The Broncos pulled off an overtime win on Saturday to advance to the AFC title game. They will be without their quarterback for the remainder of the postseason, however. 
During his post-game press conference, head coach Sean Payton announced (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) Bo Nix broke a bone in his ankle during Denver’s win over Buffalo. Surgery will be required as a result. Nix will not be able to return in time for next week’s contest or (if applicable) the Super Bowl.
Payton specified Nix’s injury occurred on the second-to-last play in overtime. It was during that sequence that a Tre’Davious White pass interference penalty set the Broncos up deep in Bills territory. Nix took a knee on the ensuing first down to help line up Wil Lutz‘s game-winning field goal. Denver is set to host the AFC championship game next week as a result of the win, but the team will now be forced to play that contest without its QB1 of the past two seasons.
Nix will undergo surgery on Tuesday. In the meantime, Denver will prepare for an unexpected quarterback situation in the wake of today’s stunning development. Per Payton, Jarrett Stidham will start next week while Sam Ehlinger will serve as the backup. Stidham logged a grand total of one snap during the 2025 season (a kneeldown in October). He will now be tasked with leading the Broncos’ offense as part of their bid to return to the Super Bowl.
Denver managed to win a back-and-forth affair during the team’s playoff debut. The Bills committed five turnovers but still managed to force overtime thanks to a last-minute field goal drive at the end of regulation. The Bronco’s offense was hot and cold throughout the day, but prior to Buffalo’s final fourth quarter possession Nix led an impressive go-ahead touchdown drive. The second-year passer was of course an important figure in Denver’s ability to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC and his absence will be a major storyline leading up to next week.
Coming out of college, Nix faced questions about his ceiling at the NFL level. The Auburn/Oregon product drew strong reviews early and often in the pre-draft process from Payton, however. Nix ultimately came off the board 12th overall in the 2024 draft, making him one of a record six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the event. Denver’s playoff drought came to an end last season, due in large part to Nix’s play as a full-time starter.
The 2025 campaign saw Nix, 25, produce similar numbers to his rookie season. Nevertheless, Denver managed to post a 14-3 record while enjoying strong defensive showings. Vance Joseph‘s unit did not deliver a strong performance (takeaways aside) today, but it will be heavily leaned on in the AFC title game. Stidham has been with the Broncos since Payton’s arrival in 2023, but he has made just two starts since then. His next will come at a critical time to say the least, with the Broncos seeking their first Super Bowl appearance since winning it 10 years ago.
The Patriots will host the Texans tomorrow in the AFC’s other divisional round matchup. The winner will be on the road no matter what, but either New England or Houston will spend next week preparing to face Stidham rather than Nix. This will create a highly unusual setup with the conference championship on the line.
Whoa.
Holy geez, when did it even happen?
I a bit confuzzled???
Wow
Wow plot twist.
*Ankle twist*
Also that
That’s pretty brutal. Hope for a complete recovery. What a blow.
Wow absolutely brutal.
Karma for the referees bad calls
Maybe the first Pi call in OT however there was a roughing the passer penalty on that play too. The second PI to ere was no doubt.
What about the no call PI towards the end of regulation?
When the receiver pulled up?
I think the issue is that they let them play the whole game, letting hand-fighting and other contact go. Even the McMillan interception had contact. Then with the game on the line, they tighten up and call it regular again.
Oh ffs get over yourself.
deron867- You sound a little bitter there.
The first call was questionable. The White one was definitely PI.
Also everyone gets dicey ref calls, not everyone gets a QB breaking his ankle during a playoff run.
Karma for awful PI calls
Who is their backup?
Stidham
Stidham
I know they said it happened during the game but he looked fine in post game interviews smiling and all. Have to wonder if it didn’t happen in the change room celebrating the victory.
Kendrys Morales moment.
Nah he was wincing on the sideline and came up hobbled after he ran that weird bootleg to his left
Damn that’s a bummer
Unbelievable
Those PI calls were absolute bull fertilizer. They let them hand fight all game and you those 2 calls in THAT spot!? Additionally that cooks call went WAY too fast how does the league office not buzz down and look at that play for more time than the 35 seconds they did? Side note I bet the broncos and I’m still mad.
White didn’t play the ball at all on that second one.
Football gods didn’t like the way that one ended. Please win Houston
haha I think every non-Pats fan agrees.
All is not lost bronco fans
Jeff Hostetler and nick foles stepped up before for their tms. Anything can happen
Btw payton said he broke the ankle 2nd to last play of the game. Wonder if that was when refs called roughing the passer, and nix was knocked to the ground & as a result broke the ankle?
The difference is that Hostetler and Foles were good QBs. Stidham stinks.
2nd to last play would be when he took a knee to set up the field goal.
Broncos wouldn’t score double digits against either team. Texans would do exactly what they did to Pittsburgh and New England would beat them like 21-3.
We’ve also had Doug Williams with the 1987 Redskins, and I’m pretty sure Earl Morrall started the whole season for the 72 Dolphins until Bob Griese came back for the playoffs.
Exactly why the refs shouldn’t have helped the broncos. Funny how karma works.
2nd playoff game bout to start all of a sudden…let’s throw some flags so we can End this game so we don’t lose viewer!
You mean when the game was already over? Holding in the end zone if a safety, but hey I get it, not every “fan” knows ball.
@thatmanox- Like you? Ignoring the Riley Moss PI in the end zone that would’ve put the ball at the 1? Grabbed his hand to slow him down, but it’s uncatchable? Yeah, because he yanked him lol so yeah, the game should have been over before OT.
What a bad deal for Bo Nix 😥 He played a hell of a game …. praying for a speedy recovery 🙏
Heartbreaking!!! It’s Buffalo’s fault we get a crap game next week for the title. If only they could have closed the broncos out, hadn’t kept giving them the game… I love Josh Allen, but this one was on him. The opposing qb had a broken leg for godsake! Bills just can’t win it.
If only the refs didn’t give the Broncos a bogus interception, this wouldn’t be a problem.
I want to agree with you but I’m not sure it wasn’t a pick. I honestly don’t know what a catch is anymore. Had the defender not caught it and it fell to the ground, they would have said incomplete… which means cooks didn’t all the way have it.
Stidham will not beat the Patriots/Texans
Those PI calls were fair…and I’m not a fan of either team….
They were not… and I’m a Jets fan.
If only Cooks catches that pass?
Technically he did. Tie goes to the WR at a minimum.
True parity? You can’t argue these playoffs are crazy fun to watch though.
Bummer. Solid second year from Bo.
That’s some bad news Adam!
“Losers always cry about how they tried their best. Winners go home and f— the prom queen.” You can add losers also always complain about the refs.
So Houston or NE in the SB
He got up limping on that rtp call
Remember too … Allen missed a wide open Knox that would have won the game. No wonder he was tearful during the press conference.
Exactly. We had a lot of chances to win.
No matter what happens in the rest of these playoffs…the weakest Super Bowl champion I’ve ever seen, by far, will be crowned.
That’s a ridiculous statement, Seattle looks like a juggernaut right now
Thought it was a joke when I first saw it on FB. Broncos should call Manning out of retirement or someone else out of retirement like one hour ago.
Allen just as flawed as Lamar
Nope … he won alot more than the “almost” three time MVP …
And so…A former Auburn QB (Nix)
will be replaced with another
former Auburn QB (Stidham).
Not having a dog in this game, I guess the refs had to have a say after all in who was going to win the game. Now onto Denver’s new problem at QB who is this backup Stidham? I’ve heard he has thrown one pass since 2023
Congrats Winner of Pats Texans, u guys are now going to the Super Bowl
Oh snap what a turn of events
Texans Pats are practically gifted a spot in the superbowl
Well since I watched the whole game those last 2 calls by the refs were pretty bad. They let that go the whole game and then decide to play it by the book in OT and decide the game? I hope those refs spend their winnings well. Like people said I have no dog in the fight, Just saying what I saw.
Way too many games between regular season and playoffs. Yet the owners want an extra game for reg season.
It’s like you’re trying to suggest that’s the reason Bo Nix broke his ankle lol
I think Broncos still have a chance. Sucks for Bo but he is not the reason they win most games. The defense just needs to lock in for them.