Loading...
The regular season has officially ended, meaning it’s time for the playoffs. The Wild Card round features two games on Saturday, three games on Sunday, and one game on Monday. One Sunday afternoon matchup that has gathered plenty of attention is Bo Nix and the Broncos taking on Josh Allen and the Bills in Buffalo.
Let’s preview this playoff matchup while looking at how each team fared in Week 18.
The Broncos found themselves in a win-and-in situation in Week 18. Denver had control of its own destiny, as a win over the Chiefs would secure their spot in the Wild Card round, but a loss would end their season. Fortunately for the Broncos, the Chiefs had nothing to play for in Week 18 and sat most of their starters, including Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, Chris Jones and more. That led to Carson Wentz being named the starting quarterback and Carson Steele leading the backfield.
Denver jumped out to an early 14-0 lead after the 1st quarter and didn’t look back. Nix finished with 4 total touchdowns as the Broncos won 38-0. The rookie quarterback was nearly perfect as he completed 26 of his 29 passes for 321 yards while also finishing as Denver’s leading rusher with 47 yards on 7 carries. Courtland Sutton was his main target through the air as he finished with 5 catches for 98 yards, but Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele also combined for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, the Broncos defense suffocated Wentz in the pocket. They held him to just 10 completions all game for 98 yards. Plus, Steele managed just 25 rushing yards on 8 carries from the backfield. It was a dominant win for the Broncos and a fantastic way for them to go into the playoffs, facing one of the best teams in football.
The final game on Buffalo’s regular season schedule was a divisional matchup against the Patriots. The Bills came into the game having been crowned AFC East Champions weeks ago, and the Patriots had jumped into the #1 spot for the 2025 Draft with their Week 17 loss. Neither team had the motivation to win, which is why Josh Allen and Drake Maye only played for the first minute or so of the game. In total, there were 5 quarterbacks featured in the game.
Mitch Trubisky played most of the game at quarterback for the Bills, and he completed 15 of his 21 passes for 101 yards with a touchdown. He was taken out in the 4th quarter for Mike White, who completed just 3 of 11 pass attempts for 21 yards. Buffalo had no intentions of winning in Week 18 and just wanted to rest their starters for the playoffs.
The Bills lost 23-16 as the Patriots earned their 4th win of the season and lost out on the 1st pick in the Draft. Rookie QB Joe Milton led New England to victory in his first career appearance. Buffalo will now focus on next week with a very well-rested Josh Allen and company, which is a dangerous thought.
The Bills were one of two teams that finished the regular season undefeated at home (Kansas City was the other). Buffalo was a perfect 8-0 and averaged 34.3 points per game. A big reason for that is the MVP candidate Josh Allen. Allen had a career year and set numerous records along the way. His dual-threat ability made him extremely hard to contain, and he finished the regular season with 9 rushing touchdowns in his final 7 games (excluding Week 18).
Allen’s legs become an even bigger factor when Buffalo reaches the red zone. RB James Cook will get several touches, but when the goal line gets closer, expect Allen to take his shot. He will likely get multiple chances to take off in the red zone on Sunday, and I think one of those attempts will end in a score.
Keith is a sports writer who has evolved into a sports betting personality across social media in the past several years. He specializes in MLB but also writes about the NFL and NBA.