(Photo: WHEC.com)
AFC Divisional Playoff
(6) Buffalo Bills at (1) Denver Broncos
Bills (13-5):
Winning in this league comes in many different ways — whether it’s a blowout where you dominate from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, or a nail-biter that comes down to the final possession. I always say there’s no such thing as a perfect win, but as long as it results in a W, that’s all that matters at the end of the day. Each Super Wild Card Weekend, I highlight a game that grabs my attention. This year, two stood out: Green Bay vs. Chicago and Buffalo vs. Jacksonville. I’ll admit I didn’t know which direction to lean in this one, as it truly could’ve gone either way. Jacksonville entered the postseason on a winning streak, but ultimately I picked the Bills because I trusted Josh Allen to make one more play than Trevor Lawrence when it mattered most. I’ve watched a lot of Josh Allen over the past few seasons, and Sunday was by far the grittiest performance of his career. I expected Jacksonville to present a physical challenge, and there were moments when it looked like Allen might not finish the game, but he toughed it out. The road playoff win was Buffalo’s first in 33 years and the first of Allen’s career. Buffalo’s mental toughness was on full display, and that played a major role in the victory. On Saturday, the Bills head to Denver to face the top seed in the AFC Playoffs.
Broncos (14-3):
What a season it’s been in the Mile High City— and one that few saw coming. For years, the AFC West belonged to the Kansas City Chiefs, who won the division every season from 2016 through 2024. When Kansas City stumbled early, I wondered who would seize control and never look back. At one point, it looked like the Los Angeles Chargers after their 3–0 start, but they cooled off quickly. Ironically, the Broncos began the season 1–2, including a loss to those same Chargers. From that point on, Denver caught fire and became one of the league’s hottest teams. I really started paying attention when they went into Philadelphia and beat the Eagles, and weeks later knocked off the Chiefs — meaning they defeated both Super Bowl participants from last season. This marked Denver’s first division title since 2015. If you remember that year, the Broncos also secured the AFC’s top seed and went on to defeat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, with Peyton Manning riding off into the sunset. That team featured a prime Von Miller and future Hall of Famer, DeMarcus Ware. This year’s defense has carried much of the load once again, though I’ll admit I still have questions about the offense. You never quite know which version of Bo Nix will show up — only time will tell. The Broncos begin their playoff run Saturday against the Buffalo Bills.
Bills X-Factor: Khalil Shakir
Alongside Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, Khalil has become a central piece of Buffalo’s passing attack. He’s emerged as a reliable outlet — a true safety valve — for Josh Allen. Khalil runs clean routes, has strong chemistry with his quarterback, and consistently keeps drives alive, especially on third down. I expect Denver to focus on limiting James Cook and preventing explosive plays downfield. That’s where number 0 can make his impact, particularly against a Broncos secondary that plays a lot of zone coverage. If Shakir gets going, this offense becomes much tougher to contain.
Broncos X-Factor: Courtland Sutton
He is everything you want in a true No. 1 wide receiver. He’s a red-zone alpha and one of the best contested-catch receivers in the league. Courtland consistently wins one-on-one matchups, uses his size to high-point the football, and can change the game with a single score. His presence also forces Buffalo’s secondary to tilt coverage in his direction, which opens up opportunities for the rest of Denver’s offense.
Final Thoughts:
These teams met during Super Wild Card Weekend last season. Denver jumped out to an early lead in Orchard Park, but after that it was all Buffalo, as the Bills dominated and advanced to the next round. Now, over a year later, a trip to the AFC Championship is on the line. Two matchups I’ll be watching closely are Josh Allen vs. the Broncos’ pass rush and James Cook vs. Denver’s run defense — both could decide the outcome. I’ll also be watching how Bo Nix handles Buffalo’s disguises and whether he shows poise in just his second career playoff game. Buffalo must protect Allen at all costs, as Denver’s pass rush can wreck a game if it consistently gets home. Establishing the run with Cook is crucial, and finishing drives — especially with Allen’s mobility in the red zone — will be key. For Denver, staying balanced on offense, keeping Buffalo’s offense on the sideline, playing clean football from Nix, and pressuring Allen without losing contain are musts. It’s the best week of the NFL season — and it starts with these two.
