The Denver Broncos are back in the AFC Championship Game-and they’ve done it in emphatic fashion. With 14 regular-season wins, this team has tied a franchise record set by the 1998 squad that went on to win Super Bowl XXXIII.
That’s not just a number-it’s a statement. For the first time since their Super Bowl-winning 2015 season, the Broncos are one win away from the big game.
But this time, they’ll have to do it without their starting quarterback.
Bo Nix, who’s been at the center of Denver’s resurgence, won’t be available when the Broncos host the New England Patriots on Sunday. Nix suffered an ankle injury on the final drive of last week’s dramatic 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills. He had surgery on Tuesday, officially ruling him out for the rest of the postseason.
It’s a gut punch for a quarterback who’s already made history. With 25 wins in his first two NFL seasons, Nix ranks third all-time in that category. And it’s not just the numbers-his poise, leadership, and command of the offense have helped power Denver’s return to the NFL’s elite.
“It was a bummer,” said Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain II. “I feel for him, just the work that he put in consistently and having a season end like this. Obviously, after the game, emotions running high, then when I heard that news, it felt like my energy was drained a little bit.”
But Surtain and the rest of this Broncos team aren’t hanging their heads. If anything, they’re doubling down.
“We ain’t make it this far just to come this far,” Surtain said. “So we realize that we have a lot on the horizon to look forward to, and, I mean, this is championship football now, so we got to lock in and buy into the process.”
That mindset is exactly what’s kept this team rolling-and now, the focus shifts to Jarrett Stidham, who steps in under center. Stidham’s been quiet this season, logging just four snaps, but Surtain sees something in the backup that can’t be measured in reps or stats.
“I’ve seen a lot of confidence,” Surtain said. “He’s got a type of mojo with him, a type of confidence with him that you rarely see.
And I’m excited for him for this opportunity. He’s got everything it takes to shine on this level, and I’m looking forward to it.”
That “mojo” Surtain’s talking about? It’s more than just swagger-it’s the kind of steady presence that can rally a locker room.
“Just the way how he operates, man. He’s just cool, calm and collected,” Surtain added.
“He come into the building every day with a smile on his face, and, you know, he talks a little trash here and there, and you got to enjoy that and you look forward to that when you see that confidence. It definitely resonates with the whole team, for sure.”
And while all eyes will be on Stidham, don’t forget about the other side of the ball-Denver’s defense has been lights-out all year. They finished the regular season allowing the second-fewest yards and third-fewest points in the NFL.
Even more impressive? They led the league in sacks with 68-11 more than the next closest team.
This defense doesn’t just show up-they take over games.
“We always feel like every time we step out there on the field that we could change the game and always make game-changing plays,” Surtain said. “And that’s what we put on our shoulders. We just have full trust in each other to make plays throughout the game and to change the outcome of the game.”
That kind of belief is going to be critical against a Patriots team that’s just as battle-tested. New England also finished the regular season with 14 wins but had to fight through an extra playoff game as the AFC’s No. 2 seed. After dispatching the Chargers 16-3 and the Texans 28-16, they’re rolling into Denver with momentum and a rising star at quarterback.
“They possess a lot of challenges,” Surtain said. “Obviously, Drake [Maye], he’s a great quarterback.
He’s got a lot of playmakers on the perimeter. They got a great run game.
So we got to find a way to eliminate the explosives on their side and find a way to contain them, so looking forward to the matchup.”
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CST on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. A trip to Super Bowl LX is on the line.
Denver’s got the defense, the belief, and now, a new quarterback ready for his moment.