You've probably seen the headline by now. The Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in an overtime thriller. It was the kind of game that usually leaves a city buzzing for weeks. Empower Field at Mile High was shaking. Fans were screaming. But by late Saturday night and into Sunday morning, the mood in Denver shifted from pure euphoria to a nervous, hollow pit in the stomach.
While the denver game score today reflects a victory that sends the Broncos to the AFC Championship, the cost of that win is devastating. Quarterback Bo Nix, the guy who basically resurrected this franchise over the last two seasons, is out.
Sean Payton walked up to the podium about an hour after the game and dropped the hammer. Nix broke his right ankle on a scramble just a few plays before Wil Lutz kicked the game-winner. He's scheduled for surgery on Tuesday. It's done. His season is over.
The Wildest 33-30 Finish You'll Ever See
Honestly, this game was a rollercoaster that didn't feel real. The Broncos took a 20-10 lead into the locker room after scoring 10 points in the final 22 seconds of the first half. It looked like they were going to run away with it. Then Josh Allen happened.
Despite turning the ball over five times—yes, five—Allen dragged the Bills back. He threw touchdowns to Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid to take a 24-23 lead in the fourth. It was high-stress football at its peak.
The ending of regulation was pure insanity. Bo Nix found Marvin Mims Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown with only 55 seconds left. Denver thought they had it. But Matt Prater, the 41-year-old former Bronco, stepped up and nailed a 50-yarder with 5 seconds on the clock to force overtime.
Why Ja’Quan McMillian is the Hero Nobody Expected
The overtime period started poorly for Denver. They had to punt, giving the ball back to Josh Allen. Everyone in the stadium felt that familiar "here we go again" dread.
Then came the play of the year.
Allen tried to go deep to Brandin Cooks. Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian tracked it the whole way, leaped, and literally wrestled the ball away from Cooks at the Denver 20-yard line. If he doesn't make that play, Buffalo is in field goal range. Instead, Denver got the ball back, Nix (on a broken ankle) drew a massive pass interference penalty, and Wil Lutz finished the job from 23 yards out.
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What Happens to Denver Now?
The denver game score today tells us they are 15-3 and hosting the AFC Championship next Sunday against either New England or Houston. But they have to do it with Jarrett Stidham.
Payton says "Stiddy's ready," but let's be real. Stidham has taken exactly one snap this season. One. It was a kneel-down against Dallas back in Week 8. Going from a guy who just tied the NFL record for wins in his first two seasons to a backup who hasn't started a game in a year is a terrifying prospect for Broncos Country.
Meanwhile, over at Ball Arena, the Nuggets are trying to keep the vibes high. They just beat the Wizards 121-115 behind 42 points from Jamal Murray and are gearing up to host the Charlotte Hornets tonight at 6:00 PM.
The Stats That Actually Matter
If you're looking at the box score from the Broncos' win, a few things jump out that explain how they survived Josh Allen's late-game heroics:
- Takeaway Margin: Denver was +5. They recovered two fumbles and picked off Allen twice.
- RJ Harvey's Impact: The rookie running back had a massive 24-yard catch in overtime that set the tone for the final drive.
- Defensive Resilience: Nik Bonitto’s strip-sack of Allen right after halftime was the momentum shift Denver needed to build their early lead.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a Denver fan, the celebration is over and the math begins. The Broncos are the top seed, which means they have home-field advantage for the AFC Championship Game on January 25th.
Keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of Dove Valley on Monday and Tuesday. While Nix is out, the health of the offensive line will be critical for whoever is under center. Also, the Nuggets play again Tuesday against the Lakers in a massive Western Conference showdown—definitely a good way to distract yourself from the NFL drama.
For those tracking the denver game score today, the win is official. The celebration, however, is on hold.
Actionable Insight: If you have tickets for the AFC Championship, hold onto them. Even without Nix, Mile High in late January is a nightmare for visiting teams. Expect the betting lines to shift significantly in favor of whichever opponent Denver faces once the official injury reports hit the wire on Tuesday.