Image Source: Greg Auman
Key Takeaways
- The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime to advance to the AFC Championship Game
- Quarterback Bo Nix led the Broncos to victory with a touchdown drive in the final minute of regulation
- The Bills’ five turnovers, including four by Josh Allen, were a significant factor in their loss
- The Broncos’ lack of a consistent running game could be a problem in their next game
- Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady helped his chances of becoming a head coach with his team’s performance
Introduction to the Game
The second weekend of the NFL playoffs was just as exciting as the first, with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills engaging in an epic battle that went into overtime. As NFL Reporter Greg Auman noted, "With one touchdown drive, Bo Nix arrives" – and indeed, the young quarterback’s performance was a major factor in the Broncos’ 33-30 win. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows and neither able to gain a clear advantage until the very end.
The Emergence of Bo Nix
Bo Nix’s performance was a major storyline in the game, as he rallied the Broncos and outdueled Josh Allen with a touchdown in the final minute of regulation. As Auman wrote, "He hit receiver Courtland Sutton on a third-and-11 play to move the chains, converting another third down with a scramble on his own. His 26-yard touchdown to receiver Marvin Mims was a perfectly placed ball for the lead with 55 seconds left." Nix’s stats were impressive, going 26-for-46 with three touchdowns and one interception. His performance has elevated his reputation and made him a player to watch in the future.
The Bills’ Collapse
The end of the first half was a disaster for the Bills, as they gave up a conversion and a 29-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left, and then Josh Allen lost a fumble on an open-field scramble with two seconds left, giving the Broncos a chance to steal another three points on a Wil Lutz field goal as time expired. As Auman noted, "Instead of 10-10, Buffalo trailed 20-10, digging a hole to make things harder in the second half under already difficult circumstances." The Bills’ five turnovers, including four by Allen, were a significant factor in their loss, and as Auman wrote, "That put Buffalo at minus-4 in takeaway margin, a nearly insurmountable statistic in the NFL playoffs."
The Importance of Turnovers
The Bills’ turnovers were a major factor in their loss, and as Auman noted, "Teams that were minus-3 or worse were 1-15 in playoff games in the past decade, the lone exception being the Jaguars’ 31-30 win over the Chargers in the 2022 playoffs." The Broncos, on the other hand, were able to capitalize on the Bills’ mistakes and turn them into points. As Auman wrote, "Only three NFL teams forced fewer" turnovers than the Broncos during the regular season, making their ability to force five turnovers in this game all the more impressive.
Joe Brady’s Coaching
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady helped his chances of becoming a head coach with his team’s performance, despite the loss. As Auman noted, "It’s easy to say you could coach well if Josh Allen was your quarterback, but there was more than that to the Buffalo offense on the road Saturday." The Bills were able to run the ball effectively against the Broncos’ strong run defense, with James Cook rushing for 117 yards on 24 carries. As Auman wrote, "The chess match between Brady’s offense and Vance Joseph’s vaunted Broncos defense was something to see Saturday, and for Buffalo to nearly overcome its turnover issues and find a way to score consistently is a testament to Brady and his playcalling."
The Broncos’ Running Game
The Broncos’ lack of a consistent running game could be a problem in their next game, as they relied heavily on Bo Nix’s arm to move the ball. As Auman noted, "With veteran back J.K. Dobbins sidelined with a foot injury, the Broncos didn’t have any consistent running game. Bo Nix was their leading rusher with 29 yards, with Jaleel McLaughlin and RJ Harvey combining for just 41 yards on 10 carries." This could be a challenge for the Broncos as they move forward in the playoffs, as they will need to find a way to balance their offense and take some pressure off of Nix’s shoulders.
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/buffalo-bills-vs-denver-broncos-takeaways-january-17-2026
