It’s go big or go home from here on out for all of the playoff teams. We’ve got returning teams from last year, as well as new ones. For the Buffalo Bills, this is their sixth playoff appearance in a row and they host a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2015 season; the Denver Broncos.
The Bills will welcome a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix as he prepares for his first playoff game in front of a rowdy Bills Mafia. Broncos fans said that they wanted Buffalo, and now they have them. They might easily regret that decision.
Buffalo hasn’t lost this season at home and the Broncos have only scored 20+ points twice on the road this year. It’s going to be a tough matchup for both teams, but the Bills are the better team without question. With that, we take a look at four bold predictions for this wild card round showdown.
Von Miller gets 2+ sacks
The once former Denver Bronco will see his old team in Orchard Park this Sunday. Drafted in 2011, second overall, Miller built himself a Hall of Fame career with the Broncos and is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Broncos and Los Angeles Rams. Miller signed a six-year deal in 2022 with the Bills but hasn't been the difference maker for Buffalo.
He has recorded six sacks on the year, including getting one last week that earned him a nice money incentive. With the first playoff game against the Broncos, this just feels like a Von Miller breakout game against Denver. Look for Miller to have a day against Denver and sack Bo Nix atleast twice.
Bo Nix only has one passing TD
There is a legit case that Bo Nix could win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award this season. There was a lot of criticism about the Broncos drafting Nix at No. 12 overall. However, they needed a quarterback and he turned out to be one of the top two rookie quarterbacks from the draft, along with Jayden Daniels.
Nix has put up 29 touchdowns this season, including 2+ in his last four games. He might be a rookie, but he doesn’t play like one. Buffalo’s defense has had some bumps and bruises this season, but they have turned it around near the end of the season. Despite Nix being great for a first-year player, this Bills defense should be able to make his day a long one and only surrender one passing touchdown.
Josh Allen doesn’t get sacked
I get it, the Broncos lead the NFL in sacks but the Bills’ offensive line has given up the least amount of sacks (14). From left to right, this unit has been healthy and have done a phenomenal job of protecting Josh Allen all season long.
It’s going to be a battle of the trenches on Sunday. Expect the offense to dominate the line of scrimmage and allow Allen to keep playing at an MVP level.
Denver’s defense gives up 40+ points
You read that right. The Broncos, who are led by a phenomenal defense, are going to give up 40+ points against the Bills. Yes, Denver has only given up 40+ points once this year against the Baltimore Ravens, but they have also given up 30+ points three other times. To say that Buffalo can reach 40 points is not a huge overreach.
On the other hand, the Bills have scored 40+ points three times this year and are averaging over 30 points per game. Long story short, the Bills know how to put the ball into the endzone or at the very minimum, get on the scoreboard somehow.