The Buffalo Bills began their playoff journey in dominant fashion, rolling past the Denver Broncos 31-7 in an AFC Wild Card matchup at Highmark Stadium. Quarterback Josh Allen put on a clinic, throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 46 more yards to lead the high-powered Bills attack.
Allen Unstoppable as Bills Offense Erupts
Fresh off an MVP-caliber regular season, Josh Allen picked up right where he left off against a overmatched Broncos defense. The dual-threat dynamo dissected Denver through the air and on the ground, accounting for three total touchdowns.
Allen’s lone “blemish” was going three-and-out on the Bills’ first possession. From there, the star signal caller led scoring drives on seven of the next eight possessions to put the game out of reach. His 15.6% completion probability touchdown pass to Ty Johnson was the most unlikely postseason scoring toss of his career.
Ground Game Dominates
Not to be outdone, the Bills’ rushing attack imposed its will on the Broncos front seven. Led by James Cook’s 120 yards on 23 carries, Buffalo piled up 200+ rushing yards for just the fifth time in franchise playoff history.
We wanted to set the tone early with the run and our guys up front did a phenomenal job,” Allen said. “When we can be balanced like that, we’re tough to stop.
Josh Allen, Bills Quarterback
Denver’s run defense, a strength for most of the season, had no answers for the Bills’ diverse and punishing ground game. Buffalo racked up 10 first downs and 100 yards rushing in the first quarter alone.
Third Down Defense Steps Up
The Bills defense, which struggled getting off the field at times during the regular season, delivered one of its most dominant performances of the year. After allowing a touchdown on the game’s opening drive, Leslie Frazier’s unit suffocated the Broncos offense the rest of the way.
- Denver converted just 2 of 9 third downs
- Broncos punted three times after three-and-outs
- Rookie QB Bo Nix was held to 125 passing yards
Getting off the field consistently allowed the Bills to control the clock and wear down an overmatched Broncos squad. With a comfortable lead, Buffalo was able to empty its bench and rest starters for the challenges ahead.
Promising Playoff Debut for Bo Nix
The future looks bright for Denver despite the lopsided Wild Card loss. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix acquitted himself well in a hostile road playoff environment, throwing for 125 yards and a touchdown while not turning the ball over until garbage time.
The first round pick came out firing, hitting rookie receiver Troy Franklin for a 43-yard score to stake Denver an early 7-0 lead. Though the offense bogged down from there, the Auburn product never appeared overwhelmed by the moment.
This is just the beginning for Bo. He’s got all the tools to be a star in this league for a long time. Today was a great learning experience that he’ll grow from.
Sean Payton, Broncos Head Coach
Broncos Run Game Stymied
Denver entered the game hoping to control the clock and keep Josh Allen on the sideline with a strong rushing attack. Those plans never materialized, as the Bills consistently won at the point of attack.
The Broncos mustered just 79 yards on the ground, with Nix actually leading the team with 43 yards rushing. Buffalo’s defensive line controlled the trenches, holding Denver to a long run of just 11 yards.
Without the run game humming, the Broncos were unable to sustain drives and keep their defense rested. Buffalo held decisive advantages in total yards (476-202), first downs (28-12) and time of possession (36:15-23:45).
Ravens Await in Divisional Round
With the convincing win, the Bills move on to host the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round. Baltimore survived its own slugfest with the Cincinnati Bengals, prevailing 20-17 on a last-second Justin Tucker field goal.
The Ravens will bring the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack and a battle-tested Lamar Jackson to Orchard Park, setting the stage for a quarterback duel with Allen. The two electrifying signal callers have never faced off in the postseason.
Lamar is one of the greatest players in the league. I have a ton of respect for him and that Ravens team. It’s going to be a dogfight, but we’ll be ready.
Josh Allen on facing Lamar Jackson and the Ravens
With a spot in the AFC Championship Game on the line, the Bills will need another complete effort against the battle-tested Ravens. If Allen continues to play at an MVP level and the defense maintains its dominant form, a return to the Super Bowl could be on the horizon in Buffalo.
