Next Man Up: Broncos Turn to Jarrett Stidham with Super Bowl on the Line
The Denver Broncos are one win away from the Super Bowl, but the road there just took a dramatic turn. In the closing moments of their overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round, quarterback Bo Nix suffered a fractured ankle-a season-ending injury that reshaped Denver’s playoff picture in an instant.
Now, with the AFC Championship Game looming, the Broncos are turning to Jarrett Stidham. It’s a high-stakes moment for a quarterback who’s spent most of the season in the shadows but now steps into the spotlight with everything on the line.
From Backup to Center Stage
Stidham isn’t a stranger to NFL action, but this is a whole different level. He’s appeared in 20 games over his career, including four starts, and has thrown for 1,422 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Solid experience, but nothing that screams postseason hero-yet.
He hasn’t thrown a pass since the 2023 season, which only adds to the magnitude of the task ahead. But inside the Broncos’ locker room, belief in Stidham is real.
Cornerback Patrick Surtain II acknowledged the gut-punch of losing Nix but didn’t hesitate in backing the next man up. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto pointed to Stidham’s command of the offense and his confidence-traits that have quietly earned him respect throughout the year.
And that’s the key here: familiarity. Stidham has been in Sean Payton’s system all season.
He knows the playbook, the cadence, the rhythm of the offense. That continuity matters, especially this deep into the postseason, when wholesale changes aren’t just risky-they’re unrealistic.
Reinforcements and Realities
To shore up the quarterback room, Denver signed Ben DiNucci-a name that might ring a bell for fans who followed him through stints with both the Saints and Broncos. DiNucci spent last offseason learning Payton’s system in New Orleans and chose to stay in Denver in 2023 when the Saints came calling during their own quarterback crisis. That familiarity gives the Broncos another layer of insurance behind Stidham.
Sam Ehlinger will dress as the primary backup for the AFC title game, with DiNucci available if needed. Meanwhile, Bo Nix shifts into a support role, helping with preparation and film study as he recovers from surgery.
Defense Still Sets the Tone
While the quarterback storyline grabs headlines, the Broncos’ identity hasn’t changed. This team has ridden a top-tier defense all season, and that unit becomes even more critical now. Expect Denver to lean heavily on its ability to control tempo, win field position battles, and keep the scoreboard manageable.
This is where Sean Payton’s experience comes into play. He’s been here before.
He knows how to craft a game plan that protects a quarterback stepping into the fire. Expect a heavy dose of the run game, quick reads, and high-percentage throws designed to keep Stidham in rhythm and out of trouble.
One Shot, One Opportunity
Let’s be clear: this isn’t an easy ask. The Patriots are a battle-tested playoff team, and the margin for error is razor-thin. But this is what playoff football is all about-adjusting on the fly, trusting your depth, and finding out who’s ready when the lights are brightest.
Jarrett Stidham has waited for this moment. Now it’s here. And if he can steady the ship and keep the Broncos’ Super Bowl dream alive, he won’t just be a fill-in-he’ll be a postseason story worth remembering.