Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix’s season is completed after he broke a bone in his proper ankle late within the Broncos’ 33-30 additional time win in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on Saturday.
Broncos coach Sean Payton introduced postgame Nix sustained the harm solely three performs earlier than Denver kicked a game-winning area aim. Jarrett Stidham will now begin for Denver, the highest seed within the AFC, within the convention championship sport subsequent Sunday.
The stunning information got here after Nix turned the primary QB not named Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow to defeat Josh Allen within the postseason this decade.
The Broncos gained after a back-and-forth battle within the fourth quarter and additional time.
After two scoreless drives to open the additional interval, Nix led Denver on a 75-yard jaunt for the game-winning rating, aided by two cross interference penalties on the Payments. Allen compelled additional time by getting Buffalo into field-goal place within the closing minute of regulation, however he threw an interception in OT that arrange the Broncos’ successful area aim — his fourth turnover of the day.
“It’s extraordinarily troublesome, I really feel like I let my teammates down tonight,” Allen, whereas wiping away tears, mentioned postgame.
He added: “It’s been a protracted season. Hate the way it ended. It’s gonna keep on with me for a very long time.”
For Nix, Saturday’s win was an announcement effort in what was solely his second profession postseason begin.
A 12 months after he threw for under 144 yards in a 31-7 loss to the Payments within the wild card spherical, Nix threw for 279 yards and three scores in a victory.
His most spectacular drive of the sport got here within the fourth quarter. Trailing 27-23, Nix spearheaded an eight-play, 73-yard drive capped by a 26-yard landing cross to provide Denver a 30-27 lead with beneath a minute to go.
Nix additionally got here by way of within the closing interval, as his willingness to throw the ball deep led to 2 defensive cross interference penalties on Buffalo — one for 17 yards, and one other for 30 that put the Broncos contained in the 10-yard line.
“He was incredible once we wanted him,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton mentioned after.
For Allen, the loss was the most recent in a string of devastating defeats for a franchise that’s develop into synonymous with postseason heartbreak. After dropping 4 straight Tremendous Bowls within the Nineties, Buffalo has now did not make it again to the championship spherical for the seventh straight season of Allen’s tenure.
Together with Saturday, 4 of the Payments’ final 5 playoff losses have are available in one-score video games, together with two in additional time. The mixed margin of defeat in these 4 losses is just 15 factors.
Allen’s efficiency was growth or bust, as each Buffalo drive led to both a rating or a turnover. Allen completed the sport 25 of 39 for 283 yards and three touchdowns, working 12 instances for one more 66 yards. However he additionally threw two interceptions and misplaced two fumbles. The 4 turnovers got here at particularly inopportune moments, together with an ill-advised cough-up proper earlier than halftime that gifted Denver three factors.
“Simply making an attempt to be aggressive, can’t try this,” Allen mentioned of the play.
Allen’s closing interception got here in additional time when a Payments area aim would have ended the sport.
Main into this postseason, Allen’s playoff defeats had come largely by the hands of a number of the convention’s greatest quarterbacks. However with Mahomes, Burrow and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson all absent from the playoff area, Buffalo appeared to have its most favorable path to its first Tremendous Bowl look for the reason that 1993 season.
As an alternative, Allen — who had gone six straight postseason video games with out a turnover — gave the ball away 4 instances and was in the end outdueled by Nix.
“Can’t win with 5 turnovers,” Allen mentioned. “I fumbled twice, threw two picks. While you shoot your self within the foot like that you simply don’t need to win soccer video games.”
Mentioned Payton: “We clearly weren’t prepared final 12 months, however we have been prepared at this time.”
