At a Glance
- Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC championship game after zero regular-season passes
- He becomes only the seventh QB since 1950 to start a playoff game without starting that regular season
- Only Frank Reich (1992 Bills) won among the previous six fill-ins
- Why it matters: A season on the sidelines ends with Stidham steering Denver’s Super Bowl hopes
Bo Nix’s broken ankle has shoved Jarrett Stidham into the spotlight. The veteran, who has taken four offensive snaps and thrown no passes this season, will quarterback the Denver Broncos against New England on Sunday with a Super Bowl berth at stake.
Stidham’s Sudden Promotion
Stidham’s last game action came in the final two starts of the 2023 campaign. Since then, his only work has arrived in practice and preseason scrimmages. Sportradar data shows he will be the seventh quarterback since 1950 to start a postseason game in a season when he did not start a regular-season contest.
Frank Reich stands as the lone success story among that group, winning twice for Buffalo in the 1992 playoffs after Jim Kelly’s injury.
Stidham also becomes:
- The second quarterback ever to start a playoff game after throwing zero passes in the regular season (Joe Webb, 2012)
- The second to make his first start of a season in a conference title game or Super Bowl (Roger Staubach, 1972)
Historical Precedents
Past fill-ins offer both caution and hope:
Frank Reich, 1992 Bills
Reich replaced the injured Jim Kelly and engineered the largest comeback in playoff history, erasing a 35-3 deficit against Houston. He threw four touchdowns in a 41-38 overtime win and added a victory at Pittsburgh the following week.
Joe Webb, 2012 Vikings
Webb had taken only three offensive snaps before starting the wild-card game at Green Bay. He went 11-for-30 for 180 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 24-10 loss.
Taylor Heinicke, 2020 Washington
Signed to the practice squad late in the season, Heinicke entered the wild-card round after Alex Smith’s calf injury. In his second career start, he threw for 306 yards and a touchdown in a narrow loss to eventual champion Tampa Bay.
Connor Cook, 2016 Raiders
A broken leg to Derek Carr and injury to Matt McGloin pushed rookie Cook into a wild-card start at Houston. He completed 18 of 45 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in a 27-14 defeat and never played another NFL snap.
Gary Danielson, 1983 Lions
After coming off the bench all season, Danielson started the divisional round when Eric Hipple hurt his knee. He threw five interceptions yet nearly upset San Francisco. Joe Montana’s late touchdown made it 24-23, and Detroit’s Eddie Murray missed a 43-yard field goal in the final seconds.
Roger Staubach, 1972 Cowboys
Despite winning Super Bowl MVP the previous season, Staubach began 1972 as Craig Morton’s backup. Entering the divisional round against San Francisco, he sparked a 30-28 comeback with two touchdowns in the final 90 seconds. He started the NFC title game but lost 26-3 to Washington.
What Lies Ahead
Stidham’s task is clear: become the second quarterback in seven decades to win a playoff start after riding the bench all regular season. Denver’s coaching staff must craft a game plan that protects Stidham early while leaning on a defense that carried the Broncos to the cusp of the Super Bowl.
Kickoff against the Patriots is set for Sunday.
