One year and five days. That’s how long it’s been since the Denver Broncos walked off the field in Buffalo, heads down after a humbling 31-7 playoff loss to the Bills.
Fast forward to now, and the script has flipped. Denver’s not just back in the playoffs-they’re the AFC’s top seed, sitting at 14-3, rested, recharged, and ready to host the very team that ended their postseason dreams a year ago.
Saturday’s divisional round matchup at Mile High isn’t just another playoff game. It’s a chance for redemption.
After Tuesday’s practice, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix met with reporters and didn’t shy away from the weight of the moment. “They’re a similar team-same players, same coach, same quarterback,” Nix said, referring to a Bills squad that’s been a postseason staple in recent years.
“I know they dealt with some injuries, but I imagine some of their guys will be back. It’s going to be a tough, physical football game.”
And he’s right. The Bills are battle-tested.
They’ve been here before-deep in January, with everything on the line. Coming off what Nix called “probably their best win of the season” in the wild-card round, Buffalo is riding a wave of momentum.
That rhythm, that playoff edge? It’s real.
And Denver knows it.
For the Broncos, the challenge is twofold: match Buffalo’s tempo out of the gate and shake off any rust from the first-round bye. “We have to start fast,” Nix emphasized. “We have to make sure we match their tempo and not let them get out because they played last week, and we can’t let this bye week affect us with a slow start.”
That’s the tightrope top seeds walk every year-extra rest versus game sharpness. But Denver isn’t just any top seed.
This is a team that’s grown up quickly, with Nix at the helm showing poise beyond his years. The Broncos didn’t stumble into the No. 1 seed; they earned it, week after week, with a balanced attack and a defense that’s been as stingy as it is opportunistic.
Still, none of that matters if they can’t exorcise the ghosts of last January. The Bills are coming in with confidence-and scars of their own. This is a heavyweight clash between two AFC contenders who know each other well, and neither side is backing down.
Saturday’s game will be physical. It will be emotional.
And for Denver, it’s a chance to prove that last year’s blowout was just a chapter, not the story. The Broncos are no longer the upstarts-they’re the hunted.
And now, it’s time to see if they’re ready to finish what they started.