At a Glance
- Bo Nix broke his right ankle late in Denver’s 33-30 overtime win over Buffalo
- Jarrett Stidham will start next Sunday’s AFC title game for the top-seeded Broncos
- Josh Allen threw four turnovers, ending Buffalo’s seventh straight season short of the championship round
- Why it matters: Denver’s dream season rolls on without its breakout quarterback, while the Bills’ playoff heartbreak deepens
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix‘s breakout season ended in the cruelest way-minutes after he engineered a dramatic overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night. Coach Sean Payton confirmed postgame that Nix fractured his right ankle with only three snaps remaining before the Broncos’ walk-off field goal, thrusting backup Jarrett Stidham into next Sunday’s AFC championship game.
The Injury That Changed Everything
The Broncos led 30-27 late in overtime when Nix dropped back on third-and-10 from the Bills’ 45-yard line. He was hit low while releasing the ball, stayed on the turf, and never returned. Payton said trainers told him immediately the ankle was broken. Nix watched the winning kick from the bench, his foot in a protective boot, before being carted to the locker room.
Stidham, who has started four games in four NFL seasons, now inherits an offense that averaged 28 points during Denver’s eight-game winning streak. He completed both passes he attempted after the injury, including a 12-yard strike that set up Wil Lutz‘s 33-yard field goal.
Nix’s Redemption Arc Cut Short
Saturday’s performance had felt like validation for the 2024 first-round pick. In last season’s wild-card round, Nix managed only 144 passing yards in a 31-7 blowout loss to these same Bills. One year later, he torched Buffalo for 279 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback other than Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow to beat Josh Allen in the postseason since 2020.
His signature moment came with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter. Down 27-23, Nix marched Denver 73 yards in eight plays, capping the drive with a 26-yard touchdown strike to give the Broncos a 30-27 edge. In overtime, his deep aggression drew two defensive pass-interference penalties-17 yards and then 30 yards-that moved the ball inside the 10-yard line and set up the winning kick.
“He was fantastic when we needed him,” Payton said.
Allen’s Four Turnovers Seal Buffalo’s Fate
For Josh Allen, the numbers were spectacular and devastating in equal measure. He passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 66 yards, and produced a highlight-reel stiff-arm that flattened a blitzing linebacker. Every Bills possession ended in either a score or a takeaway-unfortunately, four of them were the latter.
The turnovers came at the worst possible moments:
- First-and-goal from the 4-yard line before halftime: Allen fumbled; Denver kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive
- Third-and-8 from his own 45 in overtime: Allen forced a pass into double coverage; interception
Entering the postseason, Allen had gone six straight playoff games without a giveaway. Against Denver, he doubled his career postseason interception total in four quarters and an extra frame.
“It’s extremely difficult, I feel like I let my teammates down tonight,” Allen said, tears visible. “It’s been a long season. Hate how it ended. It’s gonna stick with me for a long time.”
A Franchise Haunted by What-Ifs
Buffalo’s loss extends a staggering run of playoff misery. Since losing four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s, the franchise has failed to reach the AFC championship in each of Josh Allen‘s seven seasons. Four of the Bills’ last five postseason defeats have been decided by one score; two have gone to overtime. The combined margin in those four crushing losses: 15 points.
This year felt different. Mahomes, Burrow, and Lamar Jackson were all absent from the bracket, clearing what many saw as Allen’s clearest path to the Super Bowl since 1993. Instead, the quarterback who once seemed predestined to end the drought threw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns and took responsibility in blunt terms.
“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.”
Denver’s Path Forward Without Nix
The Broncos will host the conference championship as the AFC’s top seed, but they must now navigate the league’s biggest stage with a career backup under center. Stidham has thrown five touchdown passes and five interceptions in 132 career attempts; he has never started a postseason game.
Payton expressed confidence in his veteran reserve, noting that Denver’s offensive identity-heavy play-action, outside zone runs, and a stout offensive line-should ease the transition. The defense, which sacked Allen three times and forced the four turnovers, believes it can carry the load.
“We obviously weren’t ready last year, but we were ready today,” Payton said.
Key Takeaways
- Bo Nix‘s breakout season ends on a cart, yet his 279-yard, three-touchdown effort advances Denver one win from the Super Bowl
- Jarrett Stidham inherits an 11-6 team favored at home in the AFC title game
- Josh Allen‘s four turnovers extend Buffalo’s championship-round drought to 31 seasons
- The Bills have now lost four of their last five playoff games by one score, amplifying questions about closing ability
- Denver’s defense, which forced the decisive overtime interception, could be the stabilizing force while the offense adjusts to life after Nix
