The Denver Broncos are back in the AFC Championship Game, and they got there by exorcising some demons in dramatic fashion.
A year after falling to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round, Denver flipped the script-this time with second-year quarterback Bo Nix at the helm-and outlasted Buffalo in a 33-30 overtime thriller in the Divisional round. For a franchise that hadn’t tasted postseason victory since its Super Bowl run in 2015, Saturday’s win wasn’t just a step forward. It was a statement.
Let’s start with Nix, who continues to show why Denver put its faith in him as the future of the franchise. The former Oregon Duck looked composed and confident in the biggest game of his young NFL career, completing 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
But it wasn’t just about the numbers-it was about the moments. Nix used his legs to keep drives alive, rushing 12 times for 29 yards and converting multiple key first downs that kept the Broncos’ offense humming.
And when it mattered most-in overtime-Nix did what he’s done since his college days: he took shots downfield. Twice, he unleashed deep balls that drew crucial pass interference calls, flipping the field and setting up a chip-shot game-winning field goal on Denver’s second possession of the extra period.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was smart, aggressive football. The kind that wins playoff games.
With the win, Denver improves to 15-3 on the season, including a dominant 14-3 regular season that earned them the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. Nix capped his sophomore campaign with 3,931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 picks, while also adding 356 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Those are the kind of dual-threat numbers that make defensive coordinators lose sleep.
Now, the Broncos are set to host the AFC Championship Game in the Mile High City, awaiting the winner of Sunday’s matchup between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans. Whoever it is, they’ll be walking into a raucous environment against a team that’s peaking at the right time.
For Denver, this run isn’t just about breaking a playoff drought-it’s about building something sustainable. With Nix growing into the role of franchise quarterback and the team rallying around him, the Broncos are showing they’re not just back-they’re built to last.
The AFC title game kicks off Sunday, Jan. 25. Denver will be ready.