At a Glance
- Jarrett Stidham will start Sunday’s AFC title game after Bo Nix’s broken ankle
- He hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since the 2023 finale-zero passes in 2024
- Only six quarterbacks since 1950 have started a playoff game without starting in the regular season
- Why it matters: The Broncos must win a conference championship behind a quarterback who has taken four offensive snaps all year
Jarrett Stidham’s season changed in an instant. One broken ankle to Bo Nix later, the Denver Broncos are asking a quarterback who has not thrown a pass in 2024 to steer them to the Super Bowl.
The Unprecedented Playoff Debut
Stidham’s promotion is historic. According to Sportradar, he will become the seventh quarterback since 1950 to start a playoff game in a season when he did not start in the regular season. His last game action came in the final two starts of the 2023 season; since then, he has logged zero regular-season or postseason passes.
The only other quarterback to start a playoff game without throwing a pass that regular season was Joe Webb in 2012. Webb, like Stidham, had taken three offensive snaps before being pressed into duty for Minnesota.
The Rare Club Stidham Joins
Here are the six quarterbacks who previously pulled off the feat:
| Quarterback | Team | Season | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Heinicke | Washington | 2020 | 306 yd, 1 TD in wild-card loss to eventual champion Tampa Bay |
| Connor Cook | Raiders | 2016 | 161 yd, 1 TD, 3 INT in 27-14 wild-card loss to Houston |
| Joe Webb | Vikings | 2012 | 180 yd, 1 TD, 1 INT in 24-10 wild-card loss to Green Bay |
| Frank Reich | Bills | 1992 | Won two playoff starts, including 35-3 comeback vs. Houston |
| Gary Danielson | Lions | 1983 | 5 INT but nearly upset Montana’s 49ers on missed FG |
| Roger Staubach | Cowboys | 1972 | First start since Super Bowl MVP, lost NFC title game to Washington |
The Closest Precedent: Frank Reich’s 1992 Magic
Only one quarterback in this group won as a fill-in starter. Frank Reich guided Buffalo to victories over Houston and Pittsburgh after Jim Kelly’s knee injury. Reich’s 35-3 comeback against the Oilers remains the largest in playoff history.
Reich’s success offers a sliver of hope, yet the historical odds remain steep: one win in six tries.
What Stidham Brings to the Huddle
Stidham’s résumé is thin but not blank. He started the final two games of the 2023 season, completing 64% of his passes with three touchdowns and one interception. Coaches have praised his grasp of the offense throughout 2024, even as he stayed glued to the sideline.
Denver’s playbook will likely lean on a ground attack and quick timing routes to protect their untested passer. The Broncos’ defense, ranked fifth in points allowed, knows it must dominate field position.
Key Matchup: Stidham vs. New England’s Blitz
New England’s defense finished the regular season with 49 sacks, fifth most in the NFL. Linebacker Matthew Judon alone had 15.5 sacks, setting up a critical chess match:
- Expect heavy play-action to slow the pass rush
- Screen passes to neutralize edge pressure
- Max-protect sets on third-and-long
Historical Footnote: First Starts on Championship Stage
Stidham will become only the second quarterback to make his first start of a season in a conference title game or Super Bowl. The first was Roger Staubach in the 1972 NFC championship, a 26-3 loss to Washington one year after winning Super Bowl MVP.
Key Takeaways
- Stidham’s zero 2024 passes make this one of the boldest quarterback calls in playoff history
- Only Frank Reich has parlayed a no-starts regular season into postseason wins
- Denver must rely on defense, special teams, and a conservative game plan to upset New England
- The Broncos face long odds, but history shows a path-however narrow-exists
