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Nov 17, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) warms earlier than the sport in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons at Empower Area at Mile Excessive. Necessary Credit score: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Photographs The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Payments in extra time of the primary NFL divisional spherical recreation of the postseason.
However at what price?
After the sport, Broncos head coach Sean Payton introduced that Nix suffered a fractured ankle through the victory and could have surgical procedure on Tuesday. Nix’s sophomore season is over, and he’ll miss the AFC Championship recreation subsequent weekend.
The Broncos will await the end result of Sunday’s Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots matchup to seek out out who they may play. But it surely’ll probably be backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham getting the beginning for the Broncos.
Nix suffered the damage on the second to final play of extra time. He was in a position to end the sport, however assessments postgame informed a special story.
Denver’s victory in opposition to the Payments didn’t come with out loads of controversy. Two questionable calls down the stretch brought on followers to query the referees inserting themselves right into a recreation by which they’d largely stayed out of.
Nix accomplished 26 of his 46 passing makes an attempt within the victory for 279 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Taking down a longtime quarterback like Buffalo’s Josh Allen within the NFL Playoffs was purported to be a Hallmark second for the second-year quarterback out of Oregon.
However now his season ends in heartbreaking style.
Towards the Texans or Patriots, the Broncos will now discover themselves as large underdogs regardless of internet hosting the sport in Denver.
Mike Vrabel’s Patriots have a sound protection. Nix’s fellow sophomore quarterback Drake Maye has had an unbelievable season, and can probably end up because the NFL MVP runner as much as Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams. It could possibly be laborious for the Broncos to maintain up with Maye, regardless of how dominant Denver has been defensively all season.
Demeco Ryans coaches Houston’s protection, which is broadly revered as a high three unit within the NFL this season. The Texans might make Stidham’s life depressing. C.J. Stroud can also be able to making it actually tough to maintain up offensively.
The NFL is a coach and quarterback league. You want each so as to win, particularly within the playoffs.
Denver has top-of-the-line coaches in Payton, and a younger quarterback that was exploding onto the scene earlier than our eyes.
However now, they’ll be overmatched in both recreation.
May Stidham change into Denver’s Nick Foles? Broncos followers will spend all week speaking themselves into that.
However in opposition to the Patriots or Texans? Feels wildly unlikely.
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