Can Jarrett Stidham Spark a Broncos Upset in the AFC Championship?
The New England Patriots are one win away from a Super Bowl berth-and standing in their way is a quarterback who hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since 2023.
That quarterback? Jarrett Stidham.
The former Patriots draft pick is now at the center of the AFC Championship storyline after stepping in for an injured Bo Nix, who went down with a fractured ankle late in Denver’s Divisional Round win over the Bills. Stidham, who’s been backing up in Denver the past couple of seasons, suddenly finds himself leading a team with a shot at the Super Bowl-and doing it against the franchise that once envisioned him as a potential successor to Tom Brady.
Let’s be clear: this is not an ideal scenario for Denver. Stidham has just two starts in the last three seasons, both coming in 2023.
But he’s not walking in off the street. He’s been in the league since 2019, he knows the system, and he’s playing under Sean Payton-a coach who knows how to build a game plan around a quarterback’s strengths.
Physically, Stidham has the tools. He’s got a live arm, throws with velocity, and can make all the throws you need in a modern NFL offense.
That’s never been the issue. The concern has always been consistency and decision-making.
Even back in his New England days, teammates and coaches saw flashes-four or five great throws in a row, followed by a head-scratching interception. That pattern showed up in practice and, unfortunately, in games too.
Across 16 career appearances, he’s thrown eight interceptions, with at least one pick in every game where he attempted a pass.
But there’s also this: when Stidham is on, he can move the ball. Just ask the 49ers, who watched him torch their top-ranked defense for 365 yards and three touchdowns in his first NFL start with the Raiders in 2022. That’s the version of Stidham Denver is hoping shows up on Sunday.
And that’s where Sean Payton comes in. If Payton can craft a game plan that leans into Stidham’s arm talent while minimizing the risk-quick reads, play-action, maybe some designed rollouts-there’s a path to keeping this game competitive. Especially when you factor in Denver’s defense, which has been playing at a championship level down the stretch.
The Broncos don’t need Stidham to be a hero. They need him to be efficient, avoid the big mistake, and play the field position game. If he can keep the turnovers down-maybe just one at most-and take what the Patriots give him, Denver’s defense might just do the rest.
That’s easier said than done, of course. New England’s defense has been suffocating this postseason, shutting down both Justin Herbert and rookie sensation C.J.
Stroud. They’re currently favored by 5.5 points, and they’ve made a habit of forcing young or inexperienced quarterbacks into bad decisions.
Stidham will have to read the field quickly, stay patient, and resist the urge to force throws into tight windows-because this Patriots secondary will make you pay.
Still, at this stage of the postseason, anything can happen. And while Stidham may not be the name anyone expected to see in the AFC title game, he’s got a real opportunity in front of him. He’s playing for a shot at the Super Bowl, in front of a home crowd, with a coach who believes in him and a defense that can keep the game close.
If he can stay composed, protect the football, and make a few timely throws, don’t be surprised if this one goes down to the wire at Empower Field.