The Denver Broncos' season came to a cold, snowy halt in the AFC Championship, falling to the New England Patriots in a gritty, low-scoring battle that was as much about survival as it was execution. With a Super Bowl berth on the line, the elements-and a key absence-played a major role.
Denver was already facing an uphill battle without rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a broken ankle in the divisional round against Buffalo. While there's no guarantee his presence would’ve flipped the result, it’s fair to wonder how different things might’ve looked with Nix under center. But football rarely deals in hypotheticals-it’s about who makes plays in the moment.
That’s exactly what Patriots quarterback Drake Maye did when it mattered most. His stat line through the air was modest-just 87 passing yards-but Maye made up for it with his legs, rushing for 65 yards and delivering the dagger late in the fourth quarter. On a critical bootleg, with the game hanging in the balance, Maye tucked the ball and scrambled for a first down that effectively iced the game and sent New England to the Super Bowl.
It was a gutsy play, and one that drew praise from all corners-except one notable voice from Broncos history.
Von Miller, Super Bowl 50 MVP and one of the most iconic defenders in franchise history, didn’t mince words when reflecting on that final play. Speaking on his podcast, Miller made it clear: if he were on the field, that game-sealing run doesn’t happen.
“That play- and I’m not throwing anybody under the bus- but that play at the end of the game where Drake Maye rolled out for the bootleg and got the first down, I think Von makes that play,” he said.
It’s a bold statement, but not out of character for a player who built his career on making those exact kinds of momentum-shifting, game-saving plays. Miller knows what it takes in those moments-he’s lived them.
And while it’s easy to talk from the sidelines, especially after 14 seasons in the league, Miller’s confidence isn’t just talk. It’s rooted in a career of big-game performance.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Miller has hinted at a reunion with the Broncos. He’s previously expressed interest in returning to Denver for one more run, and if that door is still open, you can bet he’d relish the chance to prove he can still be the guy who makes that stop.
For now, the Broncos are left to regroup after a hard-fought postseason run that came up just short. But if Miller does find his way back into orange and blue, don’t be surprised if he’s the one chasing down a quarterback with the season on the line-again.