MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

6 Buffalo Bills (13-5) @ 1 Denver Broncos (14-3): Den 33-30

Shocking events followed this exciting overtime thriller, a 33-30 Broncos win. Denver won the game and a shot in the AFC Championship Game, but they have to do it without star quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix was tackled by Buffalo safety Cole Bishop on a quarterback run during the final drive, and was seen limping noticeably back to the huddle. A pass-interference call on the next play led to an easy game-winning 23-yard chip shot for the win, but it was later learned Nix will undergo season-ending surgery to repair his broken right ankle.

Nix (279 yards passing-3 tds/ int) will be replaced next week with backup Jarrett Stidham at quarterback for the Broncos.

The Broncos allowed nearly 450 total yards, but still posted a dominant defensive day with five turnovers and three sacks. Linebacker Alex Singleton was all over the field, registering 14 tackles (11-solo), while Nik Bonitto registered his 15th sack on the season. 

Buffalo QB Josh Allen (283 yards passing-3 td’s/ 2 ints, 66 yards rushing) spent most of the second half trying to make up for his uncharacteristic four turnovers.

After a Matt Prater field goal extended the lead to four points, Nix threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. (8 receptions-93 yards-td) with :55 remaining to retake the lead.

Allen, the reigning-MVP, marched the Bills 41 yards for a game-tying 50-yard kick from Prater, to send the game into overtime.

Buffalo forced a 3-and-out to begin overtime, but Allen failed to capitalize when a long pass to WR Brandin Cooks was picked off by Broncos CB Ja’Quon McMillion.

The replay showed the knee and shoulder of Cooks hitting the ground with the ball not moving, and the defender touching him. At that point, the play should have been dead and the catch ruled a completion, but the officials felt he never had control and the decision prevented the potential game-winning field goal by the Bills.

Nix and the Broncos took advantage of the call and of 47 yards in penalties to march 75 yards for a Will Lutz game-winning 23-yard field goal, his fourth on the day, to advance to the AFC Title Game.

Bills RB James Cook III had 141 total yards to help move the ball but he had a key fumble in the first half, and Prater finished 3-for-3 in field goals against his former team.

5 Houston Texans (13-5) @ 2 New England Patriots (15-3): NE 28-16

Neither snow nor rain, as they say. 

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots took care of business with an effective thrashing that ignored the wind and weather. After the teams spent the first series feeling each other out, Maye went to work, hitting WR DeMario Douglas for a 28-yard touchdown.

For the next quarter or so, probably the most painful play at the quarterback position occurred when Houston QB CJ Stroud threw nine completions, but four went to the Patriots. Cornerback Carlton Davis III intercepted two Stroud passes, was hurt and didn’t finish the game, but teammates Marcus Jones, and Craig Woodson had two picks of their own to stifle the Texans offense.

In spite of the turnovers, Stroud actually took the lead 10-7 on a 10-yard touchdown pass to WR Christian Kirk in the 2nd-quarter, but promptly tossed an interception on the first play of the next series. The pickoff was returned 26 yards for a score by Jones.

After trading 3-and-outs, Maye (179 passing yards-3 td’s/int) hit WR Stefon Diggs for a 7-yard touchdown pass, and extended the lead to 21-10 by halftime.

Having the top defense helped, as Will Anderson Jr (3) and Danielle Hunter (2) combined for five sacks to force the Patriots into long-yardage situations, keeping the Texans in the game.

Houston managed long drives in the 3rd-quarter resulting in two more Ka’imi Fairbairn (25, 25, 51) field goals, bringing the Texans to within 5 points, but a 32-yard touchdown to WR Kayshon Boutte to begin the 4th-quarter sealed the game.

Denver hosts New England for the AFC Championship Sunday, Jan 25th 12pm PST