The Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills in an incredible overtime game. Josh Allen was solid, but Bo Nix was better and led a game-winning drive to beat the Bills and move on to the AFC Championship game.
But on that game-winning drive, Nix suffered a broken ankle and will now miss the rest of the playoffs. Jarrett Stidham is taking his place as the Broncos now face a massive challenge against the New England Patriots for a chance to play in the Super Bowl.
ESPN's Dan Graziano was posed the question of where the Broncos' season is "done" without Nix. While they're in the AFC Championship game, on the doorstep of the Super Bowl, Graziano doesn't believe in the Broncos and believes their season is all but over.
ESPN analyst believes Broncos are 'done' without Bo Nix
"The Broncos barely won Saturday's game," Graziano writes. "But now? You want me to believe the Broncos are going to beat Houston or New England with Jarrett Stidham at quarterback? I'm sorry, Jarrett, but it just doesn't feel to me like this Broncos team is good enough to pull a 2017 Eagles and win this thing without their starting quarterback."
Being without Nix is a big deal, and for Graziano, it's the be-all-end-all for the Broncos. Missing their starting quarterback is the final straw for a Broncos team that had been barely hanging on lately.
They nearly lost to the Bills, and while they came through in overtime, it was far from a clean game for the Broncos.
With a matchup against the Patriots on deck, the Broncos will need their defense to step up big time, and for Stidham, who has not thrown a pass since 2023, to play well enough for the Broncos to move the ball.
If the Broncos had a dominant offense, or even if Stidham had a few weeks to get acclimated to the offense, then Graziano might have a different opinion.
But, this injury happened when it did, and with the circumstances of the Broncos, Graziano views Nix's absence as the death-sentance for the Broncos playoff chances.
More Broncos news:
- Penalties shift the script as Broncos outlast Bills in OT thriller
- Who is Jarrett Stidham? Broncos backup QB who will take over for Bo Nix
- Bo Nix injury update: Broncos QB suffers season-ending ankle fracture in win over Bills
- Can Broncos sign a free-agent quarterback to replace injured Bo Nix?
- Broncos' Sean Payton shares what Bo Nix said about season-ending ankle injury
- Ja'Quan McMillian OT interception: How Broncos cornerback stole ball from Brandin Cooks and saved Denver's season