The Denver Broncos aren't actually playing right this second. Honestly, if you’re looking for a live score on this Thursday morning, January 15, 2026, you’re a few days early—or maybe a few days late, depending on how you look at it.
The last time the Broncos took the field was January 4th. They handled the Los Angeles Chargers with a 19-3 win to close out the regular season. Since then? Silence. But it’s the good kind of silence. Because Denver secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, they spent last weekend resting their bones while the Wild Card round descended into chaos.
The Denver Broncos score and the road to the Divisional Round
If you’re checking the Denver Broncos game score to see how they finished the year, the number you’re looking for is 14-3. That’s the final regular-season record. It is the best mark the franchise has posted since the 2015 Super Bowl season.
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Sean Payton has this team playing a brand of "boring" football that is actually incredibly efficient. They aren't always putting up 40 points—though they did drop 44 on Dallas back in October—but they are winning the games that matter. They tied an NFL record this year by winning 11 games by a single score. It’s nerve-wracking for the fans, but it’s a sign of a team that doesn't blink when the clock starts winding down.
When is the next Broncos game?
The real action starts this weekend. Denver is hosting the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High.
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Kickoff Time: 2:30 p.m. MT (4:30 p.m. ET)
- Channel: CBS
The Bills are coming off a 27-24 win over Jacksonville in the Wild Card round. They’re hot. Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed, but he’s coming into the thin air of Denver to face a defense that has been suffocating teams all winter.
Why the No. 1 seed matters for Denver right now
You’ve gotta realize how huge this bye week was for Bo Nix. The rookie (well, second-year man now) has been a revelation, but he’s also hit a lot of turf this year. He led the league with seven game-winning drives. That takes a toll on a guy’s body and his head.
Having a week off to sit on the couch and watch the Bills and Jaguars beat the living daylights out of each other is a massive advantage. While Buffalo had to grind out a win in the rain, the Broncos were at home in Dove Valley getting healthy.
The Broncos haven’t hosted a playoff game in ten years. Think about that. The last time there was postseason football in Denver, Peyton Manning was still under center. The atmosphere on Saturday is going to be absolutely feral.
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Key Stats from the 2025-2026 Season
Bo Nix finished the regular season with 3,931 passing yards. He threw 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Those aren't "video game" numbers, but in Sean Payton’s system, they are exactly what the doctor ordered.
On the other side of the ball, the defense is the real story. Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto have been terrorizing quarterbacks. Bonitto finished the season with 14 sacks, which is just absurd. They’re the reason Denver was able to win so many close games; when the offense stalled, the defense just locked the door.
What most people get wrong about this matchup
A lot of national media heads are talking about the Bills' momentum. They see Buffalo winning games and think they’re the team of destiny. But they’re ignoring the "Mile High Tax."
Playing in Denver in mid-January is a nightmare. The forecast is looking cold—not "frozen tundra" cold, but chilly enough to make the ball feel like a brick. Denver is 8-1 at home this season. Their only loss at Empower Field was a weird 34-20 outlier against Jacksonville back in December. Every other time a team has walked into that stadium this year, they’ve walked out with an L.
How to track the score on Saturday
When the game actually kicks off on Saturday afternoon, you’ve got a few ways to stay updated if you aren't stuck in front of a TV:
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- NFL App: The "Gamecenter" feature is usually the fastest for play-by-play.
- KOA 850 AM: If you’re in Colorado and driving, Dave Logan is the only voice you need to hear.
- Social Media: Follow the official Broncos accounts, but honestly, just search "Broncos" on X (Twitter) and you’ll get the score faster than the broadcast sometimes.
What the Broncos need to do to win
Basically, they need to keep Josh Allen in the pocket. If he starts scrambling and doing that "human bulldozer" thing he does, it's going to be a long day for the secondary. Patrick Surtain II is going to be glued to Khalil Shakir or Keon Coleman all day, but the real battle is in the trenches.
If Denver can run the ball with J.K. Dobbins and keep the clock moving, they win. They don't need Bo Nix to throw for 400 yards. They need him to throw for 210, no turnovers, and two scores.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Weather: If you’re heading to the stadium, the gates open early. Expect temps in the 30s at kickoff dropping into the 20s by the fourth quarter.
- Betting Lines: Denver opened as a 1.5-point favorite. That’s basically a toss-up in the eyes of Vegas.
- Watch the Injury Report: Keep an eye on the status of the offensive line. Quinn Meinerz and Garett Bolles were banged up at the end of the season, but the bye week should have fixed most of that.
The road to the Super Bowl goes through Denver this year. Whether the Broncos can actually hold serve against a red-hot Bills team is the only question that matters. We'll find out the real score in about 50 hours.
Finalize your watch plans now, because Denver is about to be at a standstill once that ball is teed up on Saturday.