The Denver Broncos shocked the Buffalo Bills with a 33-30 overtime victory, securing their spot in the AFC Championship game. But the celebration was cut short when head coach Sean Payton revealed devastating news about quarterback Bo Nix.
According to ClutchPoints, the rookie quarterback suffered a broken ankle during the win and will miss the championship game. Nix was set to play in his first conference title game, but his season has ended because of this injury. The news is a major blow for Denver, especially after such an exciting victory. The team was riding high from the win, but now they must move forward without their starting quarterback.
Despite playing with a broken ankle, Nix put on an incredible performance against Buffalo. He threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns, outplaying Bills quarterback Josh Allen. In the final moments, Nix threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims that put Denver back in the lead late in the fourth quarter. He also helped draw two pass interference penalties on Buffalo’s defense, setting up Wil Lutz for the game-winning 24-yard field goal.
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Jarrett Stidham steps in as Denver’s new starting quarterback
Jarrett Stidham will take over as the starting quarterback for the AFC Championship game. Sam Ehlinger moves up to become the backup. Stidham is 29 years old and brings veteran experience, even though he hasn’t played much recently. His last appearance was on October 26 against the Dallas Cowboys, where he had just one carry for a loss of one yard.
Stidham has been with the Broncos for three seasons, all under Sean Payton’s coaching. He knows Payton’s offensive system better than Nix does. Stidham understands the playbook and all the routes the receivers run. This experience is crucial when making a quarterback change just days before a championship game.
The Broncos are heading to their ninth AFC Championship game. They will face either the Houston Texans or the New England Patriots. If the Patriots win, Stidham could face his former team. The Texans have been one of the league’s surprise teams this season, and how they turned things around has been impressive to watch. He played for New England in 2019 and 2020 before joining Denver.
The Patriots are hosting their game this weekend and are trying to reach their first title game since the 2018 season. No matter which team Denver faces, Stidham will need to step up and keep the Broncos’ momentum going. Meanwhile, several international teams are dealing with visa issues affecting World Cup preparations, but NFL teams remain focused on their playoff runs. The pressure is on him to lead Denver to the Super Bowl.
Published: Jan 18, 2026 12:45 pm