FOOTBALL: Rested Broncos, depleted Bills gear up for playoff rematch

For the first time in 10 years, the Denver Broncos enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The last time they held that top spot was in 2015, Peyton Manning's fourth and final season in Denver—a season that also saw the Broncos win their most recent Super Bowl.

Broncos coach Sean Payton understands the potential advantages of being the top seed. When his New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in 2009, they also entered the postseason as the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

Still, as Payton noted ahead of Saturday’s playoff opener against the visiting Buffalo Bills, regular-season success and the No. 1 seed don’t guarantee postseason victories.

"The bye is important, but myth No. 2 is that it ensures a fast start. It doesn’t," Payton said Tuesday. "Understand this: We’re playing a team that’s coming off one of their biggest wins in the last 10 years. We have to earn a fast start and take advantage of the energy, take advantage of the rest. But it has to be done out on the field."

The Bills present a formidable challenge. Buffalo dominated Denver 31-7 in last season’s wild-card round, but they earned another shot at revenge thanks to their first road playoff win since 1992—a 27-24 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday.

Josh Allen, who played through a foot injury and briefly visited the injury tent for head, hand, and knee concerns, produced a standout performance with 306 total yards, three total touchdowns, and two go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown drives.

"I feel good. Honestly, I feel a little better than I have the last couple weeks," Allen said Tuesday.

Allen, who has won his first playoff game in each of the past six seasons, could reach his third AFC Championship Game with a victory over Denver. However, the Bills will be severely limited at wide receiver after Tyrell Shavers and Gabe Davis suffered torn ACLs against Jacksonville. Buffalo now has just three healthy wideouts: Keon Coleman, Brandin Cooks, and Khalil Shakir.

Shakir led the team with 719 receiving yards in the regular season and recorded 12 catches for 82 yards in the Jacksonville game. Coleman, the team’s 2024 second-round pick, finished his sophomore season with 404 yards.

Curtis Samuel (elbow) and standout defensive tackle Ed Oliver (bicep) both had their practice windows open this week and participated in drills, potentially making them available for the game.

"Another guy’s got to step up. That’s point-blank what it means," Bills coach Sean McDermott said. "And I don’t mean to be short. It’s just full confidence in the guys in that room."

For Denver quarterback Bo Nix, Saturday will mark his first home playoff game. In last year’s loss to Buffalo, Nix completed 59.1% of his passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.

"I think everybody would say they’d rather be at home in this situation," Nix said. "Last year was a tough environment, tough road experience. Good for a young person like me to gain that experience in my first year. It’s obviously nice to be at home. It’s nice for that challenge to be on the other side."

Nix will have the support of a Broncos defense that set a franchise record with 68 sacks this season—11 more than any other team and just four shy of the NFL record set by the 1984 Chicago Bears.

Buffalo will be without running back Ty Johnson (ankle), cornerback Maxwell Hairston (ankle), and safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring), who did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday. Limited participants include team sack leader Greg Rousseau (back), linebacker Matt Milano (ankle), and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee).

Denver enters the game with only four players on the injury report, none of whom have missed practice this week. Tight end Lucas Krull (foot) and linebackers Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) and Drew Sanders (ankle) were limited.

Historically, Buffalo has had Denver’s number, winning four of the last five meetings and both postseason matchups, including a 10-7 victory in the 1991 AFC Championship Game.

—Field Level Media/Reuters