The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Payments in additional time of the primary NFL divisional spherical recreation of the postseason.
However at what value?
After the sport, Broncos head coach Sean Payton introduced that Nix suffered a fractured ankle through the victory and may have surgical procedure on Tuesday. Nix’s sophomore season is over, and he’ll miss the AFC Championship recreation subsequent weekend.
The Broncos will await the end result of Sunday’s Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots matchup to search out out who they’ll play. However it’ll possible be backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham getting the beginning for the Broncos.
Nix suffered the damage on the second to final play of additional time. He was in a position to end the sport, however assessments postgame informed a unique story.
Denver’s victory towards the Payments didn’t come with out loads of controversy. Two questionable calls down the stretch brought about followers to query the referees inserting themselves right into a recreation through which that they had principally stayed out of.
Nix accomplished 26 of his 46 passing makes an attempt within the victory for 279 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Taking down a longtime quarterback like Buffalo’s Josh Allen within the NFL Playoffs was imagined to be a Hallmark second for the second-year quarterback out of Oregon.
However now his season ends in heartbreaking style.
Towards the Texans or Patriots, the Broncos will now discover themselves as large underdogs regardless of internet hosting the sport in Denver.
Mike Vrabel’s Patriots have a sound protection. Nix’s fellow sophomore quarterback Drake Maye has had an unimaginable season, and can possible end up because the NFL MVP runner as much as Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams. It could possibly be laborious for the Broncos to maintain up with Maye, regardless of how dominant Denver has been defensively all season.
Demeco Ryans coaches Houston’s protection, which is extensively revered as a high three unit within the NFL this season. The Texans may make Stidham’s life depressing. C.J. Stroud can be able to making it actually tough to maintain up offensively.
The NFL is a coach and quarterback league. You want each with a view to win, particularly within the playoffs.
Denver has among the best coaches in Payton, and a younger quarterback that was exploding onto the scene earlier than our eyes.
However now, they’ll be overmatched in both recreation.
May Stidham turn out to be Denver’s Nick Foles? Broncos followers will spend all week speaking themselves into that.
However towards the Patriots or Texans? Feels wildly unlikely.