The Denver Broncos will be forced to turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship Game after starter Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle during Saturday night’s dramatic Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Nix sustained the injury late in overtime of Denver’s 33–30 win, an outcome that not only eliminated Buffalo in heartbreaking fashion once again, but also secured the Broncos a place in the AFC title game. Denver will host either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans next Sunday, but they will do so without the quarterback who led their postseason run.
Head coach Sean Payton confirmed after the game that Nix fractured his ankle on the second-to-last play of overtime. The injury occurred on a quarterback keeper in which Nix was tackled for a two-yard loss by Bills safety Cole Bishop. Despite the severity of the injury, Nix remained on the field for the final snap, delivering a deep throw toward Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass interference penalty against Tre’Davious White. That flag set up Wil Lutz’s game-winning field goal.
Payton praised both Nix’s toughness and Stidham’s readiness while addressing reporters.
“Stiddy’s ready to go,” Payton said. “I’ve said since the start of the season that I believe we have a backup quarterback who could start for a lot of teams in this league. I know he believes that too. So watch out.”
Before leaving the game, Nix put together one of the most significant performances of his young career. He completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, throwing three touchdowns against one interception. His play helped Denver overcome Josh Allen and the Bills, handing Buffalo another painful postseason exit.
Payton noted that Nix’s ability to play through the injury epitomized the resilience Denver has shown throughout the season.
“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said. “I told him, you’re the second quarterback in his second year to lead a team to a championship game — the first being Patrick Mahomes. This team has dealt with losing important players all year, and we’ll rise up again for the next challenge.”
Nix, the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon, transformed the Broncos almost immediately upon arriving in Denver. As a rookie, he guided the franchise to its first playoff appearance in a decade. His continued development in 2025, alongside Payton, elevated the Broncos even further, as Denver snapped Kansas City’s nine-year hold on the AFC West title and secured the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Now, the spotlight shifts to Stidham, a seventh-year veteran who has spent most of his career in a backup role. Stidham has not attempted a pass in an NFL game since the 2023 season, when he started the final two games for Denver after Russell Wilson was sidelined. While his game action has been limited in recent years, Payton has consistently expressed confidence in his preparation and command of the offense.
With a Super Bowl berth on the line, the Broncos will rely on depth, defense, and coaching stability as they attempt to continue a postseason run that has already defied expectations — this time without the quarterback who helped make it possible.
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