Above Image Credit: Paramount Plus
When: Saturday, Jan. 17th, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver, CO)
How to Watch: CBS (check your listings)
The NFL Divisional Playoffs begin Saturday afternoon when the Buffalo Bills take on the AFC’s top-ranked team, the Denver Broncos.
Broken Bills
Buffalo is still reeling from a nail-biting, 31-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, they will be coming into this game a little shorthanded.
Over a dozen Bills players have been ruled out with injuries. DT Jordan Phillips, safety Damar Hamlin (pectoral), and WRs Tyrell Shavers (ACL) and Gabe Davis (knee) were all put on injured reserve this week.
More importantly, QB Josh Allen will be coming in less than 100 percent. Last week, he was dealing with issues in his right foot, left knee, and throwing hand. He was being checked for all three along with a possible concussion.
Allen has not missed a game despite any minor injuries he’s had.
The Change Was Worth the Wait
Denver has a chance to make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade if they can take down the Bills.
It’s hard to believe this Saturday is the first home playoff game for the Broncos since Jan. 24, 2016 (the AFC championship). That was the day fans watched QB legends Peyton Manning and Tom Brady face off for the very last time. The Broncos won that meeting before clinching their third Super Bowl title.
Now we flash-forward to the present day. Their offense is led by QB Bo Nix. He’s completed 388 out of his 612 attempts for 3,931 yards, 25 TDs, and 11 interceptions.
Their defense is even tougher than it looks. They have allowed the second-most yards per game (278.2), the second-most rushing yards per game (91.1), and the third-best points per game (18.3). They’re on top with 68 sacks with help from players like Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga.
Bills vs. Broncos: Final Thoughts and Prediction
The way I see it, my biggest concern right now is the state of the Buffalo Bills. A lot of their defensive players are sitting out, and Buffalo needs to hold off the Broncos offense as much as they can.
Allen might be beaten, not broken, but putting undue pressure on his physicality could hurt him and the team. While I admire his guts, losing Allen altogether will be catastrophic to the Bills. I believe the coaches should try to help limit him without fully sitting him out.
Denver will be without Dobbins (knee), so the rest of the offense will have to step up in his absence. Their defense, however, are as strong as they come, and that’s a problem for Buffalo. Expect to see them slow Allen and the Bills offense to a crawl if they try to run.
The last Bills vs. Broncos matchup was last year’s wild card playoffs where Buffalo dominated Denver 31-7. In their last 10 meetings, Denver was dominated four times. I don’t believe it’s gonna happen this time.
