{“title”:”Broncos Star Nix Suffers Season-Ending Ankle Break in OT Win”,”body”:”At a Glance
– Bo Nix fractured his right ankle three plays before Denver’s winning kick
– Backup QB Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC title game for the top-seeded Broncos
– Josh Allen threw four turnovers, including a game-ending overtime interception
– Why it matters: Denver’s playoff hopes now hinge on a backup quarterback after a dramatic 33-30 victory over Buffalo
Denver quarterback Bo Nix’s breakout postseason ended in heartbreak Saturday night when he broke his right ankle late in the Broncos’ 33-30 overtime triumph over the Buffalo Bills. Coach Sean Payton revealed the injury occurred only three plays before Wil Lutz’s game-winning field goal sent Denver to the AFC Championship Game as the conference’s top seed.
The devastating timing overshadowed what had been a signature performance from the second-year signal-caller. Nix became the first quarterback other than Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow to defeat Josh Allen in the playoffs this decade.
## Nix’s Redemption Story Cut Short
A year after managing just 144 passing yards in a 31-7 wild-card rout by these same Bills, Nix torched Buffalo for 279 yards and three touchdowns. His most critical drive came with the Broncos trailing 27-23 in the fourth quarter. The 26-year-old engineered an eight-play, 73-yard march, culminating in a 26-yard scoring strike that gave Denver a 30-27 lead with 54 seconds remaining.
“He was fantastic when we needed him,” Payton said of Nix, who completed 24 of 31 attempts and posted a 126.3 passer rating.
The injury means journeyman Jarrett Stidham will guide the AFC’s No. 1 seed against either Baltimore or Kansas City next Sunday. Stidham has thrown 13 career touchdown passes against 13 interceptions across four seasons.
## Allen’s Four Turnovers Doom Bills
Josh Allen’s postseason demons resurfaced at the worst possible moment. The Pro Bowler committed four turnovers-two interceptions and two lost fumbles-extending Buffalo’s championship-round drought to seven consecutive seasons.
Every Bills possession ended in either a score or a giveaway. Allen’s final mistake came in overtime when he forced a pass into double coverage, allowing Broncos safety P.J. Locke to intercept and set up the winning kick.
“Can’t win with five turnovers,” Allen admitted. “I fumbled twice, threw two picks. When you shoot yourself in the foot like that you don’t deserve to win football games.”
Allen still produced 349 total yards-283 passing, 66 rushing-and accounted for three touchdowns. Yet each turnover arrived at crushing moments:
– First-quarter fumble at midfield led to Denver’s opening TD
– Lost scramble before halftime gifted the Broncos three points
– Fourth-quarter interception stalled potential go-ahead drive
– Overtime pick ended Buffalo’s season
## Historic Overtime Thriller
The teams exchanged haymakers across the extra period. After both offenses sputtered on their initial possessions, Nix marched Denver 75 yards in 11 plays. Two defensive pass-interference penalties on Buffalo cornerbacks-one for 17 yards, another for 30-moved the Broncos inside the 10-yard line to set up the chip-shot winner.
“It’s extremely difficult, I feel like I let my teammates down tonight,” Allen said while fighting back tears. “It’s been a long season. Hate how it ended. It’s gonna stick with me for a long time.”
Including Saturday, four of Buffalo’s last five playoff exits have been decided by one possession. The combined margin in those defeats: just 15 points.
## Payton’s Reversal of Fortune
The victory avenged last year’s wild-card embarrassment in which Denver managed only 250 total yards. Payton credited his team’s preparation throughout the week of practice.
“We obviously weren’t ready last year, but we were ready today,” the coach said.
Denver now advances to host the AFC title game for the first time since Peyton Manning’s retirement following the 2015 championship season. The Broncos will await the winner of Sunday’s divisional matchup between the Ravens and Chiefs.
## Key Takeaways
– Bo Nix’s injury is a crushing blow to Denver’s Super Bowl aspirations; the quarterback had delivered the best postseason performance of his young career
– Josh Allen’s turnover plague continues-he had gone six straight playoff games without a giveaway before Saturday’s four miscues
– Sean Payton’s gamble on an aggressive passing attack paid dividends, as deep shots drew two pivotal pass-interference flags in overtime
– Buffalo’s championship window may be narrowing; Allen turns 29 next season and the Bills have multiple key free agents”,”meta_description”:”Bo Nix fractures ankle in OT win; Jarrett Stidham takes over as Broncos eye Super Bowl after Josh Allen’s 4-turnover meltdown.”,”categories”:[“Breaking News”,”Sports News”]}
