Patriots navigating uncertainty as matchup with Bills looms

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick says he’s been leaning on his experience seeing Reggie Brown suffer a spinal cord injury on the field in 1997 as he helps his team deal with emotions about the injury to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. The Patriots are playing the Bills this week and need to win to have any chance of making the playoffs. But some players say it’s been a difficult week of preparation because they are preoccupied with how Hamlin is doing and trying to support him.