A spot in the AFC Championship Game was at stake on Saturday afternoon, with the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos squaring off in a rematch of last year’s playoff game. The stakes were much higher in this Divisional Round clash and we got a great matchup.
Let’s dive winto the winners and losers from the Bills vs Broncos matchup in the Divisional Round, with Denver winning it in overtime to clinch hosting the AFC Championship Game.
Winner: Alex Singleton, LB, Denver Broncos
Early in the second quarter, Buffalo led 7-3 and was in position to take a larger lead with the ball at the Denver 32-yard line. That changed because of Alex Singleton. He flew in on a carry by James Cook and decleated the All-Pro running back. The hit popped the ball loose, and safety Talanoa Hufanga recovered it.
Eight plays later, the Broncos offense scored the go-ahead touchdown. Singleton’s hit appeared to flip the momentum and set the tone on an afternoon when the Denver defense generated five takeaways, turning them into 16 points. It all started with Singleton’s massive hit.
Loser: Sean Payton, Denver Broncos HC
Conservative decision-making from a head coach in an elimination game is baffling. The Denver defense opened the second half with a strip-sack fumble recovery that set the Broncos up inside the red zone. Leading 20-10, Denver faced a fourth-and-3 from the 10-yard line. It presented Sean Payton with an opportunity to put the ball in Bo Nix’s hands and go for it, as a conversion could have led to another touchdown and a 27-10 lead.
Instead, Payton settled for a field goal. His play-calling in the second half felt suspect as the offense collapsed, allowing Buffalo to overcome the 13-point deficit. For a head coach who loves to find ways to motivate his team, this level of conservatism against the club that knocked Denver out of the playoffs last season is baffling. Fortunately, Nix and Denver’s defense saved the day.
Winner: James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
Sometimes, it is about how you rebound from a single play. The James Cook fumble took points off the board for Buffalo in the first half, but it was a lone blip in an otherwise strong performance. The All-Pro running back turned 21 carries into 114 rushing yards, consistently fighting for 4-plus yards on nearly every carry. While Cook did not find the end zone, Saturday marked his sixth game this season with 130-plus scrimmage yards. He has proven to be worth every penny of that $48 million contract.
Loser: Buffalo Bills’ Backup Defensive Backs
Two of the biggest plays in this game were partially the result of blown coverages by Bills’ defensive backs who were forced into extended action due to injury. Darnell Savage and Dane Jackson were both burnt deep downfield, allowing big plays that set up critical scores by Denver. It was apparent on Saturday how much this unit missed Damar Hamlin, Taylor Rapp and Maxwell Hairston Jr. There are a few reasons why Buffalo’s season is over, the fact that Savage had to play significant snaps is one of them.
Winner: Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
The numbers from No Nix could’ve been even better had Lil’Jordan Humphrey not dropped a touchdown on the opening drive. No matter, the Broncos’ second-year quarterback simply made up for it later with a fourth-quarter comeback. Nix made some jaw-dropping throws in this game to all areas of the field. He was remarkable in the first half, putting up 179 total yards (150 passing and 20 rushing) with two touchdowns. When Denver’s offense fell flat late into the fourth quarter, it was Nix who stepped up with a nearly flawless go-ahead touchdown drive. The composure he displays in the fourth quarter is reminiscent of some of the best 10-year starters around the NFL. Nix’s numbers today were fine–26-for-46, 279 passing yards, 3-1 TD-INT–but it’s that clutch drive that will truly be part of his legacy. The fact that he followed that up with a game-winning drive in OT, even if aided by penalties, just makes this late-game performance even better.
Loser: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
With Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson out of the playoffs entirely and the AFC viewed as more winnable than ever before, the national pressure was on Josh Allen coming into the Divisional Round. Was that fair? Given the state of the Buffalo receiving corps and run defense, not really.
However, the reigning NFL MVP did himself no favors on Saturday in Denver. Recklessness with the ball before halftime resulted in a fumble that handed the Broncos an additional three points. While the strip-sack fumble on the opening drive of the third quarter could be excused because of the gaffe in pass protection, Allen then threw a costly interception moments after the Buffalo defense got its first takeaway of the game. He also missed a wide-open Dawson Knox for what would’ve been the game-winning touchdown right before the end of regulation. We’ll excuse the arm punt too, but Allen’s performance wasn’t good enough.
