Bo Nix aims to bounce back against the Bills after last season’s playoff defeat. (Image via Getty) Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix enters Saturday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup with unfinished business. His first playoff appearance ended in a 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills last season. Now, Denver hosts the rematch at Empower Field at Mile High after securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed, while Buffalo comes in as the No. 6 seed following a 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.The setting has changed, but Nix expects the same fight. “They’re a similar team,” Nix said. “Same players, same coach, same quarterback. I know they’ve dealt with some injuries, but I imagine some of their guys will be back. And it’s going to be a tough, physical football game.” He added, “They know how to win. They’ve been in this situation before. They had a great win last week, coming off probably their best win of the season. And they have a good rhythm right now as a team. So it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve got to start fast. We’ve got to make sure we match their tempo and not let them get out because they played last week. And we can’t let this bye week affect us with a slow start.”Denver hasn’t won a playoff game since Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, 2016. That win remains the Broncos’ only postseason victory in the past decade. The Bills, meanwhile, have won seven playoff games over the last five seasons and have advanced to at least the Divisional Round in six straight postseasons.Buffalo reached this round by rallying past Jacksonville on Sunday. Josh Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner with 64 seconds left. The Bills overcame 154 rushing yards allowed and secured the win with late interceptions by Shaq Thompson and Cole Bishop.Nix respects the challenge Allen presents. “He’s incredible,” Nix said. “He’s MVP of the league for a reason. He continues to make play after play when the game’s not necessarily looking like he can make the play. He just goes out there and does superhero stuff. And I think one of the things that separates him is just his toughness, his ability to go play after play at his max velocity, his max peak performance.” “And it’s been fun to watch him play over the course of his career. It feels like he just got in the league, but he’s been in there for a while at this point, making play after play. And he’s just kind of a generational talent. You don’t see that all the time- guys as big as the D-linemen just being able to be as athletic as skill players. It’s not normal. And he’s got great arm strength, too. So it’s one of those things where he can do it all at a high level.”
Bo Nix’s fourth-quarter production gives Denver a real shot this time
Both quarterbacks produced at a high level late in games this season. Allen led the NFL with 1,216 fourth-quarter passing yards in 2025. Nix ranked third with 1,130. Each threw eight fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Allen also led all quarterbacks in fourth-quarter rushing yards with 231 and added eight touchdowns on 44 carries, while Nix recorded 118 yards and two scores on 32 carries.That late-game impact shows up in Denver’s results. In 2024, the Broncos went 1-6 in one-score games. This season, they went 9-2 in games decided by seven points or fewer. Nix helped stabilize Denver’s offense, throwing for 3,931 yards with 25 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions during the regular season.The Broncos also benefit from playing at home this time. Last year’s loss came at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Saturday’s rematch kicks off at 3:30 p.m. CST in Denver, with CBS televising the game. Nix expects the crowd to matter. “I expect it to be extremely loud,” he said. “I expect it to be a great environment, similar to what it’s been recently, the past several home games. But something tells me it’ll be kicked up a notch just because it’s got playoffs on it. And it’s a good team coming in, so a good team with a good fan base, so I expect it to be a great environment Saturday. Normal kickoff time. It’s going to be a fun time.”
When and where to watch Broncos vs Bills divisional playoff game
The AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. CST at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. CBS will televise the game nationally, and it will also stream on Paramount Plus.