The Denver Broncos pulled out a 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills in the NFL playoffs divisional round and these plays were key.
The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in the National Football League playoffs divisional round and advanced to host the New England Patriots in the American Football Conference Championship Game.
This was a physical game from the jump, with both teams having injuries on the opening kickoff. The Broncos had a great opening drive but settled for a field goal to take an early lead.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen found receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. in the front right corner of the end zone to take a 7-3 lead into the second quarter. The first key play that decided this game, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, came at the beginning of the second quarter.
Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton forced Bills running back James Cook III to fumble in Broncos territory, eventually leading to offensive lineman Frank Crum’s seven-yard touchdown to put Denver in front. Allen was cooking for most of the game besides turning the ball over four times, and he marched the Bills downfield to tie the game at 10 just before the two-minute warning.
Denver QB Bo Nix put together an 11-play, 70-yard drive in 1:51 and found receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey for a 29-yard strike to go up 17-10 just before the half, another key play in Barnwell’s eyes. Allen, with no timeouts remaining, scrambled up the middle in his own territory but fumbled and allowed the Broncos to kick a 50-yard field goal to go up 10 points in just 22 seconds.
Allen fumbled again to open the second half, setting up another Broncos field goal that gave them a 23-10 lead. Allen carved up the Broncos’ secondary on the next drive and connected with receiver Keon Coleman for a 10-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to six.
Nix and Allen traded interceptions on the next two possessions and the score remained 23-17 in favor of Denver heading into the fourth quarter. A huge 46-yard catch-and-run from Bills receiver Khalil Shakir set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Allen to tight end Dalton Kincaid to put the Bills in front by one.
The Broncos went three-and-out on their next drive and the Bills added another field goal on a lengthy drive to put Buffalo up 27-23 late in the fourth. Nix threw a 26-yard dot to receiver Marvin Mims Jr. to give Denver a three-point lead with under a minute remaining.
With Buffalo’s season on the line, Allen led another field goal-drive to send the game to overtime. But Barnwell points out an incompletion to tight end Dawson Knox over the middle that would have resulted in a walk-in touchdown with just 16 seconds left in the game, another key play that decided the game.
The final key play, the nail in the coffin for the Bills, was a controversial interception midway through overtime. It appeared that receiver Brandin Cooks caught Allen’s pass deep in Denver territory, but Denver’s Ja’Quan McMillian ripped the ball away to complete the interception.
A similar play happened in the Los Angeles Rams-Chicago Bears divisional game, but it was ruled a catch, and the runner was down by contact.
Two costly (and questionable) defensive pass interference calls on the Bills set up a chip-shot field goal for Broncos kicker Will Lutz to end the game.
Denver will have to press on without Nix, who broke a bone in his ankle on the second-to-last play before the game-winning field goal. Backup QB Jarrett Stidham will get the start next week.