Nov 17, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) warms before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills in overtime of the first NFL divisional round game of the postseason.
But at what cost?
After the game, Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced that Nix suffered a fractured ankle during the victory and will have surgery on Tuesday. Nix’s sophomore season is over, and he will miss the AFC Championship game next weekend.
The Broncos will await the outcome of Sunday’s Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots matchup to find out who they will play. But it’ll likely be backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham getting the start for the Broncos.
Nix suffered the injury on the second to last play of overtime. He was able to finish the game, but tests postgame told a different story.
Denver’s victory against the Bills did not come without plenty of controversy. Two questionable calls down the stretch caused fans to question the referees inserting themselves into a game in which they had mostly stayed out of.
Nix completed 26 of his 46 passing attempts in the victory for 279 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Taking down an established quarterback like Buffalo’s Josh Allen in the NFL Playoffs was supposed to be a Hallmark moment for the second-year quarterback out of Oregon.
But now his season ends in heartbreaking fashion.
Against the Texans or Patriots, the Broncos will now find themselves as massive underdogs despite hosting the game in Denver.
Mike Vrabel’s Patriots have a sound defense. Nix’s fellow sophomore quarterback Drake Maye has had an incredible season, and will likely finish up as the NFL MVP runner up to Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams. It could be hard for the Broncos to keep up with Maye, despite how dominant Denver has been defensively all season.
Demeco Ryans coaches Houston’s defense, which is widely respected as a top three unit in the NFL this season. The Texans could make Stidham’s life miserable. C.J. Stroud is also capable of making it really difficult to keep up offensively.
The NFL is a coach and quarterback league. You need both in order to win, especially in the playoffs.
Denver has one of the best coaches in Payton, and a young quarterback that was exploding onto the scene before our eyes.
But now, they’ll be overmatched in either game.
Could Stidham become Denver’s Nick Foles? Broncos fans will spend all week talking themselves into that.
But against the Patriots or Texans? Feels wildly unlikely.
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