This Saturday, the Buffalo Bills travel west to face off with the Denver Broncos in an intense AFC Divisional Round playoff matchup that carries momentum, revenge, and legacy on the line at Empower Field at Mile High. It’s a prime-time spotlight game with huge stakes — and it’s serving up playoff football at its rawest, fiercest best.
A Rivalry Renewed
These clubs have met just three times in NFL postseason history, with Buffalo holding the edge in the all‑time series — including a commanding 31–7 wild card win over Denver in last year’s playoffs.
But this time it’s different: the Broncos are the AFC’s No. 1 seed (14–3 regular‑season record) and are playing their first home playoff game in a decade — a massive moment for Denver fans and quarterback Bo Nix as he looks to solidify his legacy.
Bills: Grit, Resilience & Championship Hunger
Buffalo enters with confidence after earning its first road playoff victory since 1992 — a 27–24 comeback win over the Jaguars — led by Josh Allen’s elite performance.
Allen’s dual‑threat capability makes the Bills’ attack unpredictable, and Buffalo’s offense finished the regular season near the top of the league in rushing and scoring. Buffalo’s roster has also seen some key activations, with Ed Oliver and Curtis Samuel returning from injured reserve to boost the defense and receiving corps — though injuries are still lingering, and the secondary will miss stalwart Jordan Poyer.
Broncos: Defensive Dominance & Home‑Field Thunder
Denver’s defense has been a weekend‑destroyer all season, leading the NFL in sacks and ranking top‑3 in scoring defense — exactly the kind of unit that can disrupt a potent Bills offense. Nix has quietly been one of the most valuable players in the league, using efficiency and smart decision‑making to lift Denver to a home advantage they haven’t enjoyed in postseason play since the 2015 Super Bowl season.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton has also added emerging talent — including rookie tight end Caleb Lohner and wideout Elijah Moore — giving Denver unexpected wrinkles off the bench.
Keys to Victory
➡ Bills need Allen to stay mobile, protect the football (continuing his streak of few turnovers), and get James Cook going on the ground against a tough Denver front.
➡ Broncos must leverage mile‑high altitude and a ferocious pass rush to control tempo and force Buffalo into mistakes.
Weather & Atmosphere
It’s set to be one of Denver’s colder playoff games of the season — but that might actually favor the Bills, who have prepared in sub‑freezing upstate New York conditions all winter.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just another postseason game — it’s about:
- AFC supremacy
- A chance for Denver to justify its No. 1 seed
- Buffalo’s pursuit of back‑to‑back deep playoff runs
- Legacy moments for Allen and Nix alike
Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 17 on CBS, with playoff anticipation exploding around the league.
Prediction vibes?
Broncos are narrow favorites at home, but Buffalo’s playoff experience and grit make this one ripe for drama — exactly what NFL postseason football is all about.