With the AFC Championship on the line, the Denver Broncos are turning to a quarterback who’s never thrown a postseason pass - and that’s sparked plenty of debate. Jarrett Stidham, the backup-turned-starter, steps in for the injured Bo Nix this Sunday against the New England Patriots. And while some are buying into the idea that Stidham could surprise, not everyone’s convinced.
On The Craig Carton Show, host Craig Carton didn’t hold back, calling the Stidham hype “nonsense.” His main point? If Stidham were truly starter material, he’d already have a starting job.
“If all of y’all feel like Jarrett Stidham might even be the better QB in this game, which is crazy to say, then how come no one gave Jarrett Stidham a job to be the starting QB?” Carton asked.
“Do not expect a major drop-off. The fact that the Patriots are favored by 4, Vegas is telling you Stidham can’t play!”
Carton also pointed to New England’s playoff-tested defense as a major hurdle for the Broncos’ fill-in QB. If Stidham can keep his composure and keep things close, Carton said, that alone would be a win.
Let’s be real - this is a massive stage for a quarterback with just 20 career games and four starts under his belt. Stidham’s NFL resume includes 117 completions on 197 attempts (59.4%) for 1,422 yards, with an even 8-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He hasn’t thrown a meaningful regular-season pass since 2023 and has never taken a postseason snap.
And yet, here we are - with Sean Payton putting the keys to the Broncos’ playoff hopes in Stidham’s hands.
“He’s going to rip it,” Payton said Friday. “And that’ll be our approach.
He’s got this calm demeanor that I think suits him well. I felt like [Stidham] was inside the best 32.”
That’s a bold endorsement from a coach who’s seen his share of quarterbacks. But Payton’s confidence isn’t just about Stidham’s arm - it’s about his mindset. The 27-year-old QB isn’t shying away from the moment.
“What I always go back to in any game - regular season, preseason, AFC Championship - it’s still the same game,” Stidham said. “I know how I can play. And I know the kind of guys I’ve got around me and the kind of team that we have.”
That team includes one of the best defenses in the league. Denver’s second-ranked unit will be leaned on heavily to keep the Patriots in check and take some pressure off Stidham.
With Bo Nix sidelined after a breakout season - 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, 11 interceptions - the Broncos don’t just need Stidham to manage the game. They need him to compete.
The odds may not be in his favor, and the critics are loud, but Sunday will be Stidham’s chance to change the narrative. For a quarterback who’s waited in the wings for years, this is his shot - and the stakes couldn’t be higher.