The Denver Broncos (10-7) are set to face the Buffalo Bills (13-4) in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, Jan. 12. Here are five quick storylines to watch for going into Sunday’s showdown.
1. Denver’s defense vs. James Cook: The Bills ranked ninth in the NFL this season with 131.2 rushing yards per game. Cooked topped 1,000 yards in 16 games and scored an eye-catching 18 total touchdowns. The Broncos had the third-best run defense in the NFL in 2024, allowing 96.4 yards per game, but Sunday will be a tough matchup.
2. Bo Nix’s first playoff game: Nix had a brilliant rookie season, but he now needs to take the next step and play at a high level on the sport’s big stage. He’s certainly saying all the right things. “[W]e can go further than just the playoffs,” Nix said Wednesday. “I don’t want to be handcuffed by just making it just because we haven’t done it in so long. If we’re going to make it, we might as well go win some games.” You said it, rook.
3. Broncos’ pass rush vs. Josh Allen: Denver’s defense led the NFL with 63 sacks this season (a new franchise record), but they haven’t met an offensive line like Buffalo’s — or a QB like Allen — thus far. The Bills allowed a league-low 14 sacks in 2024. Fortunately, history is on the Broncos’ side:
Broncos pass rush against the Bills pass protection is absolutely the story on Sunday.
History says the matchup favors Denver. 👀
via @NFLonCBS #BroncosCountry #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/wN9btCiBjZ
— Noah Spirek (@NoahSpirek) January 9, 2025
4. Sean Payton against a bald coach: Payton is 30-12 (.714) against bald head coaches since 2017, which is a good sign going into Sunday’s game against Sean McDermott. OK, meme stats aside, the Payton vs. McDermott showdown is intriguing after the Broncos won 24-22 in Buffalo last season.
Since 2017, Sean Payton is 30-12 (.714) against bald head coaches
He’s coming for your folically challenged ass!! @seanmcdermott pic.twitter.com/AmMOvBzLsZ
— Xan (@XanB21) January 9, 2025
5. Von Miller playing against his old team: Miller has made it clear that he still has plenty of love for Denver and the Broncos, but he’ll be looking to win on Sunday. Miller is chasing a third Super Bowl ring with his third team and he’s coming into the postseason hot with a sack in each of Buffalo’s last two games. Nix, meanwhile, was sacked 24 times in 2024, tied for the third-lowest total in the league. This game — like most — will be decided in the trenches.
Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on CBS. Playing on the road, Denver is considered a big underdog against the Bills.
