The Denver Broncos are heading to the AFC Championship Game-but they’ll be doing it without their starting quarterback. Bo Nix is out for the season with an ankle injury, a brutal blow at the worst possible time. Now, it’s backup Jarrett Stidham’s turn to step into the spotlight, and he’ll be facing a battle-tested New England Patriots squad with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
On paper, this looks like a tall order. But don’t count Denver out just yet.
Why the Broncos Still Have a Shot
This isn’t just wishful thinking-it’s about what the Broncos do have, not what they’ve lost. And what they have is a defense that’s been one of the most disruptive in the league and an offensive line that’s quietly become one of the most reliable units in football.
Let’s start with the defense. Patrick Surtain II leads a secondary that can clamp down on top-tier receivers, and while they had a rough outing against the Bills, this is still a group that can dictate the tempo of a game.
Up front, the pass rush is where Denver could really tilt the scales. Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen have been relentless, and against a Patriots offensive line that’s shown cracks, that pressure could be the key to forcing mistakes and stalling drives.
We saw it in the Divisional Round. New England got past Houston, but only because the Texans couldn’t get out of their own way.
C.J. Stroud had one of the worst playoff performances of his young career, and even then, the Patriots didn’t exactly run away with it.
That game showed us something critical: New England’s offense can be contained-and even cracked-by a disciplined, aggressive defense.
The Blueprint for Stidham
So what does this mean for Stidham? It means he doesn’t have to be a hero. He just has to be smart.
The Texans’ downfall was turnovers. If Stidham protects the football and leans on the strengths around him, the Broncos have a real path forward.
Denver’s offensive line has been rock solid in both pass protection and the run game. Give Stidham time, give the backs room to work, and suddenly you’re not asking your backup quarterback to win the game-you’re asking him not to lose it.
This is a team built to support a quarterback in this exact situation. The run game can chew clock and control tempo.
The defense can create short fields and limit possessions. And the offensive line can keep Stidham upright long enough to make the throws he needs to make-not the kind that require threading the needle 40 yards downfield.
Bottom Line
Losing Nix is a gut punch, no question. He was playing with poise beyond his years and had this offense humming. But football is a team game, and the Broncos still have the kind of roster that can carry a backup quarterback through a playoff run.
With a defense that can frustrate and fluster, an offensive line that sets the tone, and a quarterback who just needs to play within himself, Denver isn’t just showing up to the AFC Championship Game-they’re showing up with a plan.
And if they execute it, a trip to the Super Bowl isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem.