Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - While the Buffalo Bills are making their sixth-straight appearance in the NFL Playoffs, the Denver Broncos earned one of the coveted 14 spots for the first time in nine years.
The last time the Broncos were in the postseason field, Peyton Manning was their quarterback.
Now they are being led by a rookie in Bo Nix.
The 12th overall pick in last April's NFL Draft, Nix set Broncos records for most touchdown passes, most passing yards, most completions and most victories by a rookie quarterback. His 29 touchdown tosses are the second-most by any rookie quarterback in NFL history, only trailing Justin Herbert's 31 with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Nix, who earned the starting job coming out of the preseason, has shown growth over the 17-game schedule, and has exhibited poise while running Sean Payton's offense. The former University of Oregon and Auburn University signal caller has been accurate while throwing mostly shorter passes, but he has a very strong arm and can hit on the deep throws too.
The Bills defense has to be aware of Nix's ability to use his legs as a weapon. Nix has 430 yards rushing, and had the second-most scrambles for a first down. Only Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels had more.
When you watch Nix play, you will probably think he looks a lot like Bills quarterback Josh Allen. In Year 1 in Denver, Nix put up impressive totals of 4,205 total yards and 33 touchdowns.
Nix, and by extension the Broncos offense, has gotten better over the course of the season.
Through the first nine games, Nix had thrown just eight touchdown passes and was picked off six times.
Over the last eight games, he had 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. 13 of those 21 touchdown passes came in the last four games, as Denver was fighting to hold on to the final Wild Card spot in the AFC.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has had a good deal of success when his teams have faced a rookie quarterback. McDermott's record is 9-4 in the regular season and 2-0 in the playoffs. Those quarterbacks have thrown just 10 touchdown passes in those 15 games to go with 21 interceptions.
The Broncos' run game is average, at best. They did not have a 100-yard rusher this season, in fact, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin only combined for just 1,009 yards and five touchdowns.
The top-two receivers, on the other hand, will provide a challenge for the Bills defense.
Courtland Sutton is, by far, the main weapon with 135 targets, almost 80 more than the second-best total on the team. Sutton had 81 catches for 1,081 yards and eight scores.
Marvin Mims Jr. had 39 catches for 503 yards and six touchdowns, but his role increased as the year went on. Mims will line up in the backfield, at times, and when Nix does show off his strong arm, Mims is his top deep threat.
Denver's offense is 10th in the NFL in scoring, 19th in total yards per-game, 16th in rushing, 20th in passing and 13th in third-down efficiency.
The Bills defense is third-worst in the league when it comes to third down. Opponents converted 43% of the time this season.
The Broncos have a strong offensive line, as they gave up the second-fewest sacks per-pass play in the regular season.
Denver's defensive numbers are more impressive than those on offense.
The Broncos gave up the third-fewest points in the league. They were seventh in total yards per-game, and third against the run. Their pass defense was just 19th in yards per-game, but opposing quarterbacks did have the second-lowest completion percentage against them.
The biggest concern for Allen and company should be the Broncos' defensive front and their pass rush. Denver led the league with 63 sacks, a franchise record and a number that would make the "Orange Crush" defense from the 1970s proud.
However, the Bills offensive line had a terrific season under the tutelage of veteran line coach Aaron Kromer. Allen was sacked a career-low 14 times, a decrease by 10 from 2023.
Pro Bowl linebacker Nik Bonitto led the way with 13.5 sacks. His fellow linebacker Jonathon Cooper added 10.5. Defensive ends Zach Allen and former New York Jets pass rusher John Franklin-Myers combined for 15.5 sacks.
The Broncos also had a pressure rate around 40% this season.
Denver also has a solid secondary.
Patrick Surtain II is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He earned a Pro Bowl nod after recording 11 passes defensed and four interceptions, which equaled his career-high. According to Next Gen stats, Surtain allowed the fewest yards per-snap, and lowest passer rating among regular corners.
Second-year pro Riley Moss has had a strong season with eight passes defensed and a pick.
Nickel cornerback Ja'Quan McMillan had 10 passes defended and a pair of interceptions.
Safety Brandon Jones led the Broncos in tackles, and added 10 defended passes of his own to go along with three picks.
The Broncos played the third-highest percentage of man-to-man coverage in the league in 2024.
Denver's defense did have some issues at the tail end of the regular season. Throw out the finale and shutout against Kansas City, because the Chiefs rested their most important players.
The Broncos had a stretch where they gave up 32 points to the Cleveland Browns, 34 to the Chargers, and 30 to the Cincinnati Bengals.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when it comes to special teams.
Mims led the NFL in punt returns with an average of 15.7 yards.
Kicker Will Lutz has been outstanding, connecting on all 46 of his extra point attempts this season. In comparison, Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a career-high five point after attempts.
Lutz is also 31-for-34 on field goal attempts, and has hit on 26-of-27 kicks under 50 yards. Bass was 20-for-25 under 50 yards this year.
The Bills have won their Wild Card matchup in each of the last four seasons, beating the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Coverage of Sunday's Bills-Broncos matchup on WGR begins at 7 a.m. EST. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. EST.