The Bills overcame the Broncos, advancing to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

The Denver Broncos quickly took the lead in their AFC wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills, scoring within the first three minutes through a long pass from rookie quarterback Bo Nix to wide receiver Troy Franklin. However, this would be the only score for the Broncos, as the Bills dominated the game, ultimately winning 31-7. Quarterback Josh Allen played a pivotal role in the victory, managing to score on every drive except one. He completed 20 of 26 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns, along with eight rushes for 46 yards. Over the final three quarters, Allen excelled, completing 14 of 17 passes (82%) for 227 yards and both touchdowns. With this performance, he surpassed Jim Kelly's record for the most postseason passing touchdowns in Bills history, reaching a total of 23.

Supporting Allen was a strong running game led by James Cook, who recorded 23 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown. This marked the fifth occasion in franchise history that the Bills surpassed 200 rushing yards in a playoff game, the first instance since the 1995 wild-card matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The Bills also became the first team since the 2012 San Francisco 49ers to achieve at least 250 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in a playoff game, a feat accomplished against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs.

Conversely, the Broncos struggled offensively, managing only 79 rushing yards, with Nix being the team's leading rusher at 43 yards. Additionally, their receiving corps had a challenging day, dropping three passes, the highest number for the team in a single game this season.

Noteworthy statistic: Allen's touchdown pass to running back Ty Johnson on a fourth-and-1 play during the third quarter had a completion probability of merely 15.6%. This marks the most improbable touchdown pass of Allen's career, encompassing both regular season and postseason, as well as the least likely touchdown pass recorded by any player in the last five postseasons.

Encouraging development: Third-down defense. The Bills have struggled to get off the field, yet against the Broncos, the defense effectively curtailed Denver's extended drives. The Broncos managed to convert only 2 of 9 (22.2%) third-down opportunities, despite the Bills entering the game with a conversion rate allowed of 43.8%, ranking fourth worst in the NFL, while the Broncos had a conversion rate of 39.6% (13th). The Bills successfully forced the Broncos into three three-and-out drives, and with the running game consuming valuable time, this significantly contributed to Buffalo building a substantial lead.

Unexpected standout: WR Curtis Samuel. As the Bills' most significant free agent acquisition at the receiver position, he had been largely overlooked on the depth chart for a considerable portion of the season. However, Samuel delivered his finest performance of the season in his playoff debut, successfully catching all three of his targets for 68 yards, which included a 55-yard touchdown reception. Upcoming match: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, Jan. 18 or Sunday, Jan. 19).

The Broncos' postseason aspirations may have come to an end, yet significant efforts are required to reestablish their status among the AFC's elite teams. Although the Broncos displayed resilience and remained competitive for a time on Sunday, the Bills demonstrated their playoff experience and decisively won the wild-card contest. This marked the Broncos' first playoff appearance in eight years, which began promisingly with Nix's 43-yard touchdown pass to Franklin, granting Denver an early 7-0 advantage.

However, the Bills gradually overpowered the Broncos through quarterback Josh Allen's performance, a robust running game, and a defense that stifled Denver following their initial score. Beyond Franklin's touchdown, the Broncos managed only one additional offensive play exceeding 20 yards. Furthermore, the running game struggled, with Nix serving as the team's leading rusher.

In two words, the game can be summarized as: A lesson learned. Broncos coach Sean Payton often emphasizes that when a team is sufficiently skilled, external factors such as weather, game pressure, and challenging away environments become less significant. The Broncos had their opportunities on Sunday, managing to keep Josh Allen under 100 passing yards well into the third quarter and scoring on their opening drive with a 43-yard connection from Nix to Franklin. Nevertheless, the Bills proved to be a more well-rounded team, bolstered by an MVP-caliber quarterback. Without generating turnovers and sustaining drives through third-down conversions, Denver fell short of achieving an upset.