The New England Patriots already had a chance to get to the Super Bowl.
That chance is greater now after the Denver Broncos announced shocking Bo Nix injury news on Saturday night.
Not long after the Broncos beat the Bills in overtime, head coach Sean Payton informed reporters that Nix had fractured his ankle on Denver's final drive.
Nix had finished out the drive, and although he showed a slight limp, no one saw this news coming.
But this means the end of Nix's season.
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In the AFC Championship Game, Jarrett Stidham will start, with Sam Ehlinger as his backup. Stidham hasn't thrown a pass outside the preseason since 2023.
It makes whoever wins Sunday's Divisional Round game between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans look like they have a great shot at advancing to the Super Bowl.
That raises the stakes.
New England has arrived ahead of schedule. No one saw a turnaround this dramatic when Mike Vrabel was hired.
But Drake Maye, in his second season, has progressed to an MVP level, and the players around him have raised their games, too.
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The Texans, particularly their defense, will be a formidable foe. The Patriots certainly can't afford to look ahead.
But if New England wins Sunday, the path is clearer than it appeared. They'd just have to get past Stidham in a week's time to advance to the Super Bowl.
And while the Pats won't be looking ahead, it's certainly worth noting. This is shaping up as well as it could to give them a chance.
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- Cam Ward can add John Harbaugh to his list of doubters
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