The Denver Broncos are headed to the AFC Championship after a wild 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills-but the celebration didn’t last long. Just hours after the final whistle, the team was hit with a gut punch: rookie quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken bone in his ankle and is out for the remainder of the season.
It’s a brutal blow for a team that’s been building serious momentum. Nix, who had steadily grown into his role throughout the season, was playing some of his best football when it mattered most. Now, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, Denver will turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
But if you think the Broncos are folding, think again.
Head coach Sean Payton made it clear postgame that he’s not interested in any doom-and-gloom narratives. He’s confident in Stidham-and he wants everyone to know it.
“In fairness to what you’ve seen, which is very limited… he’s ready,” Payton told reporters. “I said this at the beginning of the season: I feel like I’ve got a [No.
2 QB] that’s capable of starting for a handful, a number of teams. And I know he feels the same way.
So, watch out.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Payton’s been around long enough to know what he’s looking at in a quarterback room, and he’s been bullish on Stidham since training camp. Now, the former Auburn standout gets his shot-on the biggest stage of his career.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this is a massive moment for Stidham. He’s appeared in 20 NFL games and made just four starts since being drafted in the fourth round back in 2019.
His career stat line-117 completions on 197 attempts (59.4%), 1,422 yards, 8 touchdowns, 8 interceptions-doesn’t exactly scream “playoff-ready,” but context matters. Most of those snaps came in mop-up duty or less-than-ideal situations.
What we haven’t seen is how Stidham performs with a full week of prep, a game plan tailored to his strengths, and the full support of a team that believes in him.
That’s exactly what he’ll get now.
Denver’s offensive system under Payton is built to help quarterbacks succeed. It leans on timing, rhythm, and smart decision-making-areas where Stidham has shown flashes of competence in limited action.
And let’s not forget, this isn’t a one-man show. The Broncos have a strong run game, a defense that knows how to get stops when it counts, and a coaching staff with deep postseason experience.
Still, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Next Sunday, Denver will face the winner of the Texans-Patriots matchup in the AFC title game.
A Super Bowl berth is on the line. For Stidham, this isn’t just the biggest game of his life-it’s the chance to rewrite the narrative entirely.
Bo Nix’s injury is a tough pill to swallow, no doubt. But the Broncos aren’t waving the white flag.
In fact, with Payton doubling down on his faith in Stidham, they’re leaning in. And if Stidham can rise to the occasion, Denver’s Super Bowl dreams might still be very much alive.