Broncos Outlast Bills in Wild Card Thriller Behind Bo Nix’s Late Heroics
DENVER - One year after clashing in the playoffs, the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos met again - but this time, the setting and stakes felt different. The Broncos were the top seed in the AFC with a 14-3 record and home-field advantage, while the Bills came in as the No. 6 seed on the road, trying to play spoiler at a raucous Empower Field.
Denver wasted no time showing why they earned that No. 1 spot. Their opening drive was a methodical 14-play, 64-yard march that chewed up clock and showcased their offensive rhythm.
A fumble threatened to derail it, but a Bills offsides penalty wiped it off the board. The Broncos settled for a 28-yard field goal, but early on, they looked in control.
Buffalo answered with a response that felt very much like classic Josh Allen football - a 12-play, 67-yard drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr. Allen mixed tempo and physicality, including a few tough runs, and the Bills held a 7-3 lead as the first quarter closed.
The second quarter, though, was a roller coaster.
Denver’s next drive stalled with a quick three-and-out, and Buffalo looked poised to capitalize after Allen ripped off a 26-yard run to get into scoring position. But just as quickly as momentum swung their way, it slipped through their fingers - literally. James Cook coughed up the ball on the next play, and Denver pounced.
That turnover flipped the game. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix led an eight-play, 69-yard drive and found offensive lineman Frank Crum - yes, a lineman - for a 7-yard touchdown.
Trickery, confidence, and execution. Suddenly it was 10-7 Broncos.
Buffalo managed to tie it at 10 with a 33-yard field goal by Matt Prater, who was kicking against his former team. That drive was a grinder - 13 plays and over seven minutes - but it kept the Bills in it.
Then came a brutal two-minute stretch that flipped the game on its head.
First, Nix dropped a 29-yard dime to Lil’Jordan Humphrey with just 22 seconds left in the half. Then, on the very next snap from scrimmage, Allen fumbled.
Denver scooped it up and turned it into a 50-yard Wil Lutz field goal before the break. Just like that, the Broncos led 20-10 at halftime - a 10-point swing in less than half a minute.
Denver opened the second half with another long drive, reaching the Buffalo 10 before settling for a 33-yard field goal. It wasn’t flashy, but it pushed the lead to 23-10 and kept the pressure on Buffalo.
But the Bills weren’t done.
Allen led a crisp nine-play, 73-yard drive, finishing it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keon Coleman. That cut the deficit to 23-17 and injected life back into Buffalo’s sideline.
Then came a spark on defense. On third down, defensive tackle Deone Walker made a huge play, picking off Nix and setting Buffalo up deep in Denver territory.
It was the kind of moment that can flip a playoff game - but the Bills couldn’t cash in. Two plays later, Allen threw an interception, giving the ball right back.
Buffalo’s defense held strong again, forcing a punt, and Allen got another shot. This time, he delivered - a nine-play, 85-yard drive capped by a 14-yard touchdown to Dalton Kincaid.
The Bills took the lead, 24-23, early in the fourth quarter. It was vintage Allen: aggressive, resilient, and fearless.
Prater added a 31-yard field goal with just over four minutes to play, extending the lead to 27-23. Buffalo had clawed back from down 13 and now held a four-point advantage.
But Bo Nix wasn’t done writing his playoff debut story.
With under a minute left, Nix connected with Marvin Mims Jr. on a 26-yard touchdown that capped a clutch, composed drive. Denver reclaimed the lead, 30-27, with just 55 seconds to go.
And that was that. A wild, back-and-forth battle between two playoff-tested teams came down to the final minute.
For Buffalo, it was a bitter end to a gutsy effort. For Denver, it was validation - a top seed that found a way to survive and advance, thanks to their rookie quarterback stepping up in the biggest moment of his young career.
The Broncos move on, and the Bills head home. Playoff football rarely disappoints, and this one gave us everything - turnovers, momentum swings, and a dramatic finish under the lights in the Mile High City.