ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bo Nix’s initial experience in the NFL playoffs turned sour despite a promising start. The rookie quarterback from Denver began the wild-card playoff match against the Bills on Sunday with a 43-yard touchdown pass to his former college teammate, Troy Franklin. Unfortunately for the Broncos, that would be their only score in a disappointing 31-7 defeat.
“I have a lot to learn and grow from this experience,” Nix expressed following the game. Despite the loss, the 24-year-old first-round draft pick has a solid foundation on which to build, having played a crucial role in leading Denver back to the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl victory in 2015.
“I haven’t been in the league long enough to assess how far we are from our goals,” noted Nix, who threw 29 touchdown passes during the regular season—just two shy of the record for a rookie. “This year, we played against some really strong teams. Next year is a fresh start, and we just have to approach it with the same competitive spirit we showed this season. Reaching the playoffs was a significant milestone for us, and it’s something we can use to build on. Our goals will evolve.”
Nix completed 13 of 22 pass attempts for 144 yards and led Denver with 43 rushing yards but struggled to maintain momentum after that early score. The team could only muster 154 yards over their final seven drives, with four possessions ending in punts, two being halted on fourth downs, and a missed 50-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz that could have leveled the game at halftime.
Head coach Sean Payton emphasized the need for the Broncos to aim for home playoff games in the future by securing a win in the AFC West. “Today’s loss stings particularly hard, especially in the playoffs,” Payton remarked. “It should serve as motivation for us. We learned that we must find a way to host these games at home.” The Broncos now have a poor record of 2-7 in the wild-card round, with all seven defeats coming away from their own field, marking a streak of five consecutive road playoff losses.
With the offense faltering, Denver’s defense was unable to apply significant pressure, managing only two sacks against quarterback Josh Allen. The defense wore down over the course of the game as the Bills held a 23-minute advantage in time of possession. “We never really managed to do much to halt their running game,” said Payton. “When you’re in a situation like that, you can’t rush the passer like you normally would.” The Broncos converted on only two of nine third down attempts, struggling against a Bills defense noted for its inefficiencies in that area.
One successful conversion came on the initial drive when Nix connected with Courtland Sutton for a 19-yard gain on a third-and-8, just before he found Franklin for the early touchdown. “I knew stepping into the NFL would be challenging, but I was satisfied with the fact that, at the end of the day, it’s just football,” said Nix. This perspective is what he plans to carry into his next playoff appearance.
“The key takeaway is that no matter how much hype surrounds playoff football, it’s just another game. It’s just another AFC matchup,” Nix concluded. “In the future, I plan to treat it like any other game on the calendar. Go out there and play; there’s no additional significance because it’s a playoff game. That’s encouraging to realize.”
