Denver just pulled off a miracle. Overtime against the Buffalo Bills. A spot in the AFC Championship secured. But as the clock struck zero on Saturday night, the collective heart of Colorado didn’t just skip a beat—it sank.
Bo Nix is out.
The rookie-turned-sophomore sensation, who has basically been the engine of Sean Payton’s offense, suffered a fractured right ankle on the second-to-last play of overtime. He was just trying to center the ball for Wil Lutz’s game-winning kick. Now, the Denver Broncos depth chart faces its most brutal reshuffle at the worst possible time.
The Quarterback Crisis: It’s Stidham’s Team Now
Honestly, you can't make this up. Nix joins the ranks of John Elway as the only Broncos to throw three touchdowns in a playoff win, and then—poof. He's headed for surgery in Alabama on Tuesday.
So, who's left?
Jarrett Stidham is the new QB1. He’s been sitting in the wings, and while Payton insists "Stiddy’s ready," the drop-off is real. Stidham hasn't thrown a meaningful pass in what feels like forever, though he did light up the 2025 preseason with a 143.0 rating. Behind him, it's Sam Ehlinger. That’s the list. If Stidham goes down against the Patriots or Texans next week, Denver is officially in "pray for a miracle" territory.
Offensive Weapons: Who Steps Up?
The running back room has been a bit of a revolving door lately. With J.K. Dobbins on IR, the load has fallen onto rookie RJ Harvey and the lightning-fast Jaleel McLaughlin. Harvey has been a revelation, but in a high-stakes AFC title game, can he handle 20+ carries?
The Current Playmakers:
- WR1: Courtland Sutton (The veteran safety net)
- WR2: Marvin Mims Jr. (Finally getting the targets he deserves)
- WR3: Troy Franklin (Nix’s college teammate, who is now losing his primary connection)
- TE: Evan Engram (The big free-agent splash who has been a target monster)
Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Pat Bryant provide the depth here, but the real question is how Joe Lombardi adjusts the play-calling for Stidham. Expect a heavy dose of Evan Engram across the middle and a lot of short-area throws to Sutton to keep the chains moving.
The Defensive Wall: Vance Joseph's Masterpiece
While the offense is reeling, the defense is arguably the best in the league right now. Patrick Surtain II is still erasing half the field. Riley Moss has turned into a legitimate CB2 that teams are actually afraid to test.
The front seven is where the grit lives. Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers have been absolute menaces on the edges. In the middle, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach are eating up double teams like it’s their job—which, well, it is.
Linebacker Depth:
The arrival of Dre Greenlaw mid-season changed the geometry of this defense. Pairing him with Alex Singleton (the human tackle machine) gives Denver a level of lateral speed they haven't had since the No Fly Zone era. If the Broncos win the AFC Championship, it's going to be because this group holds someone to 13 points.
Secondary and Special Teams Stability
The safety rotation is surprisingly deep despite injuries. Talanoa Hufanga has brought that "Sourdough Sam" energy from San Francisco, and P.J. Locke is playing the best football of his career.
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And let’s talk about Wil Lutz.
The guy just doesn't miss when it matters. He’s the reason Denver is even in this position. Along with punter Jeremy Crawshaw, the special teams unit is arguably the only part of the Denver Broncos depth chart that isn't currently under a microscope of anxiety.
What This Means for the AFC Championship
The odds are going to hate Denver this week. Vegas will probably see the Bo Nix injury and assume the season is over. But Sean Payton has made a career out of winning with "next man up" logic.
Next Steps for the Broncos:
- Simplify the Script: Stidham doesn't need to be Nix; he needs to be a point guard.
- Lean on the Ground Game: Harvey and McLaughlin need to combine for 150 yards to take the pressure off.
- Defensive Dominance: Vance Joseph needs to dial up the pressure to force turnovers.
If you’re tracking the roster, keep a close eye on the practice squad elevations this Friday. We might see a surprise WR or an extra DB moved up just for insurance. The path to the Super Bowl just got ten times harder, but in the Mile High City, nobody is counting out "Stiddy" just yet.
Actionable Insight for Fans: Watch the injury reports for Dre Greenlaw and Marvin Mims Jr. specifically this week. If either of them are limited in practice, the Broncos lose the "edge" they need to overcome the loss of their starting quarterback. For those looking at the betting lines, expect the "Under" to be a very popular play given Denver's likely shift to a more conservative, defensive-heavy game plan.