What should have been remembered as one of the greatest playoff nights in Denver Broncos history now carries a heavy sting.
Moments after celebrating a dramatic overtime win against the Buffalo Bills, the franchise learned that quarterback Bo Nix had suffered a broken ankle — an injury that will require surgery and end his season.
The Broncos are headed to the AFC Championship game for the first time in a decade, but they’ll be doing it without the quarterback who helped get them there.
How the Injury Happened — and Why No One Noticed
Head coach Sean Payton revealed that Nix was injured late in overtime on a quarterback keeper that lost two yards.
Buffalo safety Cole Bishop brought him down, and although Nix limped away, there was no immediate sense that anything was seriously wrong.
In fact, he stayed in the game and delivered one of the biggest throws of the night just plays later.
Playing Through Pain to Seal the Win
Despite the injury, the 25-year-old stepped back into the huddle and fired a deep ball to Marvin Mims Jr., drawing a crucial 30-yard pass interference penalty.
That single play flipped the field and pushed Denver comfortably into field-goal range.
Nix then calmly took a knee to center the ball, setting up Wil Lutz’s short, game-winning kick.
Only after the celebrations began did the reality of his condition start to sink in.
Payton’s Emotional — and Lighthearted — Reaction
Sean Payton spoke with admiration about his quarterback’s mindset after learning the diagnosis.
According to the coach, Nix was sitting with his family, grounded and reflective, leaning on his faith.
Payton shared that Nix casually mentioned he’d broken the same ankle before — once in high school and again during his college days at Auburn.
That revelation even prompted a joke from the coach.
“I told him if I’d known that,” Payton said with a grin, “I wouldn’t have drafted him.”
A Sudden Change at Quarterback
With Nix heading for surgery, Denver now turns to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for next weekend’s AFC Championship game.
It will be a massive moment for a player who hasn’t completed an NFL pass since 2023.
Payton insists his backup is ready.
“He is ready,” the coach said confidently. “And we’ll be ready for the next challenge.”
Stidham will face either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans, who meet in the other AFC Divisional matchup.
A Long-Awaited Return to the Big Stage
Saturday night’s win sent Denver to its 12th AFC Championship game in franchise history.
The Broncos haven’t reached this stage since 2015 — the season that ended with a Super Bowl 50 title.
Their record in conference championship games now stands at an impressive 8–3, adding to the sense that this postseason run feels special, even with the sudden adversity.
Bills Fall Short Yet Again
For Buffalo, the loss was painfully familiar.
Josh Allen and the Bills once again saw their Super Bowl hopes crushed, marking a sixth straight postseason exit in either the divisional or championship rounds under Allen and head coach Sean McDermott.
Allen and Nix traded go-ahead touchdown passes late in regulation before Matt Prater drilled a 50-yard field goal to force overtime.
The Overtime That Decided Everything
Buffalo had an early chance to win it in overtime after Denver punted.
Allen launched a deep shot to Brandin Cooks that would have put the Bills in field-goal range — but Ja’Quan McMillian ripped the ball away for a stunning interception.
From there, discipline unraveled. Two pass-interference calls against Buffalo handed Denver 47 yards.
The second, called on Tre’Davious White, moved the ball to the Bills’ eight-yard line.
White slammed his helmet in frustration and earned an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to make matters worse.
Moments later, Lutz ended it.
Around the Rest of the Playoff Picture
Elsewhere in the postseason, the NFC slate rolled on Saturday night with the sixth-seeded San Francisco 49ers taking on the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks.
On Sunday, the Chicago Bears host the Los Angeles Rams in another divisional showdown.
What Comes Next?
Denver marches on, battered but alive, with a backup quarterback and a chance to reach the Super Bowl.
Bo Nix, meanwhile, begins another recovery journey — one that mirrors setbacks he’s overcome before.
The Broncos’ story isn’t over yet. It’s just taken an unexpected turn.
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