After a hard-fought overtime battle, the Denver Broncos secured a 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, punching their ticket to the AFC championship game for the first time since their last Super Bowl victory ten years ago. Despite the triumph, the Broncos face a significant setback with the loss of their second-year quarterback, Bo Nix, who suffered a broken right ankle late in the game and will undergo season-ending surgery.
Sam Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a commanding 41-6 victory over an injury-weakened San Francisco 49ers team, ensuring the Seahawks advance to the NFC title game. Seattle’s dominant defensive effort stifled the 49ers’ offense, limiting key players including Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey to a total of 236 yards and forcing three turnovers.
The Broncos’ win came thanks to a 23-yard field goal by Will Lutz in overtime. This result marks Denver’s 12th appearance in the conference title game, where they have historically posted an 8-3 record. Denver, currently the top seed at 15-3, will host the winner of the upcoming Texans-Patriots matchup on January 25 at 3 p.m. EST. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks, matching the Broncos’ 15-3 record, will face either the Los Angeles Rams or Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Sunday doubleheader hosted in Seattle.
Denver’s head coach Sean Payton revealed that Bo Nix sustained his ankle injury during the team’s final offensive series. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday. The Broncos will rely on backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for the upcoming AFC title game. Stidham’s limited NFL experience includes a 1-3 record over seven seasons, but Payton emphasized confidence in Stidham’s abilities, noting his potential to start for multiple teams and expressing optimism about his performance in the forthcoming clash.
On the AFC’s other side, No. 2 seed New England (15-3) is set to host No. 5 seed Houston (13-5) this Sunday. The victor of that game is likely to enter Denver’s domain as the underdog but could represent a formidable challenge for the Broncos. Concurrently, in the NFC contest, No. 2 seed Chicago (12-6) faces the visiting No. 5 seed Los Angeles (13-5), with Chicago entering as an underdog despite home-field advantage.
The Seahawks started their contest with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown by Rashid Shaheed, immediately setting the tone and maintaining the lead throughout. Quarterback Sam Darnold praised the Seattle defense, highlighting their consistent excellence and the challenges they posed during training camp and organized team activities. This win marks Seattle’s fifth appearance in a conference championship game and the first in 11 years, including three victories and one loss, with their earlier appearance having been in the AFC.
The Broncos’ last AFC championship success occurred in what was Peyton Manning’s final season, where they defeated the New England Patriots 20-18 on January 25, 2016. They then proceeded to win the Super Bowl 24-10 against the Carolina Panthers, with a dominant defensive display against quarterback Cam Newton.
For the Buffalo Bills, this defeat extends their unfortunate streak as they continue to fall short of securing the franchise’s first Super Bowl trophy. Under quarterback Josh Allen and coach Sean McDermott, the Bills have been eliminated in either the divisional or conference championship rounds for six consecutive seasons.
The fourth quarter saw a sequence of back-and-forth lead changes, with Allen and Nix each throwing go-ahead touchdown passes and Buffalo kicker Matt Prater converting a 50-yard field goal, sending the game into overtime. However, a pivotal moment occurred when Bills’ wide receiver Brandin Cooks appeared to make a deep catch that would have positioned the Bills for a field goal; instead, Broncos defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted the pass after both players tumbled to the ground. Officials quickly reviewed and upheld the interception call, a decision that drew criticism from McDermott, who felt the replay process was rushed in a crucial situation.
Buffalo’s coach expressed concerns about what he perceived as a lack of deliberation during the review, emphasizing the significance of the play and advocating for more careful officiating due to its impact on the game’s outcome. Penalties also shaped the closing moments, with two pass interference calls against the Bills contributing 47 yards to Denver’s field position. Tre’davious White’s protest over the second penalty led to an unsportsmanlike conduct foul, further disadvantaging Buffalo and setting up Lutz’s decisive field goal.
Since the expansion of the NFL playoff field to include 14 teams in 2020, only the top seed in each conference receives a first-round bye. These No. 1 seeds have compiled a 9-3 record in the divisional round over that period, with the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs being the only top seed to win the Super Bowl since the expansion.