The Denver Broncos are heading to the AFC Championship by way of a frantic finish at Mile High. Will Lutz netted a game-winning 23-yard field goal in overtime to secure the 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills, whose season comes to a close after being unable to overcome an array of turnovers. The uplifting win was bittersweet for the Broncos, however, who will carry on without starting quarterback Box Nix, who suffered a fractured ankle in overtime.
Initially, it looked as if the turnovers wouldn't matter for Josh Allen's club as he led Buffalo on a 10-0 run in the early stages of the fourth quarter to put his team up 24-23 with just over four minutes to play in regulation. However, Nix then answered with a touchdown drive, finding Marvin Mims Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown inside of a minute to play to put Denver ahead 30-27.
With 50 seconds and all three timeouts in his pocket, however, Allen led a field goal drive to force overtime.
In the extra period, Buffalo's defense did its job out of the gate and forced a Denver punt, but, trying a deep shot for Brandin Cooks, Allen was picked off for the second time on the evening and committed his four turnover of the game with Ja'Quan McMillian pulling off the interception. The Broncos then took possession and, thanks to a couple of DPI penalties on the Buffalo secondary, got well into field goal range for Lutz to chip shot them to the AFC Championship and one step closer to Super Bowl LX.
Nix completed 26 of his 46 pass attempts in the win for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Mims proved to be his top weapon, catching all eight of his targets for 93 yards and a score. As for Allen, he was 25-of-39 for 283 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and two fumbles.
For more on how this game unfolded, check out our takeaways below.
Denver's victory came at a cost. On the second-to-last play of overtime, Bo Nix broke a bone in his ankle, which requires surgery and will sideline him for the rest of the season, Sean Payton announced postgame. Payton added that Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC Championship game next week, while Sam Ehlinger will be the No. 2. Nix will undergo surgery on Tuesday.
The injury came on the second-to-last play of overtime, before a second-and-12 pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that was called for defensive pass interference to set up the game-winning field goal attempt.
There was a moment where the Bills had an opportunity to put this game away early. The defense held Denver to a field goal on its opening possession of the day, and the Buffalo offense followed that up with a 12-play touchdown drive to go up, 7-3. Bo Nix and Co. went three-and-out on their second possession, and the Bills quickly got the football back at their own 37-yard line, and Josh Allen's 26-yard scramble fillped he field and has Buffalo on the doorstep of the red zone, looking to extend its lead.
The very next play after Allen's scramble, however, James Cook fumbled the football, with Denver safety Talanoa Hufanga recovering. That seemed to wake the Broncos up, and they were the ones putting together a touchdown drive off the turnover to retake the lead, 10-7.
That turnover -- one of many for Buffalo on the night -- completely changed the complexion of the game, turning it from a potential Bills blowout to a shootout that fell Denver's way.
It was a bad game for Josh Allen, and his four turnovers are a central reason why he's once again heading home earlier than anticipated. Three of Allen's turnovers came in the second half, but his first may have been the most egregious. Buffalo got the ball with less than 20 seconds until halftime and at their own 30-yard line. Instead of playing it conservatively, Allen pushed the envelope too much on a first-and-10 scramble and had the ball punched free. Denver recovered with two seconds left in the half and was able to add a free three points to what grew to a 20-10 lead at the break.
On the very next drive to begin the third quarter, Allen was again stripped, this time by Nik Bonitto, which Denver followed up with another field goal, creating a six-point swing off two turnovers in what proved to be a three-point game.
Despite those initial fumbles, Buffalo continued to hang around and trailed by just six points when Bo Nix threw an interception, giving the Bills the football at the Denver 36-yard line midway through the third quarter. But two plays after that interception, Allen threw one of his own, underthrowing Curtis Samuel on a deep pass that was picked off by P.J. Locke.
Denver couldn't capitalize on that turnover, but it eliminated a much-needed scoring opportunity for Buffalo. Still, despite those three turnovers in regulation, Allen still orchestrated a comeback and forced overtime. Despite those heroics, however, he couldn't shake the turnover bug in the extra period, as Ja'Quan McMillian ripped the ball away from Brandin Cooks for an interception in overtime, handing the ball to the Broncos offense, which went down to kick the game-winning field goal.
Allen is now 0-7 in overtime in his NFL career (regular season and postseason), and his four turnovers are tied for the most in any game of his career. Coming into this matchup, Allen had zero turnovers in his previous six playoff games.
Courtland Sutton did not have a catch until the fourth quarter, but the wideout finished with four receptions for 53 yards in the win, and came up clutch down the stretch. Three of those receptions came during Denver's touchdown drive to take a late lead in the fourth quarter. Sutton accounted for 42 of the 73 yards on the scoring drive, including a 25-yard reception on third-and-11 that moved the chains and pushed the Broncos into Buffalo territory.
Without Sutton flipping the switch, Buffalo likely wins this game in regulation.
After Allen's overtime interception, the Bills defense started to self-combust. Two defensive pass interference penalties helped the Broncos get into field goal range for the game-winner. The first came on a DPI call on Taron Johnson, who was covering Courtland Sutton, and resulted in a 17-yard swing in favor of Denver.
Two plays later, Tre'Davious White was called for a DPI penalty that saw the football go from the Buffalo 38-yard line to the Buffalo 8-yard line as he was covering Marvin Mims Jr. deep down the field.
That set up Will Lutz to kick just a 23-yard field goal to send Denver to the AFC Championship.
After overtime, Will Lutz nailed a chip-shot field goal that sends Denver to the AFC Championship. They'll play either the New England Patriots or Houston Texans, who play on Sunday afternoon. That game will be held at Mile High. Josh Allen and the Bills come up short once again.
Marvin Mims Jr. was targeted by Nix on the deep ball and Tre'Davious White was flagged for DPI that'll set up a game-winning field goal. A 30-yard penalty.
Courtland Sutton was targeted by Bo Nix, and Taron Johnson was flagged for DPI. Denver now has the ball at the Buffalo 36-yard line.
Josh Allen has committed his fourth turnover of the game, and the latest comes at the most inopportune time.
Buffalo continues to move the chains.
With Denver punting the ball away, Buffalo will now just need a field goal to win this game and advance to the AFC Championship.
60 minutes wasn't enough to determine a winner. The Bills and Broncos head to overtime tied at 30 apiece. Just as a reminder, both teams will have an opportunity to possess the ball.
Extra football in Denver? Josh Allen was able to get his team in field goal range, and Matt Prater connected on a 50-yard field goal to knot the game at 30 apiece with five seconds left in regulation.
Heck of a call by Joe Brady! Brandin Cooks pulls off the hook-and-ladder to get Buffalo in field goal range, but they have aspirations of a touchdown.
As big a momentum shift as that was for Denver, Josh Allen is going to get the ball with roughly 50 seconds left and all three of his timeouts. Not over yet.
The Broncos have taken a lead with less than a minute left in regulation. Bo Nix uncorked a 26-yard touchdown to Marvin Mims, who injured himself on the play but was able to survive the ground. It's a 30-27 lead for Denver. WOW!
It took until the fourth quarter for Courtland Sutton to record his first catch of the game. Denver couldn't really get him involved earlier.
Josh Allen's third-down pass to Shakir hit the group before it got to him, which forced Buffalo to opt for a field goal. Denver will get the ball back with a little over four minutes to play, down by four.
Buffalo is inching closer to adding to its lead, but, more importantly, keeps the clock ticking.
The Bills are coming out swinging on this drive and have just ripped off three-straight plays of 10-plus yards and are now into Denver territory. The Broncos are on the ropes ...
Despite all the turnovers, Josh Allen is finding a way. The Bills QB threw a perfectly placed ball to Dalton Kincaid for a 14-yard touchdown to give them a 24-23 lead. They've erased a 13-point deficit. Entirely new ballgame.
Buffalo is suddenly in the red zone after a catch-and-run by Shakir for 46 yards.
Buffalo trails 23-17 as we enter the fourth quarter, but has the ball at their own 38-yard line. The Broncos are trying to avoid being the second No. 1 seed to ever blow a second-half lead of 13-plus points.
Not sure I agree with that decision by Sean Payton to opt for the punt instead of trying the 58-yard field goal. Will Lutz already hit from 50 today, and I'd value the attempt to go up by two scores. Payton is putting faith in his defense.
Oh boy, Josh Allen. The Bills QB has his THIRD turnover of the game, just after Bo Nix gave him the ball. Allen tried to hit Curtis Samuel deep, the ball was a bit underthrown, and safety P.J. Locke swooped in for the interception.
And the momentum is starting to swing back to Buffalo. Bo Nix makes an ill-advised pass to Evan Engram and Bills defensive tackle Deone Walker jumped in front to record the interception. Josh Allen will get possession deep in Denver territory.
The Bills can exhale just a little. The defense was able to hold the Denver offense to a field goal after the Allen fumble to begin the second half, and the Buffalo offense responded well after the turnover with a 73-yard touchdown drive. Keon Coleman leaps in for the 10-yard touchdown, and now it's just a 23-17 deficit for Buffalo.
The Buffalo Bills are picking up right where they left off at the end of the first half. And that's not a good thing. Nik Bonitto was able to sack Josh Allen and strip the football free. Denver recovers and Bo Nix will have the ball inside the red zone.
From CBS Sports Research: Road teams are 7-159 all-time when trailing by 10+ points at halftime of a postseason game.
A horrible decision by Josh Allen. The Bills QB was trying to do too much and fumbled on a scramble in the final moments of the half. Denver recovered with two seconds left, which allowed Will Lutz to kick a 50-yard field goal to put the Broncos up 20-10.
What a topsy-turvy half for Lil'Jordan Humphrey. After dropping an easy touchdown in the first quarter, the Broncos wideout redeems himself with a 29-yard touchdown catch from Bo Nix to give Denver a 17-10 lead just before halftime.
