Damar Hamlin attends Buffalo's playoff game against Cincinnati

Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made his first public appearance on Sunday, joining his team in the locker room ahead of its Divisional Round game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The Bills tweeted a video clip of Hamlin entering the stadium in a utility terrain vehicle before the game. It was his first time in attendance at a game since going into cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game against the Bengals on Jan. 2.

Hamlin watched the game from a suite in the stadium. Members of his family were also in attendance.

The Bills were unable to set up a rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs next week, losing to Cincinnati 27-10. The Bengals will face Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium for the AFC Championship for the second year in a row. It is the first time an AFC Championship matchup has been repeated in back-to-back years since the Baltimore Ravens faced the New England Patriots in 2011 and 2012.

The highly anticipated Bengals vs. Bills matchup was meant to be played for a share of the top seed in the AFC on Monday Night Football before being canceled after Hamlin's health emergency. Kansas City claimed the top seed instead with the best record.

A win by Buffalo on Sunday would have set up a neutral-field game played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the AFC Championship next week.

The Bills outlasted the Chiefs on Oct. 16, winning 24-20. Josh Allen and his team are seeking revenge from the thrilling overtime loss at Kansas City in the Divisional Round last season. Buffalo also lost at Kansas City in the AFC Championship in 2021.

Buffalo has not won the AFC Championship since 1993, when it made its fourth Super Bowl appearance in a row. The team lost all four Super Bowls.

Joe Burrow put the Bengals ahead 14-0 with 2 touchdown passes early on Sunday. The snow-covered field did not slow Cincinnati down as the run game took over in the second half. Running back Joe Mixon rushed for more than 5 yards per carry, tallying 105 yards and a second-half touchdown.

Hamlin cheered his team to victory in its Wild Card game against the Miami Dolphins from home. Buffalo withstood a comeback attempt led by third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson to hold on and advance.