Wild Card Weekend in the NFL brings an exciting clash this Sunday afternoon as the Denver Broncos (10-7) face off against the Buffalo Bills (13-4). These two teams did not meet during the regular season, their last encounter taking place in Week 10 of the previous year, where the Broncos secured a ten-point victory on the road. Denver clinched the final Wild Card spot, landing the 7-seed, while Buffalo emerged victorious in the AFC East, earning the 2-seed and a valuable home game. The Bills are favored by 9 points heading into this matchup, set to kick off at 1:00 PM EST at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, and broadcasted on CBS.
Who will move on to the next round of playoffs? Check out the Broncos vs. Bills prediction below.
Broncos’ Unexpected Rise
The Denver Broncos have emerged as a surprising contender in this year’s playoffs, especially considering the uncertainties that surrounded the team at the start of the season, particularly with a rookie quarterback at the helm. Bo Nix has performed admirably this year, supported by head coach Sean Payton in developing an efficient offense that led the Broncos to ten victories. The AFC West proved competitive, with three of its four teams making it to the postseason, leaving only the Raiders behind. Notably, three Broncos players earned Pro Bowl selections: linebacker Nick Bonitto, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, and return specialist Marvin Mims Jr.
As he steps onto the playoff stage for the first time, Bo Nix will lead the Broncos’ offense. He finished 12th in the league with 3,775 passing yards and boasted a completion rate of 66.3%. His 29 touchdown passes ranked 6th in the NFL, alongside 12 interceptions. Nix also showcased his running ability, accumulating 430 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Javonte Williams, the leading running back, contributed 513 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In the receiving department, Courtland Sutton led with 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns, while Marvin Mims Jr. added 503 yards and six touchdowns to the mix.
On the defensive side, Denver finished the season ranked third, allowing just 18.3 points per game. Safety Brandon Jones topped the team with 115 tackles, also contributing to the Broncos’ 15 interceptions. Patrick Surtain II stood out as a lockdown corner, recording four interceptions, while Nick Bonitto’s performance was impressive, finishing third in the NFL with 13.5 sacks, contributing to the team’s total of 63 sacks this season.
Injury Report:
Questionable: CB Damarri Mathis, T Frank Crum
Buffalo Bills: The Home Advantage
Although the Buffalo Bills fell short of capturing the top seed in the AFC, they successfully claimed the AFC East title, securing the number two seed in the playoffs. This positioning guarantees that they will host all their playoff games in Buffalo, unless faced with a matchup against the Chiefs or if they advance to the Super Bowl. The Bills dominated the AFC East, finishing five games ahead of the second-place Dolphins, and they were the only team from their division to reach the playoffs. Quarterback Josh Allen and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins were both named to the Pro Bowl.
According to DraftKings, Josh Allen is currently favored to win the league MVP Award, boasting -450 odds. He completed the season ranked 14th in passing yards with 3,731 and a completion rate of 63.6%. He also placed 7th in touchdown passes with 28, alongside just six interceptions. Allen was a dual threat, finishing second on the team in rushing with 531 yards and scoring 12 rushing touchdowns. James Cook emerged as the primary running back, finishing just over 1,000 rushing yards with 1,009 and tying for the highest rushing touchdown count in the NFL at 16. Khalil Shakir led the receiving corps with 821 yards and four touchdowns, while Keon Coleman added another 556 yards and four touchdowns.
Buffalo concluded the season ranked second in scoring, averaging 30.9 points per game, while their defense allowed 21.6 points per game, placing them 11th in that category. Linebacker Dorian Williams was the top tackler for the Bills, recording 117 tackles throughout the season. The team registered 39 sacks, with defensive end Greg Rousseau contributing eight. Buffalo’s defense also tallied 16 interceptions, shared among seven players, each with two picks.
Injury Report:
Questionable: CB Brandon Codrington, CB JaMarcus Ingram
Best Bets for Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills
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