Josh Allen's playoff dominance and a potent Bills offense pose a serious threat to Denver's top-ranked defense in a playoff rematch.
The No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Denver Broncos, got to sit at home and watch the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
However, the Broncos now know their opponent, and it's a playoff rematch against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
A year ago, Allen and the Bills blew out the Broncos, 31-7, in a game where Denver couldn't get much going despite an early, first-quarter touchdown to Troy Franklin.
This year, things are different with the Broncos as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but the question still remains of finding a way to stop Allen.
ESPN's Seth Walder revealed why the Bills will win against the Broncos, and the answer is simple: Josh Allen.
" Forgive simplicity, but the thesis for Buffalo is that Allen is the best quarterback in the playoffs and can put the team on his back. That is exactly what he did in the wild-card round against the Jaguars," Walder wrote.
"Allen was battered and bruised throughout, but it didn't stop him from compiling an astounding 87.3 QBR and plus-9% completion percentage over expectation, per Next Gen Stats, along with a passing touchdown and another on the ground. Despite all the knocks he took from Jacksonville, Allen still delivered two critical blows on the Bills' final drive," Walder added.
However, it remains to be seen if Allen and the Bills can play like that against a top-tier Broncos defense, as Walder asked.
"Will those sorts of performances be tougher to pull off against a dangerous Broncos defense that can mitigate Allen's impact both on the ground and through the air? You bet. But the real answer to this question is not actually just Allen. It's Allen, his running backs and one of the better offensive lines in the league. Last season's MVP is not out there alone, and the Broncos' defensive front might not look quite so dominant against Buffalo's collection of talent."
That last section is the big question. Everybody knows Allen is a superstar, and the reigning NFL MVP is trying to make a run to the Super Bowl for the first time in his career.
But, it is those not named Josh Allen that need to step up and play well if the Bills want any chance of moving on to the AFC title game.
Running back James Cook has been playing at a high level, and he will need to find a way to gain some ground against a suffocating Broncos defense.
Only time will tell, but this is another difficult challenge for the Denver defense.