Bo Nix’s season ends with broken ankle in dramatic OT win with inexperienced Broncos backup poised for AFC championship

The Denver Broncos are in the AFC Championship Game for the first time in a decade, but beating the Buffalo Bills came at a huge cost.

Behind quarterback Bo Nix and another solid defensive performance, Denver secured a 33-30 win in the divisional round match-up at Mile High.

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It was the most dramatic of NFL Playoff games, and one that featured a highly-controversial overtime call that left the Bills furious.

But while the victorious Broncos move on, head coach Sean Payton had some bad news to deliver postgame.

Bo Nix broke ankle during dramatic overtime win

An hour after 77,000 fans applauded the Broncos off the field in Colorado, Payton put a damper on any celebrations.

“Not good news,” he told reporters as he took the podium for his press conference.

“On the second to last play in overtime, Bo fractured a bone in his right ankle.

“He’s scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday, which will put him out for the season… it is what it is.”

With those three short sentences, Denver’s Super Bowl LX hopes have taken a huge hit.

Saturday’s win over the Bills will live long in the memory, but the Broncos will be without their quarterback as they challenge either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans next week for the AFC title.

Nix actually walked off the field, but he was seen wincing on the sideline and speaking with training staff in the moments before Wil Lutz kicked a 23-yard field goal to secure the overtime win.

His season is now over, and an inexperienced backup will now need to step up in the biggest of moments.

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Who will start at QB for the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game?

Payton confirmed that backup QB Jarrett Stidham will fill in for Nix in the AFC Championship Game next Sunday.

“Stiddy’s ready to go,” the HC revealed.

“I said this at the beginning of the season: I feel like I’ve got a two that’s capable of starting for a number of teams. I know he feels the same way.

“So, watch out. Just watch.”

While he has the backing of Payton, as far as title-challenging signal callers go, Stidham is rather inexperienced.

He is a seventh-year veteran backup who made just one appearance in the 2025 season, logging four snaps in Denver’s Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

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Stidham hasn’t seen extended action since 2023, when he started the final two games of the season for the Broncos in place of Russell Wilson.

Before arriving in Denver, he was drafted by the Patriots, where he played backup to the likes of Tom Brady, Cam Newton and Mac Jones.

The 29-year old has just four starts across his seven-year NFL career.

Next weekend, Stidham could have the chance to lift the Broncos to Super Bowl LX over his former team, should they beat the Texans for a spot in the AFC Championship Game.

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