Denver’s long wait for meaningful January football at home is finally over. For the first time since 2015, the Broncos will host a playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High, and the opponent adds a layer of tension that the city can feel.
Buffalo arrives fresh off a road playoff win, the first of the Josh Allen era, and with recent history on its side after eliminating Denver in the 2024 wild-card round.
The stakes are unmistakable. This is the divisional round, the winner moving one step closer to the AFC Championship game. Denver enters as the No. 1 seed, while Buffalo makes the trip west as the No. 6 seed, aiming to spoil the moment.
Bo Nix, meanwhile, faces the defining challenge of his young career. The quarterback showed flashes of composure under pressure last season, even as dropped passes helped derail Denver’s offense in that playoff loss to Buffalo. Saturday represents a chance at redemption, this time in front of a home crowd desperate to see the Broncos advance.
Josh Allen’s shadow looms large over Denver’s postseason moment
Any Broncos game plan starts with accounting for Josh Allen. Asked this week about facing Buffalo’s quarterback, Nix did not hide his admiration. He called Allen “the MVP of the league for a reason,” praising his toughness, athleticism, and ability to deliver when plays appear broken.
Allen reinforced that reputation last Sunday against Jacksonville, throwing three touchdowns without an interception and guiding two fourth-quarter scoring drives, all while battling multiple injuries.
His style remains a blend of power and improvisation that few defenses solve consistently. Stiff arms, hurdles, deep strikes, and late-game control are part of the package.
Buffalo’s task in Denver will not be easy. The Bills are dealing with injuries and will be without wide receivers Josh Palmer, Gabe Davis, and Tyrell Shavers.
That reality may put more responsibility on Allen and running back James Cook, especially against a Denver defense that has been steady all season.
For Nix, admiration pauses at kickoff. This will be his second playoff appearance and his second straight against Buffalo. The environment is different now, the margin thinner, and the reward greater.
The matchup is set for Jan. 17, with kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Denver is favored by 1.5 points, with the total listed at 46.5.
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