Breaking down the key positional battles and matchups to watch on Sunday.
While the Buffalo Bills (13-4) expected to make the playoffs, outside of the players on the Denver Broncos (10-7), expectations were not high for the 2024 NFL season. Especially after the Broncos ate nearly $89 million in dead-cap space by releasing quarterback Russell Wilson. But thanks to a stifling defense that led the NFL in sacks and an efficient offense, head coach Sean Payton has the Broncos back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50.
The Bills and Broncos will square off at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in a Wild Card clash at Highmark Stadium. To get you ready for the game, today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks previews the key matchups and players to watch as the Bills look to earn their fifth straight home win in the Wild Card round.
Previewing Super Wild Card round: Bills vs. Broncos
The Buffalo Bills’ offensive line did an outstanding job protecting quarterback Josh Allen this season, allowing a league-low 14 sacks during the regular season. Their opponents on Sunday, the Broncos, registered a league-high 63 sacks, led by edge rusher Nik Bonitto, linebacker Jonathon Cooper (10.5) and defensive end Zach Allen (8.5). How well left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard David Edwards, center Connor McGovern, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence, and right tackle Spencer Brown handle this difficult assignment is one of the key matchups to watch in this Wild Card showdown.
Among the other key positional battles and matchups: how Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott has succeeded against rookie quarterbacks; why Denver’s Bo Nix represents a unique challenge; why Buffalo’s defense needs to relegate Nix to the pocket and take away his scrambling ability; why the Bills need to shore up their worrisome third-and-long pass defense; how WR Cortland Sutton is a force to be reckoned with; how cornerback Patrick Surtain II has blossomed into one of the league’s best lockdown corners; how Josh Allen should attack Denver’s mostly man defense with quick passes to wide receiver Khalil Shakir over the middle, and more!
- The Broncos’ pass rush – best in the NFL – has exceeded expectations. Can they take down Josh Allen? – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- How the Bills could contain Bo Nix and break through Denver’s defense – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Top 5 storylines to follow for Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos | Wild Card Weekend – BuffaloBills.com
- PlayAction column: Unlike most rookies, Denver’s Bo Nix excels at avoiding sacks – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Sean McDermott and the Bills have excelled against rookie QBs like Bo Nix – but … ‘he’s the real deal’ – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Simon: Bills will look to Nix Broncos’ postseason – WGR 550
- Analysis: Third and long pass defense looms as big worry for Bills – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- These four Bills players could have big impact vs Broncos in playoff game – Democrat & Chronicle
- 4 Broncos players Bills fans should be concerned about ahead of AFC wild-card round – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Here’s why these four Broncos could be key to success in playoff game vs Bills – Democrat & Chronicle
- Buffalo Bills must focus on this key thing to beat the Broncos – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- 5 things to watch for Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos | Wild Card Weekend – BuffaloBills.com
- LISTEN: McDermott: Broncos built ‘the right way’ – WGR 550
- Greg Cosell: Bills To Face Tough Test In Broncos, Playoff In-Depth Preview – BuffaloBills.com
- NFL playoffs: Key matchups to watch in each AFC wild-card game – The Athletic (subscription required)
- NFL wild-card top storylines: Do Ravens, Bills, Rams win again? How does Jalen Hurts fare? – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Josh Allen can make postseason history against Broncos – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- ‘It’s all love at the end of the day’ | Von Miller and the Buffalo Bills on playing the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card Round – BuffaloBills.com
- NFL analyst drops big prediction for Buffalo Bills against Broncos – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- 33 years later, the Bills and Broncos will meet again in the playoffs | wgrz.com
QB Josh Allen voted second-team All-Pro
In what many outside of Orchard Park, NY thought would be a “retooling” year for the Bills, Josh Allen completed 63.6% of his passes for 3,731 yards and a career-best 28:6 touchdown to interception ratio and guided the Bills to a 13-4 record and the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Allen also rushed for 531 yards and scored 12 TDs on the ground, and finished with 41 total TDs. Despite those gaudy, MVP-caliber numbers in a year where Buffalo exceeded expectations, on Friday, Allen was voted second-team All-Pro.
- Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen voted second-team All-Pro – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Josh Allen named AP Second-Team All-Pro in 2024 – WGR 550
- All-Pro NFL teams include just 1 person from the Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen | wgrz.com
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills shut out of NFL All-Pro first team – Democrat & Chronicle
- Legendary MVP voter explains why Josh Allen is the right choice – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- We analyzed every pass Josh Allen threw the past two seasons. Here’s proof he got more out of less in 2024 – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Bills QB Josh Allen overcoming his doubters | wgrz.com
- Chopping Wood: Josh Allen’s MVP-Caliber Season – BuffaloBills.com
Even more Bills news
How rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman has struggled coming back from a wrist injury; learn how wide receiver Amari Cooper brings quiet confidence and veteran leadership to the Bills; hear from tight end Dawson Knox on how he hopes to continue providing big plays in the playoffs; discover what helped transform Sean McDermott into a new kind of head coach, and more!
- Inside the Bills: Return from wrist injury has been a slow go for Keon Coleman – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- The quiet confidence of Amari Cooper – ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog
- Ryan O’Halloran: Bills tight end Dawson Knox hopes big-play chances continue in playoffs – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Dad jokes and snow angels: What turned Bills’ Sean McDermott into a new kind of coach – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Alan Pergament: Jim Nantz doesn’t know how many Bills games he has called. But he’s happy he’s calling this one – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Sheriffs make wild-card bet: Buffalo chicken wings vs. Colorado steaks – Buffalo News (subscription required)
Recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings
- Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen named 2024 NFL second-team All-Pro – Buffalo Rumblings
- Buffalo Bills 2024 First-Team All-Pro list may surprise you – Buffalo Rumblings
- NFL MVP race: It’s been 20+ years since the NFL MVP wasn’t first-team All-Pro – Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills are short two defensive backs for second straight day of practice – Buffalo Rumblings
- 10 reasons the Denver Broncos can beat the Buffalo Bills – Buffalo Rumblings
- Analysis: 3 ways the Bills’ offense can attack Denver Broncos’ defense – Buffalo Rumblings
- Buffalo Bills will see Bo Nix for first time in Super Wild Card Weekend game – Buffalo Rumblings
- Curtis Samuel could be Buffalo Bills Wild Card x-factor – Buffalo Rumblings