Bills let Broncos steal control with a backbreaking end-of-half blunder

The Buffalo Bills' offense was clicking in the first half of their Divisional Round matchup against the top-seed Denver Broncos, save for two critical mistakes.

The first was a fumble by James Cook early in the second quarter. The Broncos responded with a touchdown. That one stung, but Cook is playing well, all things considered. Besides, the Bills tied the game on their next drive with a field goal.

The second could shift the outcome of the game. Despite Denver leaving just 16 seconds on the game clock after their go-ahead touchdown drive to close the first half, offensive coordinator Joe Brady lined up his offense in an aggressive formation, looking to throw downfield. All of Josh Allen’s receivers were covered, so he scrambled upfield, but he carried the ball loosely, fumbled, and the Broncos recovered with two seconds on the clock. Will Lutz drilled his 50-yard field goal attempt, giving Denver a 10-point lead at the half.

Buffalo Bills' margin for error vanished in an instant after Josh Allen fumble

Head coach Sean McDermott said at halftime that they were trying to be aggressive, but the play didn’t shake out at all how it was supposed to.

“Yeah, we tried to be aggressive, get one shot, possibly some layer shot out of bounds, and if it wasn’t there, throw it away,” MCDermott told Tracy Wolfson. “ Gotta take care of the ball.”

The Bill get the ball to start the second half. The Bills were looking to get a stop during Denver’s final drive, but Bo Nix converted three third-downs before connecting with Lil’ Jordan Humphrey for a 29-yard go-ahead touchdown.

Allen’s fumble puts Buffalo behind the eight-ball, but the offense has been efficient beyond the two turnovers. Allen was eight of 10 passing in the first half for 74 yards, and kept the Bills on schedule, converting three of five third downs and converting their lone fourth-down attempt.

The Bills will need to take advantage of their first possession of the first half to mitigate the momentum Denver built before halftime. Luckily, the Bills have proven to be a second half team throughout the 2025-26 campaign.