The NFL Divisional Round will open on Saturday with the game between the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills in the AFC.
DENVER — After the Buffalo Bills ended the Denver Broncos' season with a 31-7 drubbing in last year's playoffs, Sean Payton set out to bring the playoff party back to Denver, with its altitude and its rowdy, stadium-shaking fans.
“We talk about getting the best positions and trying to get every advantage possible. I felt the same way my first year in 2006 in New Orleans, when we lost in Chicago in the championship game: 'How can we get this game at home?'” recalled Payton, whose New Orleans Saints did it three years later, en route to winning the Super Bowl after the 2009 season.
Now in his third season in Denver, Payton is trying to become the first head coach to win Lombardi trophies with two franchises.
The well-rested Broncos (14-3) earned home-field advantage by clinching first place in the AFC and the only bye in the first round. They will host the injury-plagued, sixth-ranked Bills (13-5), who are coming off their first road playoff win since the 1992 AFC championship game on Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High.
It's the first playoff game in Denver in a decade, since Jan. 24, 2016, when the Broncos beat the New England Patriots in the 17th and final meeting between superstars Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
The Broncos have won 13 of their last 14 home games and were 8-1 in Denver this season, their only loss coming against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team the Bills eliminated 27-24 last weekend in the team's first comeback. Josh Allen in the fourth quarter of a playoff game.
Con Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow y Lamar Jackson Outside of these playoffs, this could be Allen's best chance to finally win the big title. But he is dealing with ailments in his right foot, left knee and throwing hand, and was also examined for a possible concussion last weekend.
“I feel good,” Allen insisted. “I feel good. I feel better than I have in the last few weeks.”
Fourteen other Bills players were on the injury report this week and Buffalo coach Sean McDermott ruled out the safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and cornerback Maxwell Hairston (ankle). Furthermore, the receptors Gabe Davis y Tyrell Shavers They were placed on the injured list this week due to knee injuries.
Allen has not missed a game due to injury since his rookie season in 2018.
“I don't know where that strength comes from,” Allen said, “obviously, I'm a country kid, from a remote place, and my biggest fear as a kid was missing games. Even when I got in trouble, my parents would threaten me that I'd miss a game and not be able to play, and I'd say, 'It's okay, I'll be good.' So I just love being there.”
Allen and the NFL's leading rusher, James Cook, will face a much improved Denver defense that looks nothing like the unit they saddled with 210 rushing yards in last year's playoffs.
The Broncos added the safety Discuss Content y al linebacker interior Dre Greenlaw in free agency and both played a major role in Denver's first-place finish in quarterback sacks and red zone efficiency.
“They are well structured,” McDermott said.
Behind Nik Bonitto y Jonathon Cooperthe Broncos led the league with 68 sacks, and sealing the escape route up the middle in Vance Joseph's “lock down the quarterback” scheme was All-Pro defensive tackle Zach Allenwho led the league with 47 quarterback hits.
The Broncos ranked second against the run this season, so the Bills might have to rely on their depleted group of receivers on Saturday.
“It's obviously not an ideal situation,” said Josh Allen. “But I still have full confidence in that group. Whoever we bring into the team has to measure up. And we have full confidence that they will.”
Depleted roster, battered body, it doesn't matter, said Zach Allen.
“He's a combination of all the great quarterbacks in this league,” Zach Allen said. “He does what they do best. It's very rare. He has the arm, he has the intelligence to make the right decisions with the ball. He has the size, the running ability and the leadership.
“It's a lethal combination. That's why everyone calls him Superman.”
Change of roles
The Broncos quarterback, Bo Nixwho tied the NFL record with two dozen wins in his first two seasons, said he's glad it's Josh Allen who has to deal with the crowd noise this time.
“Last year was a difficult environment, a complicated experience as a visitor,” said Nix. “Obviously, it's good to be at home. It's good that the challenge is on the other side. Being able to use verbal cadence, being able to talk, being able to communicate will be better for us at home.”
Boosting Bosa
Bills defensive end Joey Bosawasn't the only one disappointed with his lack of production against Jacksonville. Coordinator Bobby Babich gave his opinion on the player, who has been in the league for ten years, and who finished with a statistic that only included one hit on the quarterback.
“He knows what we expect of him, what he needs to do and what his job is,” Babich said. “He knows he needs to play better.”
Coleman's contributions
Buffalo's shortage of receivers due to injuries provides an opportunity for Keon Coleman. The second-year receiver's playing time and performance have dropped sharply since he served a one-game suspension in Week 11 for being late to a team meeting, his third such violation.
“I know what I'm capable of. That hasn't changed,” said Coleman, one of only three healthy receivers on Buffalo's active roster.
