ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Trepidation surrounded the first tackle.
After all, the last tackle the Buffalo Bills had witnessed was followed immediately by their teammate’s collapse; by safety Damar Hamlin slipping into an on-field cardiac arrest.
So when the Bills lined up to receive the opening kickoff, hosting the New England Patriots in their regular-season finale Sunday, running back Nyheim Hines did what he always does on returns: He tried to avoid any tackles. This time, he succeeded.
Hines caught the kick in the middle of his own 4-yard line, juking briefly left before cutting at an angle toward the right.