The Denver Broncos are heading to the AFC Championship, but their thrilling 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills came with a gut punch: rookie quarterback Bo Nix is out for the rest of the season.
Nix suffered an ankle injury in the final minutes of overtime, just before delivering a crucial deep ball to Marvin Mims that drew a pass interference flag and set up the game-winning field goal. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed after the game that Nix will undergo surgery on Tuesday, officially ending what had been a promising postseason debut.
Now, with the AFC title game on deck, the Broncos will turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to lead the charge. The team will face either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans, depending on the outcome of Sunday’s divisional matchup.
For Denver, this is a brutal blow. Nix had been coming into his own, showing poise and command in a high-pressure playoff environment.
His ability to extend plays and make smart decisions under fire was a key reason the Broncos were able to outlast Buffalo in a back-and-forth battle. Losing that kind of presence under center-especially in January-isn’t just a challenge; it’s a test of the entire team’s resilience.
As for Stidham, he’s no stranger to the spotlight. He’s been in the league long enough to understand what’s at stake, and he’ll have a full week to prepare as the starter. The Broncos will likely lean more on their run game and defense, but Stidham will need to make plays if Denver wants to keep its Super Bowl hopes alive.
Meanwhile, the reaction around the league-and especially on social media-has been swift and, in some corners, sarcastic. With Nix out, many fans are labeling the Patriots’ potential path to the Super Bowl as “Mickey Mouse,” implying that their road has been unusually easy. Whether that’s fair or not is up for debate, but it’s clear that the injury has shifted the perception of the AFC playoff picture.
One thing’s for sure: the stakes just got higher for everyone involved. The Broncos are battered but not broken, and the Patriots or Texans-whoever emerges from Sunday-know they’ll be facing a Denver team playing with a chip on its shoulder and a backup quarterback with something to prove.
January football doesn’t care about narratives. It’s about who can execute when the pressure is at its peak.
The Broncos are still in the fight. But the margin for error just got a whole lot thinner.