At a Glance
- Bo Nix led Denver to a 33-30 overtime upset of Buffalo, then broke his right ankle three plays before the winning kick
- Jarrett Stidham will start next Sunday as the AFC’s top seed hosts the conference title game
- Josh Allen threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, ending Buffalo’s seventh straight season short of the championship round
- Why it matters: The Broncos advance without their breakout QB, while the Bills’ playoff heartbreak deepens after another one-score, turnover-filled defeat
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix delivered the signature win of his young career Saturday night, then left the field on crutches. The 33-30 overtime victory against the Bills in the divisional round propels Denver to the AFC championship game, but Nix’s season ended when he broke a bone in his right ankle late in the extra period.
Coach Sean Payton said the injury occurred only three plays before kicker Wil Lutz drilled the 40-yard walk-off field goal. Backup Jarrett Stidham will take first-team reps this week as the No. 1 seed prepares to host next Sunday.
The Drive That Changed Everything
Trailing 27-23 with 4:12 left in regulation, Nix engineered an eight-play, 73-yard masterpiece:
- 3rd-and-9: 17-yard strike to Courtland Sutton
- 3rd-and-7: 30-yard post to Marvin Mims Jr.
- 1st-and-10: 26-yard touchdown to Lil’Jordan Humphrey with 52 seconds left
The score gave Denver a 30-27 lead and forced Buffalo to answer. A 59-yard Tyler Bass field goal as time expired sent the game to overtime, but Nix had already cemented his turnaround from last year’s 144-yard wild-card dud.
Turnovers Doom Allen Again
Josh Allen finished 25 of 39 for 283 yards and three touchdowns, adding 66 rushing yards on 12 carries. Every Bills possession ended in either a score or a giveaway, and the four turnovers proved fatal:
- First half: Fumble at the Denver 25 nullified a scoring chance
- Before halftime: Second fumble set up a Broncos field goal
- Late third: Interception in the end zone erased a 74-yard drive
- Overtime: Interception on 2nd-and-9 gave Denver the short field
“Can’t win with five turnovers,” Allen said. “I fumbled twice, threw two picks. When you shoot yourself in the foot like that you don’t deserve to win football games.”
History Repeats for Buffalo
The loss extends a tortured postseason history for the franchise:
- 1990-93: Four straight Super Bowl defeats
- Allen era: Seven straight seasons without reaching the AFC title game
- Last five playoff exits: Four decided by one score, two in overtime
- Combined margin in those four: 15 points
Including Saturday, Allen has turned the ball over eight times in his last three playoff defeats. He had gone six consecutive postseason games without a giveaway before Saturday.
“It’s extremely difficult, I feel like I let my teammates down tonight,” Allen said while wiping away tears. “It’s been a long season. Hate how it ended. It’s gonna stick with me for a long time.”
Nix’s Breakout Night
In only his second career postseason start, Nix completed 27 of 38 attempts for 279 yards and three touchdowns, posting a 118.8 passer rating. His willingness to attack downfield drew two pivotal pass-interference flags in overtime:
| Penalty | Yards | Result |
|---|---|---|
| DPI on Taron Johnson | 17 | 1st-and-10 at Buffalo 49 |
| DPI on Christian Benford | 30 | 1st-and-goal at 9 |
“He was fantastic when we needed him,” Payton said. “We obviously weren’t ready last year, but we were ready today.”
What’s Next
The Broncos will host the AFC championship game next Sunday with Stidham under center. The winner advances to Super Bowl LIX. For Buffalo, another offseason of questions begins after a postseason defined by near-misses and critical mistakes.
