The Denver Broncos haven’t won a playoff game since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 50 back in February 2016. That’s a long drought for a franchise with a proud postseason pedigree-three Super Bowl titles, multiple Hall of Fame players, and a fan base that expects more than just January appearances.
Last season, the Broncos finally broke through and returned to the playoffs. But the comeback tour didn’t last long.
They ran into the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round and were sent home with a 31-7 loss. That game marked rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s first taste of postseason football-and let’s just say it didn’t go down smooth.
Now, Nix gets a second shot. Same round, same opponent, and a chance to rewrite the narrative.
If Nix can lead Denver to a win on Saturday, he’ll become just the second quarterback ever drafted by the Broncos to win a playoff game. That’s not a typo. For all their postseason success over the years, nearly every meaningful playoff run in Denver has been guided by a quarterback who started his NFL career somewhere else.
The lone exception? Tim Tebow.
On January 8, 2012, Tebow delivered one of the most iconic moments in Broncos history-an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. It was electric.
It was unexpected. And it remains the only playoff win by a quarterback drafted by the Broncos.
Since then, the list of Denver QBs who’ve won in the postseason reads like a who's-who of NFL transplants:
- Craig Morton (drafted by Dallas) - 2 playoff wins
- John Elway (drafted by Baltimore) - 14 playoff wins
- Jake Plummer (drafted by Arizona) - 1 playoff win
- Peyton Manning (drafted by Indianapolis) - 5 playoff wins
- Tim Tebow (drafted by Denver) - 1 playoff win
That’s it. That’s the full list.
So here we are again, with Nix under center and history on the line. He had a promising start in last year’s Wild Card game, hitting Troy Franklin for a 43-yard touchdown on the opening drive.
But after that? Things unraveled.
Nix completed just 12 more passes for 101 yards the rest of the way. The Bills adjusted.
The Broncos didn’t.
This time around, Denver needs more than a flash of brilliance. They need sustained execution.
That starts with Nix-and with head coach Sean Payton dialing up a game plan that keeps the Bills' defense off balance. Conservative football isn’t going to get it done.
Not against a team led by one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
There’s been no shortage of skepticism around Nix this week. Critics have labeled him the weak link in an otherwise solid Broncos roster.
Turn on any sports show and you’ll hear it: “Denver wins in spite of Bo Nix.” That’s the narrative.
And Saturday is his shot to shatter it.
Nix doesn’t just need to manage the game-he needs to win it. He has to be the reason the Broncos advance, not just a passenger on the ride. That means making the tough throws, staying composed under pressure, and showing the kind of poise that separates playoff quarterbacks from regular season placeholders.
And here’s the thing-Nix is already in rare company. He’s only the second quarterback drafted by the Broncos to start multiple playoff games.
That in itself says something. He’s not here by accident.
He earned this moment.
Now, the question is: Can he make it count?
If he does, he won’t just be ending a playoff drought-he’ll be making Broncos history.