After a two-week wait, the Denver Broncos are finally set to clash with the Buffalo Bills this afternoon in a high-stakes showdown. The prize?
A trip to the AFC Championship Game. The Bills are no slouch - a perennial powerhouse led by one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league - but make no mistake, the Broncos aren’t just happy to be here.
They’ve got the pieces to pull off a win, and if they’re going to do it, they’ll need a few key players to rise to the moment.
Let’s break down three Broncos who could be difference-makers in this pivotal playoff matchup.
Talanoa Hufanga - Safety
If the Broncos are going to punch their ticket to the AFC title game, it’s going to take more than just solid defense - they’ll need game-changing plays. That’s been a point of emphasis from Sean Payton down the stretch, and it’s something the Broncos delivered in their last outing against the Chargers. They’ll need more of that today.
Enter Talanoa Hufanga.
The fifth-year safety has been everything Denver hoped for when they brought him in last spring - and then some. A 17-game starter, Hufanga racked up 106 tackles, six tackles for loss, three QB hits, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a career-best 11 passes defended. That kind of production earned him second-team All-Pro honors, and more importantly, it helped re-energize a Broncos defense that had struggled with consistency in recent years.
Hufanga’s value goes beyond the stat sheet. He’s been the heartbeat of Vance Joseph’s defense - a tone-setter who can line up all over the field. Whether he’s flying downhill to stuff the run or dropping into coverage to take away passing lanes, Hufanga brings a level of versatility and physicality that’s hard to replicate.
And against Josh Allen - a quarterback who can beat you from the pocket or outside it - that kind of Swiss Army knife presence is essential. Expect Hufanga to be all over the field today, looking to force a turnover or deliver a momentum-shifting hit. If he can make one or two splash plays, Denver’s defense could tilt the field in their favor.
Courtland Sutton - Wide Receiver
Courtland Sutton has been through the highs and lows of Denver’s rebuild, and now, in his eighth season, he’s staring down the biggest game of his career.
The veteran wideout was once again the go-to option in the Broncos’ passing game this season, finishing with 74 catches for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns on 124 targets. Sure, the sub-60% catch rate isn’t ideal - especially for a volume receiver - but that doesn’t tell the full story.
When Sutton made a catch, it mattered. A staggering 59 of his 74 receptions went for either a first down or a touchdown.
That’s elite-level impact.
The chemistry between Sutton and rookie quarterback Bo Nix has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but when they’re in sync, the offense hums. And with Buffalo’s secondary missing key pieces like Maxwell Hairston and Jordan Poyer, there’s an opportunity for Sutton to make his presence felt - assuming the Bills don’t blanket him with extra coverage.
Even if the Bills roll safety help his way, Sutton’s size, body control, and catch radius make him a tough cover in contested situations. Denver doesn’t need him to dominate the stat sheet - they need him to make the plays that extend drives, flip field position, and keep the Bills’ offense on the sideline. If Sutton steps up, the Broncos' chances of pulling off the upset go way up.
Evan Engram - Tight End
When the Broncos signed Evan Engram, the idea was clear: give Sean Payton a versatile weapon who could create mismatches all over the field. A true “Joker” in the offense. But that vision never quite materialized in the regular season.
Engram’s numbers tell the story - 50 catches for 461 yards and just one touchdown in 16 games. More concerning?
Only 19 of those receptions moved the chains. For a player expected to be a security blanket for a young quarterback, that’s not the kind of impact Denver was hoping for.
Still, the postseason offers a clean slate. And if there’s ever a time for Engram to flip the script, it’s now.
Buffalo’s defense is stout up front, but they’ve had trouble defending tight ends and running backs in the passing game. That’s a window of opportunity for Engram. He doesn’t need to go off for 100 yards and a pair of scores - but if he can find space underneath, convert a few third downs, and keep the Bills honest in coverage, that could be the spark this offense needs.
Bo Nix is going to need reliable outlets when the pressure ramps up. If Engram can be that guy today, the Broncos’ offense becomes a lot more dangerous.
Bottom Line
The Broncos don’t need perfection this afternoon - they need playmakers. Hufanga on defense.
Sutton on the outside. Engram over the middle.
If those three rise to the occasion, Denver has a real shot to knock off the Bills and keep their playoff run alive. The stage is set.
Now it’s time to see who delivers.