Shortly after Denver beat the visiting Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime of the AFC divisional playoffs on Sunday, the Broncos received devastating news that could derail their Super Bowl hopes.
Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken bone in his ankle and will miss the remainder of the playoffs, head coach Sean Payton told reporters after the game.
“Not good news. On the second-to-last play in overtime, Bo fractured a bone in his right ankle,” Payton told reporters, adding that Nix is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Payton also said that backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will get the start in the AFC Championship Game a week from Sunday. The top-seeded Broncos will host the winner of Sunday’s divisional game between the No. 5 seed Houston Texans and second-seeded New England Patriots.
“Stiddy’s ready to go,” Payton said of Stidham.
Nix was 26 of 46 for 279 yards and three touchdowns and an interception on Sunday.
After the Broncos punted to open overtime and then intercepted Bills quarterback Josh Allen on the ensuing drive, Nix drove Denver 75 yards on six plays to set up Wil Lutz’s game-winning 23-yard field goal.
Stidham, 29, has been with the Broncos since 2023 but played in only one game and did not attempt a pass this season. He has never played in the playoffs during an NFL career spent with the New England Patriots (2019-20), Las Vegas Raiders (2022) and Broncos. Stidham, selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, is 1-3 as a starter. He has played 20 games and completed 59.4% of his passes for 1,4022 yards, eight TDs and eight interceptions.
