The Denver Broncos finally returned to the playoffs after an eight-year absence, but their 31-7 wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills delivered a harsh message: There’s still a sizable gap between them and the AFC’s elite.
“We Weren’t Good Enough”
Head coach Sean Payton didn’t mince words after the lopsided defeat. “We weren’t good enough,” he said bluntly. “We didn’t coach well enough. We didn’t execute well enough and it’s frustrating.”
The Bills dominated in all phases, outgaining the Broncos 471-224. Buffalo rushed for a season-high 210 yards against Denver’s normally stout run defense. MVP candidate Josh Allen accounted for 318 total yards and two touchdowns.
Now we know, it’s not a good feeling. All the guys … we know what we need to do better so next time around, we won’t have this feeling again.
– Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II
Losses to AFC’s Best
Sunday’s defeat continued a troubling trend for the Broncos. In addition to Allen and the Bills, Denver lost to a who’s who of AFC quarterback stars in 2024:
- Lamar Jackson and the Ravens
- Joe Burrow and the Bengals
- Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs
- Justin Herbert and the Chargers (twice)
To advance deeper in the playoffs and avoid beatdowns like this, the Broncos will need to elevate their game against the conference heavyweights – especially their own AFC West rivals in Mahomes’ Chiefs and Herbert’s Chargers.
Reason for Optimism?
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix believes brighter days are ahead in Denver. “Our trajectory is going up,” he said, while acknowledging obvious areas for improvement:
We definitely have to score more than seven points in these tough games… We have to find ways to score, keep momentum on our side… And we have to go get key road victories.
– Broncos quarterback Bo Nix
Sean Payton knows it too. “One of the things we learned early on is we’ve got to find a way to play these [playoff] games at home,” he said, adding “We have to have a good offseason.”
Fuel for the Fire
Defensive end Zach Allen believes this bitter pill “will go down” and fuel the Broncos going forward. “Obviously, we didn’t get the job done. It stings right now. It sucks, but you’ve got to get back on the horse… That’s playoff ball. Any little mistake can make or break the game.”
There’s no doubt ending the playoff drought was a step in the right direction for the Broncos. But Sunday’s humbling loss showed the gap they still need to close to truly contend with the AFC’s elite. How this young team responds in the offseason under Payton’s guidance will determine if they can take the next step – or steps – in 2025.
