The Denver Broncos are headed to the AFC Championship Game, but they’ll be doing it without the quarterback who got them there. Bo Nix, the rookie who started every snap this season, suffered a fractured bone in his right ankle late in Saturday’s dramatic 33-30 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. He’s set to undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday, leaving veteran backup Jarrett Stidham to take the reins in the biggest game of the year.
Head coach Sean Payton confirmed the injury postgame, explaining that it happened on the second-to-last play of overtime - a designed quarterback run that lost two yards. On the very next snap, Nix delivered a deep ball to Marvin Mims that drew a game-changing pass interference call, setting up first-and-goal. Nix then took a knee to position kicker Wil Lutz for the walk-off field goal.
It was a gritty end to a gutsy performance from Nix, who finished the game 26-of-46 for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also led the Broncos in rushing with 29 yards on 12 carries - a testament to just how much of the offensive load he was carrying.
Now, the Broncos turn to Stidham, who hasn’t attempted a pass in either of the last two regular seasons. That’s not a knock on his ability - it’s just a reflection of how firmly Nix had locked down the position since arriving in Denver. Stidham’s moment has arrived, and it couldn’t come on a bigger stage: the AFC title game, at home, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
While the quarterback change is significant, Denver still has plenty going for it. The defense has been lights-out during the playoff stretch and came up huge against Buffalo, forcing four turnovers from Josh Allen. That kind of opportunistic play has been a calling card for this team down the stretch, and they’ll need more of it with a new signal-caller under center.
As for the bigger picture, the Broncos entered the weekend as one of the betting favorites to win it all. But with Nix sidelined, oddsmakers have adjusted - Denver’s Super Bowl odds have dropped to +850 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Still, this team has shown it can win in a variety of ways, and with the AFC Championship Game set to be played in the altitude of Mile High, the Broncos aren’t going quietly.
It’s a brutal blow for Nix, who capped off an impressive rookie campaign with a clutch performance before the injury. But the season isn’t over for Denver - and now it’s Jarrett Stidham’s turn to write the next chapter.