Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills betting tips and selections for NFL playoff clash

The top seeds in each conference enter the NFL playoffs in the divisional round this weekend with just eight teams left in contention for the Super Bowl.

In the AFC, the Denver Broncos were able to take last week off thanks to their conference-leading 14-3 record, but they have not been given an easy first postseason test as they host the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field at Mile High on Saturday (9.30pm GMT).

The Bills (12-5) had won the AFC East in each of the last five seasons, but after being pipped by the New England Patriots this time they are only the sixth seeds in the AFC.

However, they went on the road to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 in a thrilling wild-card game last weekend and are slight favourites  against the top seeds.

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Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills betting tips

• Buffalo Bills money line @ 37/40
• Over 45.5 total points @ 17/20
• Dalton Kincaid over 36.5 receiving yards @ 17/20

Bills can keep rolling on the road

The Buffalo Bills are pretty much the last team the Denver Broncos would have wanted to face in this round.

Not only are Sean McDermott’s team back in form after a mid-season lull, with six wins in their last seven games and fresh from a confidence-boosting road victory over the Jaguars, the Bills also have a fine head-to-head record against the Broncos.

They have won four of the teams’ last five meetings, including a 31-7 success at Highmark Stadium in last season’s wild-card round.

The roles were reversed last year when the Bills were the second seeds and Denver had only just scraped into the playoffs as the seventh seeds, but the visitors should provide a serious test for the Denver defence, who conceded the third-fewest points in the regular season.

The Bills’ only recent loss was by a single point to last year’s Super Bowl champions the Eagles and in Josh Allen they have arguably the most talented quarterback left in the playoffs. 

The Broncos’ major advantage is in their freshness, as the Bills came through a real battle with the Jaguars and are thin at wide receiver.

The Broncos won 13 of their last 14 games after a 1-2 start, but it’s noticeable that they didn’t face many strong offences in that run.

When they did meet better teams later in the season, they conceded 26 points in a win over the Packers and 34 in a loss to the Jaguars and that should give the Bills hope of achieving another away success.

Offences may fare better than expected

The Broncos are renowned for their defence this season but the Bills are likely to come out slinging from the off and, after their game in Jacksonville produced 51 points, it’s worth backing another contest with at least 46 points.

The Bills were involved in several ding-dong battles in the second half of the season, beating the Buccaneers 44-32, the Bengals 39-34 and the Patriots 35-31.

While their pass defence is one of the best in the league, opposing rushers can rack up the yards against them, with Jaguars duo Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten combining for 118 yards on just 14 carries, and the Broncos should have some success on the ground.

Kincaid can aid his quarterback again

Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid scored a touchdown against the Jaguars and can play a key role for his side in Denver.

Buffalo suffered more wide receiver injuries in Jacksonville with Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers both sustaining torn ACLs at EverBank Stadium, so top man Khalil Shakir and tight ends Kincaid and Dawson Knox should be busy as they pick up the slack.

Kincaid is often a man for the big occasion and had 47 receiving yards against the Broncos in last year’s playoff win. He can have at least 37 against Denver on Saturday.

All odds correct at time of writing.

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All odds correct at time of writing

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