The Denver Broncos will have to start their backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, in the AFC Championship Game.
Stidham hasn't thrown a pass in either of the last two seasons.
His path is pretty much unprecedented after Bo Nix fractured his ankle at the end of the Broncos' win over the Bills on Saturday.
But at least in one way, there's slight precedent. You just have to go back to Roger Staubach and the Dallas Cowboys in 1972.
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Staubach is the last QB to make his first start of the season this late in the campaign, according to NFL Research.
The last QB to make his first start of the season in the conference championship game (or later) was Roger Staubach in 1972 https://t.co/GGNU1GhI8f
— Dante Koplowitz-Fleming (@DanteKopFlem) January 18, 2026
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Staubach had done more than this, though. He played a huge chunk of the game the week before when the Cowboys pulled Craig Morton, setting himself up to start the following week.
The bad omen for Denver: Dallas lost that Staubach start to Washington, 26-3.
Denver doesn't know its opponent yet.
The Broncos know they'll be at home.
It'll be either the Patriots or Texans on the other side.
And Stidham will try to do something no one saw coming.
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