Broncos Clash with Buffalo Bills in Thrilling Wild Card Showdown!

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The playoffs have arrived.

For the first occasion since the Broncos lifted the Lombardi Trophy to conclude the 2015 season, Denver will step onto the field for a playoff contest.

However, the Broncos are not content with merely showing up.

“I believe one of the greatest misconceptions regarding this chance we have is that everyone thinks the Broncos are just happy and content with making the playoffs,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton stated on Wednesday. “I’m here to [disprove] that right now. Yes, we are pleased to have reached the playoffs. But it’s not just about making it. Now that we are here, it’s one week at a time.”

Denver’s journey kicks off with a Wild Card Weekend clash against Josh Allen and the second-seeded Bills — and the Broncos are aware of the obstacles they will encounter in Orchard Park, New York this Sunday.

“Clearly, we’re up against a very strong football team,” Head Coach Sean Payton remarked on Wednesday. “We will need to deliver a truly complete performance.”

As the Broncos aim to deliver that kind of performance and hand Buffalo its initial home defeat of the year, they have welcomed the heightened stakes that accompany a postseason contest.

“If you lose, you go home,” running back Audric Estime declared. “It’s a do-or-die situation, but pressure creates diamonds. I believe everyone in this organization thrives under pressure, and this type of pressure is an opportunity that is rare. When faced with such pressure, we must forge some diamonds from it.”

These are the inquiries that will decide if the Broncos can produce a standout performance and secure an upset victory in Buffalo:

WILL BO NIX SUSTAIN HIS EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN HIS FIRST PLAYOFF START?

Following an outstanding regular season during which quarterback Bo Nix recorded the second-most touchdowns by a rookie in NFL history, the Broncos’ signal-caller aims to extend his performance into the postseason.

While the Broncos’ capability to run the ball and manage the game will likely be pivotal, history indicates that Nix may need to excel for the Broncos to upset the Bills. In Allen’s five career playoff losses, opposing quarterbacks have guided their teams to an average of 31.2 points per game, tallying 13 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 120.7 quarterback rating.

“This is where I aspire to be,” Nix said on Wednesday. “[These are] the moments that hold significance. These are the moments that people will remember you for. You just have to go out there, unleash your abilities, and trust your teammates, along with what you’ve trained for throughout the year and, frankly, throughout my career [and] my life. This is the moment where all that effort finally comes into focus. It’s going to be exciting.”

How can Nix become the fourth rookie quarterback to triumph in his first career playoff start away from home and the first rookie to win on the road in postseason since 2012? It might begin with mobility. According to Next Gen Stats, Nix ranks first in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns while throwing on the move. Buffalo’s defense has permitted 10 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks on the run, tied for most in the NFL. With Nix’s dual-threat capability, he could challenge the Bills with his agility.

His proficiency in dealing with pressure — along with the offensive line’s ability to maintain a clean pocket — might also be an essential factor. The Bills pressured opposing quarterbacks at the 12th highest rate this season, whereas Denver recorded the second-lowest pressure rate in the NFL. If the Broncos can dominate up front, it could provide Denver with an advantage. When Nix faced no pressure this season, he connected on over 70 percent of his throws, accounting for 24 touchdowns and achieving a 104.2 passer rating.

If Nix remains unscathed, he could connect with Sutton and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. — who has scored four touchdowns in his last two games — to challenge a Buffalo defense that has struggled against playoff contenders. Buffalo’s defense allowed an average of 33 points and over 400 yards in five encounters against playoff teams this season, and the unit also permitted a 55.6 percent third-down conversion rate and a 90 percent red-zone conversion rate. Buffalo recorded a 2-3 record in those games, and the team’s scoring, red-zone, and third-down statistics against playoff teams ranked last in the NFL.

Perhaps most crucially, Nix has demonstrated an ability to perform well in high-pressure situations. He directed a series of second-half touchdown drives in a crucial game in Cincinnati and guided the Broncos down the field in Kansas City for a game-winning field-goal opportunity. If the contest remains close late, Nix has shown a level of composure that bodes well for postseason performance.

“He’s participated in numerous significant games,” Payton commented. “Truthfully, last week for him — for many players — felt like a playoff game. He’s experienced, and he’s faced crucial moments, and you know what? He will play in even larger games.”

Nix may be a playoff novice, but it is certainly conceivable for him to achieve immediate success and assist the Broncos in achieving postseason triumph.