss the start of training camp to undergo surgery to have his appendix removed.

The surgery should not keep him sidelined for long. The common procedure should have Burrow back on the field for the start of the season, if not before that.

The news broke less than a day before the start of Bengals training camp. Tuesday, fans flocked to the Pro Shop to get their last-minute gear. It was there many heard about Burrow's condition.

"Appendix surgery, wow, this is the first I've heard of it," Ed Hoeweler said. "We got a good team, and he's a strong guy. He's a leader. He'll come back and bounce back. Hopefully, he'll get well soon."

Hoeweler has been going to games since the 70s when his dad was a season ticket holder. Keeping that tradition alive, Hoeweler now goes with his son. After last season's Superbowl heartbreak, he hopes this year will have a different ending.

"Hope for this year is making it to the Super Bowl and winning it," Hoeweler said.

Burrow's surgery does not cast doubt in Hoeweler's mind. He believes the star quarterback will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.

"I'm sure as soon as he can step on the field, he'll be back," Hoeweler said.

Bengals fans are breathing a collective sigh of relief that the recovery time for an appendectomy is weeks, not months. Not to mention that the surgery comes before the season kicks off.

"Appendix surgeries generally aren't serious, but it's going to take a couple of weeks to recover fully," Bengals fan Jason Thibeault said. "I still have high hopes for the season."

Christ Hospital's Dr. John Schillings has been operating for ten years and has completed hundreds of appendectomies.

"Appendicitis is a very interesting and common disease," Schilling said. "Anyone can get it, and you really can't prevent it. I don't think taking extra hits when you're behind center can really cause appendicitis."

Fans plan to hold down 'The Jungle' and wish their star quarterback a speedy recovery.

"Get well soon Joey B," Hoeweler said. "Who dey!"

More information on Burrow's procedure should be released on Wednesday when Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talks with the media at training camp.

CNN —

NFL rookie punter Matt Araiza has been released from the Buffalo Bills days after he and two other football players were accused in a lawsuit of gang raping a then-17-year-old girl during an off-campus party at San Diego State University last year.

"This afternoon, we decided that releasing Matt Araiza was the best thing to do. Our culture in Buffalo is more important than winning football games," team general manager Brandon Beane announced on Saturday.

Araiza and two other current or former San Diego State University football players are accused of gang-raping the girl at a Halloween party last year, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by the attorney for the plaintiff identified in court documents as "Jane Doe."

Araiza and his co-defendants, Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko, were on San Diego State's football team at the time of the alleged incident last October.

Araiza's attorney, Kerry Armstrong, told CNN Friday his client did not rape the accuser.

"The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight," Araiza said in a statement issued through his attorney.

Jane Doe says she attended a party in the San Diego area with friends, but was separated from them when she met Araiza, according to the claim. The filing further asserts Araiza "could observe that Doe was heavily intoxicated" and "handed her a drink anyway."

"Doe informed Araiza that she attended Grossmont High School. Araiza, who was 21 years old, knew or should have known that Doe was a minor," the complaint says.

Araiza's attorney disputed the claim, saying, "He never used any force against her. She was not visibly intoxicated. He did not hand her a drink with anything in it."

The complaint says Araiza led the girl to a bedroom where "there were at least three other men already in the bedroom," including Leonard and Ewaliko, who were both at least 18 at the time.

"Doe was raped for about an hour and a half until the party was shut down. Doe stumbled out of the room bloody and crying," said the complaint.

The girl reported the alleged incident the next day to the San Diego Police Department and underwent a rape examination at a hospital, according to the lawsuit.

Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko's lawyer Marc Carlos told CNN in a phone interview he sees some issues with Doe's credibility and the circumstances under which she reported the event. "The filing of the civil suit is clearly an attempt to put pressure on the DA to file a case," he said. Ewaliko is not enrolled at SDSU this semester, according to Carlos.

Zavier Leonard's attorney Jahmal Kersey declined to comment but told CNN they are aware of the lawsuit.

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office said the investigation is under review, but did not indicate when a charging decision will be made.

San Diego State released a statement saying it "takes allegations of sexual assault seriously," but was not able to release specific details on the case due to privacy concerns stating the allegations were still under "active university investigation." The statement said further a violation of the university's student code of conduct could potentially result in "suspension, dismissal or expulsion."

The Buffalo Bills were made aware of the allegations in late July when they were contacted by a representative of the alleged victim, Beane said in a news conference Saturday.

"The last 48 has been very difficult for a lot of people. It's been tough, and we sympathize with this whole situation, all the parties involved," Beane said.

"Ultimately, this is a legal situation. We don't know all the facts and that's what makes it hard, but at this time we just think it's the best move for everyone to move on from Matt and let him take care of this situation and focus on that," Beane added. "So, we're going to part ways there."

More teams will get a chance to win a college football national championship.

According to ESPN and Sports Illustrated, the College Football Playoff's board of managers voted Friday to approve a 12-team playoff.

A timetable for implementing the 12-team playoff is reportedly not set in stone. The Athletic and Sports Illustrated say it could happen as early as 2024. ESPN reports it's expected to start in 2026.

The playoff is expected to feature the six highest-ranked conference champions and six at-large bids, Sports Illustrated reports.

The current playoff only features four teams. The format has been criticized for leaving teams out that may have a chance to win a national championship.

The Guardian Cap appears to be an effective tool in reducing concussions.

The NFL said concussions dropped by 50% this summer among players who were mandated to wear the piece of equipment.

The league compared concussion rates from the summer to the previous three years.

According to ESPN, the NFL required players in numerous positions, including linemen, tight ends and linebackers, to wear Guardian Caps from the start of training camp until the second preseason game.

The network reports that 11 players suffered concussions during that time, but six were caused by contact to the face mask, which the Guardian Cap does not protect.

Despite no longer being required to wear the caps, the NFL says some players are still using them.

Other players have complained about their fit.

The NFL says it will continue working on solutions to prevent concussions.

"When we started this work a few years ago, we said the offerings on the field may look a little bit different and I think we might be living up to those words. And, that's an exciting opportunity for the health and safety of the sport and for the players who play it," NFL executive Jeff Miller said, according to The Associated Press.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —

The first win of the season is in the books for the Cincinnati Bengals after defeating the Jets by 15 points on Sunday.

The Bengals stepped up their game and looked way more fluid as soon as kickoff happened. Joe Burrow threw three touchdowns and finished 23 of 36 for 275 yards.

The offensive line stepped up their game as well and allowed only three sacks on Burrow. Three is still a lot, but it's much better compared to the seven sacks Dallas put on him.

Burrow said the offensive line did so much better today because they’re improving.

"They’re working hard in practice, understanding the protections and the corrections they had to make from the first two weeks and I played better, we called a better game and we weren’t behind in the first half," Burrow said.

The beginning of Sunday's game felt like a relief, like fans were seeing that Super Bowl team because they came out clean and ready to play.

“We started fast, we started clean. Most importantly, we got the ball in the end zone three times on that first drive. The third one counted, which was good to see," said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

The Bengals and Jets had two different stories coming into Sunday's game. Cincinnati coming off two tough losses and New York coming off a win in overtime against the Cleveland Browns, it was a true test for the Bengals to clinch the win.

"We just needed to get the first win, didn't really care what it looked like. Didn't care if it was 3-0 or 49-3, we just needed to rip that band-aid off and get that first win," Taylor said. "We knew we were gonna get a great performance from our guys and they delivered."

And delivered they did.

Samaje Perine, Tyler Boyd and Ja'Marr Chase all recorded touchdowns against the Jets while Burrow was 8 of 10 for 95 yards on the drive during which Cincinnati thought it got into the end zone two other times.

Tee Higgins was asked if he thought he scored on a touchdown in the first quarter, "for sure, for sure, I got robbed," the wide receiver said. Burrow also agreed that he thought Higgins scored.

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As the Bengals prepare for the rest of the season, Burrow said being aggressive and coming out fast is what will put the Bengals on top.

"We came out aggressive and it paid off for us," the star quarterback said. "It paid off for us, we put seven on the board then came right back and scored again, so that was a big start to the game for us."

Although this Cincinnati team consists of a group of confident players, getting that first win of the season restores a little bit of faith for the players and fans.

"Just the win itself is all we needed. Our guys know what we’re capable of. We just need to get in that win column and positive momentum, not only with our team but the fans," Taylor said.

Burrow also added that the way they played today was going to be the epitome of what they want to be for the rest of the year.

"That's critical going forward for the rest of the season. Coming out fast, putting points on the board," Burrow said. "That last series was the epitome of what we want to be for the rest of the year."

Looking ahead to Thursday's game at Paycor Stadium, Taylor says "[Miami] has beaten some really good football teams, so it's gonna be a tough test for us, but I know our fans are gonna be there to help us. Help us do everything we can to pull out a win."

INJURIES:
Defensive tackle D.J. Reader was ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game due to a left knee injury. "I just know it's a knee injury, hopefully, it's better than not, but we'll get more information on that," Taylor said.

Tee Higgins also took another hard hit that knocked his helmet off earlier on in the game but remind in. He was taken out of the first game of the season against the Steelers for a concussion.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The Cincinnati Bengals will break out their 'White Bengal' helmets and white uniforms for Thursday's primetime game against the Miami Dolphins at Paycor Stadium.

Kick-off is set for 8:15 p.m.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Football is "America's Game", and millions of fans across the country know the sport inside and out.

Many are also familiar with the potentially career-ending and life-threatening injuries that can plague NFL players, concussions most notably.

The NFL concussion protocol, implemented in 2011, is a set of actions and decisions that determine if a player is currently suffering from a concussion. If concussion symptoms are spotted, players are escorted off the field in order to undergo an examination and evaluation.

With millions watching the Thursday night NFL matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, questions regarding the NFL's concussion protocol have arisen. Questions that also concern who exactly is in charge of deciding if a player is ready to return to the field after suffering a major hit on the field. And what happens when the wrong decision is made?

In Thursday night's game, Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a hit to the back of the head and neck after being sacked by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou.

Tagovailoa immediately showed signs of "fencing," a reaction where the arms are held in the air in the seconds after an impact to the head or neck.

After being stretchered off the field and taken to a local Cincinnati hospital, it was announced that the quarterback was conscious and was not suffering from any structural damage.

Tagovailoa remains in concussion protocol.

However, the week before the Thursday night game, Tagovailoa suffered a head injury after hitting the ground during the first half of a home game against the Buffalo Bills.

Tagovailoa was slow to get up and was later taken to the locker room.

The quarterback returned to the game after he was initially marked as questionable to return.

The NFL's Player Association requested a review of the concussion protocols after Tagovailoa's quick and possibly questionable return to the game.

According to the NFL's Concussion Game Day Checklist, the following actions are supposed to determine whether or not a player has suffered a concussion and is in the right condition to return to the field.

What happens when a player receives a blow or impact to the head during a game?

• When a player receives a blow or impact to the head and shows symptoms related to a concussion, the player is supposed to be immediately removed to the sideline or stabilized onfield, if needed.
  • Even if a blow to the head does not occur, an (ATC) athletic trainer spotter, booth ATC, team physician, NFL official, coach, teammate, or UNC (Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant) can initiate concussion protocol.

• A survey is then performed where the player's helmet is removed. The team's physician and a UNC conduct the survey.
  • The player may return to the field if the survey is normal: the player has a recollection of the event, passes Maddock's questions, and a video review is "benign."
  • A focused neurological exam is also performed
    • A cervical spine exam, an evaluation of speech, observation of gait, eye movements, and pupillary exam are also performed.
  • The player may not return to the field if the player has loss of consciousness, gross motor instability, confusion, or amnesia.
• What are Maddock's questions?
  1. At which field are we?
  2. Which quarter is it?
  3. How far into the quarter is it - the first, middle, or last 10 minutes?
  4. Which side scored last?
  5. Which team did we play last week?
  6. Did we win last week?
• What happens after a player fails the sideline survey?
  • After a failed sideline survey, the player is taken to the locker room where an exam is performed. If the exam is normal, the player may return to the field.
  • The exam consists of a complete NFL SCAT (Standardized Concussion Assessment Tool), a tool used to evaluate concussions by healthcare professionals. The exam also consists of a complete neurological exam.
• Steps after a failed locker room exam?
  • The player stays in the locker room and undergoes periodic evaluation by a medical team
  • A follow-up neurological exam is performed.

What happens when a team fails to properly follow concussion protocol?

• In 2016, The NFL and NFLPA announced a new policy to enforce the above concussion protocol. The new policy implements a "strict and fair" process that investigates incidents regarding concussion protocol and what discipline will be enacted.
  • A first violation by a team will require team employees or medical team employees to attend a remedial education and/or the team will pay a maximum fine of $150,000.
  • A second violation will result in a minimum fine of $100,000 against the team.
  • If it is agreed that a violation involved aggravating circumstances, the team will be subject to a fine of no less than $50,000.
  • If the NFL Commissioner determines that a medical team failed to follow the protocol in order to win a game, the Commissioner can require the team to forfeit draft picks and impose fines that can exceed the amounts above.

This story was originally reported by Imani Clement on wkbw.com.

Matt Rhule is the first National Football League coach to be fired this season.

On Monday, the Carolina Panthers announced they'd fired Rhule, who was in his third season at the helm.

The team named assistant coach Steve Wilks as interim head coach.

The firing comes after the Panthers fell to 1-4 after losing 37-15 at home to the San Francisco 49ers, the Associated Press reported.

The news outlet reported that Rhule left Baylor to become the Panthers' head coach in 2020 after signing a seven-year, $62 million deal.

According to USA Today, Rhule is the first Panthers coach in franchise history to serve fewer than three seasons.

Panthers owner brought Rhule in to replace longtime head coach Ron Rivera, who Tepper fired during the 2019 season, the Associated Press reported.

The team went through four quarterbacks during Rhule's tenure, beginning with Teddy Bridgewater in 2020. Then the team saw Sam Darnold and Cam Newton behind center before they traded for former Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield during the offseason, the news outlets reported.

According to the news outlets, Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018, hasn't played well, only completing 54.9% of his passes this season for 962 yards.

A New England Patriots player was arrested Friday evening at a security checkpoint at Boston’s Logan Airport after two guns were found inside carry-on luggage, Massachusetts State Police said.

Police said 25-year-old Jackie K. Jones of Arizona was arrested Friday evening, WCVB-TV reported. He had been planning to travel from Boston to Arizona, according to police.

Police were called to the Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint in Terminal B at about 5:30 p.m. after two firearms were found in a traveler’s carry-on luggage. Police said they identified the person as Jones and arrested him.

Jones is facing charges including unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a large-capacity feeding device and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, police said. He was booked at the State Police Logan Airport Barracks and had bail set at $50,000, police said.

It wasn’t immediately known if Jones has a lawyer to comment on his behalf. He is scheduled to be arraigned in East Boston District Court next week, according to police.

The Patriots confirmed the arrest in a statement.

“We have been notified that Jack Jones was arrested at Logan Airport earlier today,” the statement said. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will not be commenting further at this time.”

Jones is entering his second year as a cornerback for the Patriots. Patriots minicamp practice was held this week at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Typically, a sports fan's allegiance never wavers.But at the middle school in Boone, Iowa, a group of teenage boys gave one Green Bay Packers fan a good reason to hop on the Minnesota Vikings bandwagon.Fourteen-year-old James Baldwin is happy to wear whatever jersey he can find. In fact, the eighth-grader diagnosed with ADHD, DMDD, autism and an intellectual delay owns an entire collection, anything from a green Brett Favre jersey to Indianapolis Colts legend Marvin Harrison.But his favorite is actually the newest: a Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings jersey.On Dec. 6, a group of James' friends in his eighth-grade class chipped in their own money to surprise him on his birthday at school and he's worn it every day since."We've made a compromise, that as long as we have a clean shirt underneath, he can continue to wear the jersey," James' mother, Rachel Baldwin, a Packers fan said.She's more than willing to set the NFC North rivalry aside to see her son smile.A sense of relief knowing she can send her son to school knowing he will always have a group of friends who have his back."They're setting a really wonderful example for other kids to make friends with that kid who is different who maybe they don't understand and you can really impact somebody's life in even a small way," Rachel Baldwin said.

The Buffalo Bills blew a 17-point advantage before recovering to win Sunday. That narrow escape came less than 24 hours after the Jacksonville Jaguars overcame a 27-point deficit and pulled off one of the most stunning comeback victories in playoff history.

No lead is safe and the drama abounds so far in the NFL playoffs.

A loaded Sunday schedule saw the Bills escape with a 34-31 win over the Miami Dolphins, the New York Giants upset the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 and the Cincinnati Bengals hang on to beat the Baltimore Ravens 24-17 as wild-card weekend continued.

One more game in the round remains: Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

All three of Sunday's games were decided in the final minutes. In the nightcap, Sam Hubbard returned Baltimore quarterback Tyler Huntley’s fumble 98 yards for a tiebreaking touchdown in the fourth quarter in a stunning turn of events that led the Bengals to their win.

Huntley tried to go over the top of the line for the go-ahead score. But he was stood up by Germaine Pratt and stripped by fellow linebacker Logan Wilson.

The ball went right to Hubbard at the 2, and the defensive end took off down the field for the longest fumble return for a touchdown in NFL postseason history. It also was the longest go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter in the postseason.

In Sunday's opener, Bills quarterback Josh Allen shrugged off a three-turnover outing by throwing two touchdown passes 3:11 apart in the third quarter. He finished 23 of 39 for 352 yards and three TDs, but also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

Cole Beasley scored the go-ahead touchdown with a 6-yard catch, and Gabe Davis extended the lead to 34-24 with a 23-yard TD reception after Buffalo squandered its early 17-0 advantage.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones became one of the stars of wild-card weekend by leading sixth-seeded New York to its road win over No. 3 Minnesota. Jones — playing in his first playoff game — threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 78 yards in a stellar all-around performance. Saquon Barkley rushed for two scores, including the tiebreaker midway through the fourth quarter.

On Saturday, rookie Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 41-23 while the Jaguars capped their comeback by beating the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30.

The No. 1 overall seed in the AFC was claimed by Kansas City with its 31-13 win over Las Vegas in Week 18. The NFC's top spot was taken by Philadelphia. Those teams got the weekend off before playing in the divisional round next weekend.

Here are some other things to know during the postseason:

WHAT'S THE UPCOMING SCHEDULE?

MONDAY

Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. EST, ESPN/ABC

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock/Universo

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. EST, Fox/Fox Deportes

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, 3 p.m. EST, CBS/Paramount+

Dallas/Tampa Bay at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m. EST, Fox, Fox Deportes

WHAT'S THE FORMAT FOR PLAYOFFS?

This is the third straight year of the current playoff format, which includes the top seven teams from both the AFC and the NFC.

The four division winners in both conferences automatically get the top four seeds, regardless of record, and then the top three teams with the best record that didn't win their division are the wild-card selections. That's why it's fairly common for a wild-card selection to have a better record — but worse playoff seeding — than a team that finished as a division winner.

The No. 1-seeded team in each conference gets a bye into the second round — that's the Chiefs and Eagles — while No. 2 hosts No. 7, No. 3 hosts No. 6 and No. 4 hosts No. 5 during the wild-card weekend.

The NFL re-seeds teams after each playoff round. That means no matter how the bracket started, the lowest-seeded team will always travel to the highest-seeded team.

There are four rounds to the playoffs: The wild-card round is this weekend, the divisional round is Jan. 21-22, the conference championship games are on Jan. 29 and the Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.

WHAT CHANGED WITH BILLS-BENGALS CANCELLATION?

Players and fans watched in horror on Jan. 2 as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field at Cincinnati when his heart stopped and he received CPR before leaving the field in an ambulance. Over the next week, those same players and fans reacted with joy at news of Hamlin's recovery.

Even better news came Saturday: Hamlin visited with teammates at the Bills’ facility for the first time since being discharged from a Buffalo hospital.

A person with direct knowledge of Hamlin’s schedule confirmed to The Associated Press the player’s visit. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because Hamlin has kept his schedule and recovery private.

Hamlin's remarkable recovery has made it much easier to focus on the playoffs.

The cancellation of the Bills-Bengals game because of Hamlin's injury could lead to one big change to the AFC playoff format.

The AFC championship game would be played at a neutral site if the Chiefs and Bills reach that point under a rule adjustment approved by NFL owners last Friday. That's because Buffalo (13-3) played one fewer game than Kansas City (14-3) and missed out on a chance to earn the top seed. The Bills beat the Chiefs 24-20 on Oct. 16 and would have held the tiebreaker had the teams finished with the same record. Buffalo lost 42-36 at Kansas City in a divisional-round classic last season.

The Chiefs would host the AFC title game against any other team, including the third-seeded Bengals (12-4).

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Remarkable as Damar Hamlin’s recovery has been, the Buffalo Bills safety still faces a lengthy rehabilitation some three weeks after going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati, his marketing representative told The Associated Press on Thursday night.

“Damar still requires oxygen and is having his heart monitored regularly to ensure there are no setbacks or after effects,” Jordon Rooney said. “Though he is able to visit the team’s facility, Damar is not in position to travel often, and requires additional rest to help his body heal.”

Rooney provided the update to emphasize Hamlin still faces hurdles since being discharged from Buffalo General Medical Center on Jan. 11. Hamlin's release came five days after his doctors said the player was breathing on his own, walking, talking and showing no signs of neurological damage.

Rooney's update also gave perspective to comments made by Bills coach Sean McDermott, who on Wednesday said Hamlin has begun making regular visits to the team’s facility. McDermott, however, stressed the 24-year-old was taking “a baby step at a time,” while adding, Hamlin is “dipping his toe back in here and getting on the road to just getting back to himself.”

Hamlin has not yet made a public appearance except for a photograph linebacker Matt Milano posted on his Instagram account of his teammate at the Bills facility on Saturday. And he's not yet spoken publicly except for posting messages on his social media accounts.

Rooney said Hamlin is being watched over by his parents and “remains very upbeat and grateful for the support he’s received from his teammates and coaches, Bills Mafia and people from around the world.” That outpouring of support has led to Hamlin's charitable foundation, Chasing M's, raising nearly $9 million in donations.

Without saying from where, he added, Hamlin will be cheering for the Bills on Sunday, when Buffalo hosts Cincinnati in an AFC divisional playoff.

Hamlin live-tweeted while watching Buffalo’s 35-23 season-ending win over New England from his hospital bed at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Jan. 8. Last weekend, he live-tweeted while watching from home the Bills’ 34-31 win over Miami in a wild-card playoff.

The game against Cincinnati carries additional significance. It marks the first meeting between the two teams since their game was canceled on Jan. 2, when Hamlin collapsed after being struck squarely in the chest while making what appeared to be a routine tackle of Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.

Hamlin's family and Bills quarterback Josh Allen have defended Higgins in saying he shouldn't be blamed for what happened.

On Thursday, Higgins said he couldn't be more appreciative of the family's support, while expressing hope Hamlin could attend the game so the two could meet.

“Just be happy to see him,” Higgins said. “I haven't really spoken to him. Just letting his family do what he needs to do with all his loved ones.”

Also on Thursday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul extended her support to Hamlin during a phone call with the player. In a message posted on her Twitter account, Hochul referred to Hamlin as “an inspiration,” and let him know “the hopes and prayers of 20 million New Yorkers have been with him throughout his recovery.”

Hamlin, who is from the Pittsburgh area, replied by writing it was good meeting Hochul and he was “excited to see how our collaborations in the future will help and affect so many.”

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made his first public appearance since going into cardiac arrest after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals three weeks ago, waving to fans from a stadium suite on Sunday as the two teams met again for an AFC divisional playoff game.

The crowd at Highmark Stadium erupted when an image of the recovering Hamlin filled the massive screens at the end zones near the end of the game's first half. Fans turned toward the glass-enclosed suite and cheered.

Hamlin, wearing a hooded jacket, stood in front of the windows and raised his arms as if saluting the crowd and encouraging it to get on its feet as the Bengals were facing second-and-goal at their 5. He ended by forming a heart sign with his hands, his signature gesture.

Earlier Sunday, the Bills posted a video to both Instagram and Twitter showing Hamlin arriving at the team's locker room and the message "Welcome home, Damar." The video showed Hamlin arriving in a golf cart about an hour before kickoff, wearing sunglasses and a face covering, the hood of his jacket pulled up. He was accompanied by his 7-year-old brother, Damir, and mother, Nina.

He was not seen on the field before the game got underway in snowy conditions. The Bills made no announcement about his whereabouts to fans in attendance, but word of his attendance had spread by the time he appeared on the screens.

"It was amazing, it really was. I think everybody got so excited," Brin Jobson of Buffalo said at halftime. "We heard he might be here, so it was cool to see him."

Hamlin, 24, had not been seen in public since the Bills and Bengals last met on Jan. 2 in a game that came to an abrupt halt and was eventually canceled after Hamlin's collapse on the field in the first quarter.

Bills coach Sean McDermott said Hamlin began making regular visits to the team's facility soon after his release from the hospital in what he described as "dipping his toe back in here and getting on the road to just getting back to himself."

His presence was enough to uplift his teammates, who after Hamlin's collapse surrounded him as medical teams used CPR and an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to restart his heart.

For several minutes, the television audience who tuned in for that Monday night game instead absorbed the fear and sadness on players' faces, some streaked with tears.

A family spokesman for Hamlin said this week that he still faces a lengthy rehabilitation.

"Damar still requires oxygen and is having his heart monitored regularly to ensure there are no setbacks or aftereffects," Jordon Rooney told The Associated Press.

The Bills have not disclosed the results of tests Hamlin has undergone to determine why his heart stopped after he was struck in the chest while making what appeared to be a routine tackle.

Hamlin, who is originally from the Pittsburgh area, live-tweeted while watching Buffalo's 35-23 season-ending win over New England from his hospital bed at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Jan. 8. Last weekend, he live-tweeted from home while watching the Bills' 34-31 win over Miami in a wild-card playoff.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A record 50.4 million American adults plan to bet on this year's Super Bowl, wagering a total of $16 billion, the gambling industry's national trade group predicted Tuesday.

The American Gaming Association forecasts that 1 in 5 American adults will place a bet on Sunday's NFL championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The estimate includes legal bets, and those placed with illegal bookies or casually among friends or relatives.

The total amount expected to be wagered this year is more than double the amount from last year as the legal U.S. sports betting market continues to grow.

There are three additional states offering legal sports betting this year — Kansas, Ohio and Massachusetts — compared with a year earlier, for a total of 33 states plus Washington, D.C. Maryland also added mobile sports betting in the past year, but it had in-person wagering for last year's Super Bowl.

More than half of all American adults live in a market where sports betting is legal.

“Every year, the Super Bowl serves to highlight the benefits of legal sports betting: Bettors are transitioning to the protections of the regulated market, leagues and sports media are seeing increased engagement, and legal operators are driving needed tax revenue to states across the country,” said Bill Miller, the association's president and CEO.

Hard data is backing up predictions of a record-setting betting market for this year's game. GeoComply, which handles nearly all the online betting traffic for the U.S. sports betting market to verify a customer is in a particular location where such bets are legal, says it has recorded over 550 million geolocation checks during the NFL playoffs from Jan. 14 to 29.

That's up 50% from the same period last year, and the group is predicting record-setting volume for this year's Super Bowl.

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Research, an independent analytics firm in California, looked solely at legal bets. It predicted a total of just over $1 billion this year, led by Nevada ($155 million); New York ($111 million); Pennsylvania ($91 million); Ohio ($85 million) and New Jersey ($84 million.) Their research was not involved in the AGA predictions.

The company estimated 10 to 15% of that total would be wagered live after the game begins, and that 15 to 20% would come in the form of same-game parlays, or a combination of bets involving the same game, such as betting on the winner, the total points scored and how many passing yards Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will accumulate.

The AGA survey found bettors evenly split, with 44% backing the Chiefs and an identical percentage betting on the Eagles.

The Eagles were 1.5-point favorites as of Monday night on FanDuel, the official odds provider to The Associated Press.

There is a vast array of bets offered on the big game, from the most basic predictions of which team will win and by how many points, to wagering on the total amount of points scored in the game.

Also popular are so-called proposition or prop bets on individual player performances, like whether Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will throw two or fewer touchdown passes or how many rushing yards Eagles running back Miles Sanders will accumulate.

For the Super Bowl, these bets encompass outcomes as unusual as whether the opening coin toss will come up heads or tails; whether the final score of the game has ever happened before as the score of a past Super Bowl, and even what color of Gatorade will be dumped on the winning coach.

From Kansas City and Philadelphia to the Super Bowl crowd in Phoenix, Arizona, football fans are ready for this year's big game between the Chiefs and the Eagles.

"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Adam Kurth, a Chiefs fan who made plans to attend the Super Bowl.

With fate on their side, some fans bought their plane tickets months ago before the football season even started.

"We just hoped and prayed and here we go," said Stefanie Wirths, who bought her plane tickets in June 2022.

While others waited until the Chiefs made it in.

"Our friends said, come on down, tickets showed up, and we’re on our way," said Joe Gilmartin, who's headed to Super Bowl.

Philadelphia fans also found their way to Phoenix.

One "die-hard" Eagles fan in particular got a surprise trip to the game.

As great of a year as it's been for her favorite team, Linda Linderman is missing some of her favorite fans. Her parents both died in the last year.

"On my mom's death bed, I said, 'Mom, look over all of us and our Eagles,' and here we are," she said.

Linda was in Arizona last week, but only because she has some family in the area and not because she had Super Bowl tickets in hand.

When asked where she was going to watch the game, she said, "We're not sure yet. We're still trying to figure that out."

But Linda was in for a shock: It turned out her son already had it figured out.

"So actually, I've already bought Eagles tickets or bought Super Bowl tickets for us. So, we're going to the game," John told her.

Linda has never been to a Super Bowl. And of course, she said she would only ever want to go to one the Eagles are in.

"I really wanted to kind of give this experience to her. I've been going over to her house and watching the Eagles all season, every week, because I know how important it is to her," John said.

A viral Chiefs fan also made the trip to Phoenix, courtesy of Lay's Potato Chips.

Nicki Conrad went viral at Arrowhead Stadium while eating a potato during the AFC Divisional Round game against Jacksonville and was later named Super Bowl LVII's "Lay's Potato Girl."

Two unlikely friends, one a Chiefs fan and one an Eagles fan, will be sitting together at the Super Bowl on Sunday.

John Gladwell and Billy Welsh first met each other while serving together in the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Although they didn't like each other back then, that dynamic all changed when Welsh reached out on social media in desperate need of a kidney and Gladwell responded.

"Never in a million years would I have ever thought that dude would’ve given me a kidney,” Welsh said.

After that kidney donation in October 2020, Gladwell faced his own health crisis.

About a year ago, COVID-19 sent Gladwell to the hospital’s intensive care unit with stage four kidney failure.

Now the two men are embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip together.

Even though they’re rooting for different teams, their bond is now much bigger than football.

Lastly, no fan was more ready for this matchup than Donna Kelce, the first mom ever to have her children face off in an NFL Super Bowl as players.

The mother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has stolen the show ahead of the big game in Arizona for her sweet interaction with her world-famous sons.

This Super Bowl, mama Kelce is staying neutral. Her combined Eagles and Chiefs shoes and jersey say all you need to know.

"Obviously, I want each boy to do the best that they can, put it all out on the field so that they have no regrets,” Donna Kelce said.

This week, Donna Kelce was in Phoenix and delivered handmade cookies to her sons while they were on stage Monday night during Super Bowl festivities.

Video above: Rihanna teases 'almost impossible' Super Bowl halftime show

From pregame entertainment to commercial breaks and of course, the halftime show, there's a lot more to the Super Bowl than just football.

Here's a look at the biggest moments from Super Bowl LVII:

(All updates in ET)

9:45 p.m. ET

Rihanna was pregnant with her second child as she performed her Super Bowl halftime show Sunday.

The singer's representative confirmed the pregnancy shortly after she ended her 13-minute set at Super Bowl 57.

The baby bump that was visible in the tight clothes she wore under her baggy red jumpsuit during the show set off a wave of social media speculation that she might be pregnant again.

The 34-year-old has a 9-month-old son with rapper A$AP Rocky.

9:15 p.m. ET

FanDuel says it is still going to give $10 million in free bets to spread among its Super Bowl bettors.

In a much-hyped ad for betting site FanDuel customers, Rob Gronkowski attempted a 25-yard field goal. A voiceover said he missed the kick, but they’d still give out the free bets. But online, onlookers were confused and thought it was good.

Gronk’s “Kick of Destiny” landed the gaming site plenty of free publicity for the live stunt, as well as plenty of new customers who registered to be part of the campaign.

8:45 p.m. ET

Rihanna was shining bright like a diamond in her Super Bowl halftime performance.

She began her show hanging high above the field. She wore a puffy, bright red jumpsuit as she stood on a transparent square that moved her up and down as she hovered in the air over the turf at State Farm Stadium.

Dancers wearing what looked like white ski suits moved in sync on their own suspended platforms.

She and her dancers were lowered to a stage that matched her outfit, and moved in sync as she sped through two other hits, “Where Have You Been,” and “Only Girl."

There were none of the instant costume changes, scene shifts or guest appearances that have been a constant at other Super Bowl halftimes.

The theme — and the color scheme — stayed the same throughout her set, with red lights bathing the long stage.

More of the dancers in white flooded and filled the field as the performance went on.

Fireworks went off and lights sparkled from the stand as she was raised alone back into the air and sang “Diamond” — with its refrain of “shine bright like a diamond” — as the set closed.

The performance was her first live event in seven years, and her first since becoming a mother nine months ago.

8:15 p.m. ET

The first half of Super Bowl 57 was an action-packed doozy as the Philadelphia Eagles took a 24-14 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott made a 35-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer to put the Eagles up by 10.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for two touchdowns in the first half and also connected on a 45-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes also threw a touchdown pass and Nick Bolton returned a fumble 36 yards for another score.

An important development to watch: Mahomes limped off the field late in the second quarter. The two-time NFL MVP has been fighting a badly sprained right ankle and looked like he re-aggravated the injury.

7:50 p.m. ET

Brittney Griner is in the crowd representing the Philadelphia Eagles at the Super Bowl.

It was the third public appearance for the WNBA star since her release from a Russian prison.

Griner is skipping USA Basketball's training camp in Minnesota so she can be with her wife and recover from her time abroad. She was traded in a dramatic prisoner swap in December.

7:15 p.m. ET

In its first Super Bowl ad, Dunkin’ Donuts enlisted superfan Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Lopez for its spot.

In the ad, Affleck mans the drive-through booth at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Medford, Massachusetts and shocks customers. Finally, Lopez comes through the drive-through and asks Ben what he’s doing. “You’re embarrassing me in front of my friends,” he says. “Grab me a glazed” she demands.

Affleck has a long association with the brand, often spotted carrying Dunkin’ Donuts drinks in paparazzi photos. He directed the ad, too.

6:30 p.m. ET

Country musician and songwriter Chris Stapleton performed the national anthem for Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl might be known for its extravagance, but the anthem was anything but fancy. All that was needed was a Stapleton’s smooth baritone voice and a guitar. Deaf actor Troy Kotsur — who won an Oscar for the movie “CODA” — signed the anthem alongside Stapleton.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and starting center Jason Kelce both had tears in their eyes during Stapleton’s emotional performance.

AP

Before Stapleton stepped to the microphone, Grammy Award winner Babyface performed “America The Beautiful.”

The series of pregame canonical songs began with “Abbot Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song that’s been dubbed the Black national anthem.

Ralph, wearing a flowing red velvet gown, began the song as a reflective ballad, and it became a soaring hymn as it went on, with military-style drums joining her and a choir dressed all in white chiming in behind her.

6:20 p.m. ET

During the pregame pageantry, the NFL honored the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals training and medical staffs, along with the staff at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. A minute later, Damar Hamlin joined them, putting his hands together to form a heart. He also received hugs from several of the first responders.

5:40 p.m. ET

Damar Hamlin has made it to the Super Bowl.

The Buffalo Bills safety made his third appearance in Phoenix during Super Bowl week, this time on the field at State Farm Stadium prior to Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

It's another milestone in Hamlin's recovery. It's been a little more than a month since Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati.

He also appeared on stage at “NFL Honors” on Thursday night after the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals training and medical staffs, along with the staff at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, were recognized.

“My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope and now with a new set of circumstances, I can say he’s doing what he’s always done,” Hamlin said from the stage at the Phoenix Convention Center. “I have a long journey ahead, a journey full of unknowns and a journey full of milestones, but it’s a lot easier to face your fears when you know your purpose.”

Hamlin collapsed on the field after a collision with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins on Jan. 2. The sight of an elite-level athlete nearly dying on the field sent a shock across the NFL and the world.

5:30 p.m. ET

For the first time in Super Bowl history, a pair of siblings will play each other on the NFL’s grandest stage.

Travis Kelce helped the Kansas City Chiefs return to their third championship game in four seasons, while brother Jason has the Eagles back for the second time in six years.

“Cool scenario to be in, you know?” Travis Kelce said. “My mom can’t lose.”

Donna Kelce took to Twitter on Sunday to show off her "Gameday fit." Her outfit features equal parts Chiefs and Eagles.

4:20 p.m. ET

The Kansas City Chiefs welcomed two new fans to the world on Super Bowl Sunday, with a third apparently on the way.

Chiefs offensive lineman Nick Allegretti’s wife, Christina, gave birth in the early hours to twin girls back home in Chicago, a team official confirmed to The Associated Press. Allegretti was able to watch everything unfold on FaceTime from the lobby of the team hotel while the rest of the Chiefs slept ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Allegretti, who has started three games this season, will be available for the Chiefs in the big game.

About the same time his wife was giving birth, Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman tweeted that his girlfriend, Chariah Gordeon, had gone into labor. Hardman went on injured reserve this week and was not available to play in the game.

There are plenty of Eagles on baby watch, too.

Starting center Jason Kelce, whose brother Travis is a tight end for Kansas City, and his wife are expecting their third child at any moment. In fact, Kylie Kelce, who is 38 weeks pregnant, has said that her obstetricians would be on hand at State Farm Stadium on Sunday should the baby make a dramatic appearance during the game.

3:15 p.m. ET

Cardi B teamed with her husband Offset onstage, embraced Serena Williams and later partook with a lively crowd during the rapper’s energetic pre-Super Bowl concert in suburban Phoenix.

The Grammy winner joyfully danced and performed her biggest jams from “Up” to “I Like It” at the Hall of Fame party early Sunday. She brought high energy into a laid-back nightclub atmosphere at the Gila River Resorts & Casino in Chandler, Arizona.

The crowd rose to their feet and pulled out their phones to capture Cardi B's show as they recited almost word-for-word all the lyrics during her 30-minute set. She kicked off her performance with “Money” as she pranced across the stage.

Offset also joined her onstage to perform their hit “Clout.”

Cardi B went on to perform her other hits such as "Finesse” and “Bodak Yellow,” her final song of the night. Afterward, she hugged Williams onstage before the rapper ventured offstage and marched with her security through a sea of audience members, which included comedian Tiffany Haddish, who cheered her on and took selfies and videos of her.

Earlier, Offset opened up for his wife, performing “Roc Flair Drip,” “Taste” and played a snippet of “Bad and Boujee” from his former group Migos.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.