If you turned off the TV before overtime in Denver or skipped the late game in Seattle because it looked like a blowout, you missed the absolute chaos that just redefined the NFL playoff bracket. Honestly, tonight was everything people love and hate about postseason football. We had a legendary overtime duel at Mile High and a total "changing of the guard" moment in the Pacific Northwest.
So, let's get into the specifics of who played pro football tonight and what these results actually mean for the road to Super Bowl LX.
The Mile High Miracle: Broncos Outlast Bills in OT
The first game of the day was an absolute heavyweight fight between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos. This wasn't just a game; it was a 3-hour and 41-minute stress test for both fanbases.
Denver ended up winning 33-30 in overtime.
It was a back-and-forth affair that saw Josh Allen do Josh Allen things—both the incredible and the frustrating. He threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, but those four turnovers were the anchor that eventually dragged Buffalo down. On the other side, Bo Nix continues to prove he isn’t just a "system QB." He threw for 242 yards and three scores of his own, including a clutch 26-yard strike to Marvin Mims Jr. that looked like it would end the game in regulation.
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But Buffalo didn't quit.
With 50 seconds left, they pulled off a wild 24-yard hook-and-lateral from Khalil Shakir to Ray Davis. That set up Matt Prater for a 50-yarder to tie it. Then came the overtime drama. After Denver punted, Buffalo had the ball at their own 8-yard line with a chance to win. Instead, Ja'Quan McMillian jumped a route meant for Brandin Cooks, picked off Allen, and the Broncos rode a pair of pass interference penalties straight to a game-winning 23-yard field goal from Wil Lutz.
The win is historic for Denver—it's their first playoff victory since Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset after Super Bowl 50. But it came at a massive cost. News broke shortly after the whistle that Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle on the final drive. He’s out for the rest of the playoffs. It’s a brutal blow for a team that finally looked like a contender.
Seattle Makes a Statement Against the Niners
If the afternoon game was a nail-biter, the nightcap was a massacre. The Seattle Seahawks didn’t just beat the San Francisco 49ers; they dismantled them 41-6.
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It started immediately.
Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Just 13 seconds in, and Lumen Field was already shaking. The 49ers, missing Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, looked completely lost. Sam Darnold, playing through an oblique injury, was efficient enough, but Kenneth Walker III was the star. He tied a franchise record with three rushing touchdowns.
Basically, the 49ers ran into a buzzsaw. Brock Purdy struggled under relentless pressure from Seattle’s "Dark Side" defense, finishing with an interception and a lost fumble. For a team that has dominated the NFC West for years, this felt like a definitive end to an era.
What These Results Mean for Next Week
With the dust settled, the AFC and NFC Championship pictures are coming into focus.
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- Denver moves on to the AFC Championship: They will play next Sunday at 12:00 PM ET on CBS. However, they'll be doing it with Jarrett Stidham under center because of the Nix injury.
- Seattle hosts the NFC Championship: They will face either the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams. Because they are the No. 1 seed, the road to the Super Bowl goes through the loudest stadium in the league.
Why This Saturday Was Different
Most people expected the Bills to finally break through. They were the slight favorites heading into Denver. Instead, we saw a veteran Denver defense force five total turnovers. It’s a reminder that in the playoffs, talent often loses to discipline.
If you're looking for the biggest takeaway from who played pro football tonight, it’s that the "old" powers are fading. San Francisco’s lopsided loss is the second-worst in their storied playoff history. Meanwhile, Seattle and Denver—two teams many experts doubted in the preseason—are now one win away from Santa Clara.
Your Post-Game Action Plan
Now that the Saturday slate is over, here is how you should prep for the rest of the weekend:
- Watch the Injury Reports: All eyes are on Denver's backup situation. If you’re into sports betting or fantasy, the shift from Nix to Stidham changes every metric for the AFC Championship.
- Clear Your Sunday: Tomorrow features the remaining Divisional matchups. The winners will determine who travels to Seattle and who has to deal with the Broncos' defense.
- Check the Highlights: If you missed the hook-and-lateral or Shaheed’s opening return, find the NFL’s official YouTube channel. Those two plays will be on loop for the next decade of playoff montages.
The playoffs move fast. By this time tomorrow, two more teams will be packing their lockers while two others start dreaming of Super Bowl rings.