Red Zone Chess Match Looms as Bills Prepare for Broncos in Divisional Showdown
As the Buffalo Bills gear up for their divisional-round clash with the Denver Broncos on Saturday, all eyes should be on one critical battleground: the red zone. This game has the makings of a heavyweight bout where drives won’t just be about yards-they’ll be about who can finish inside the 20.
Buffalo enters this matchup with one of the most efficient red zone offenses in the NFL, closing the regular season ranked third in touchdown conversion rate once they get inside the red zone. When they cross that 20-yard line, more often than not, they’re walking away with six points, not three. It’s been a defining trait of this offense-methodical, explosive when needed, and ruthless near the goal line.
But they’re about to meet their match.
Denver boasts the league’s top-ranked red zone defense, and it’s not just a statistical anomaly. This unit has made a habit of slamming the door shut when opponents get close.
Whether it’s forcing a field goal, creating a turnover, or simply making life miserable in tight quarters, the Broncos have turned red zone defense into an art form. That ability to stand tall in critical moments has been a big reason they’ve stayed in games, even against high-octane offenses.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott knows exactly what his team is up against.
“The space obviously shortens down there,” McDermott said. “But when you’ve got speed and pass rushers, that’s a pretty good combination.
And those pass rushers are longer type of guys and twitchy at the same time. The roster speaks for itself, and the way that they play is extremely impressive.”
Translation: this Denver front isn’t just fast-it’s long, athletic, and disruptive. That kind of physical profile is a nightmare in the red zone, where windows are tighter and decisions have to be made in a split second.
Josh Allen, who’s been one of the league’s most dangerous red zone quarterbacks, isn’t taking this challenge lightly either.
“They’ve got some absolute studs over there,” Allen said. “They rush the passer extremely well, and inside they’ve got big, stout guys who can push the pocket and stop the run.
And on the back end, a guy like Pat Surtain - he’s an absolutely fantastic football player. We’re going to have our hands full.”
Allen’s not wrong. Surtain anchors a secondary that complements Denver’s front perfectly. He’s the kind of corner who can erase top receivers, which only adds to the difficulty of scoring when space is already at a premium.
So what does this all mean for Saturday?
It means we’re in for a chess match. Buffalo’s red zone offense thrives on creativity, tempo, and Allen’s ability to make plays with both his arm and legs.
Denver’s defense, meanwhile, banks on discipline, pressure, and forcing offenses into uncomfortable decisions. Something’s got to give.
In a game where every possession will matter and scoring opportunities could be limited, this red zone duel might just decide who moves on and who goes home.