Despite a thrilling 33-30 overtime divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills, a dark cloud is now hanging over the Denver Broncos ahead of their AFC Championship Game tilt next week.
On Denver’s game-winning drive, quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken bone in his ankle. The injury will require surgery, and Nix will miss the remainder of the season. The top-seeded Broncos, who were 14-3 in the regular season, will turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham versus the New England Patriots next week.
Sean Payton Expresses Confidence In Jarrett Stidham
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that Stidham will be “ready to go” and be “ready for the moment” in the AFC Championship Game versus the Patriots.
“He’s ready,” Payton said. “I said this at the beginning of the season, I’ve got a two that’s capable of starting for a handful, a number of teams. And I know he feels the same way. Watch out. Just watch. He’s experienced. He’s played in games.”
Stidham, 29, who played college football at Auburn, was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has played for the Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and now the Broncos. Stidham has appeared in 20 games (four starts) in his career with 1,422 passing yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 59.4% completion rate.
“One of Stiddy’s great strengths is his mental aptitude and his progression and understanding plays,” Payton said. “He’s very accurate. He’s got a lot to his ball.”
While Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2023, he was a preseason standout this year, completing 78.9% of his passes (30-of-38) for 376 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Payton acknowledged there are differences between Nix’s skill set and Stidham’s. The good news for Stidham is that Payton isn’t asking him to be Bo Nix. He aims to accentuate the strengths of Stidham’s game instead.
“I think the plan’s always got to be built around the type and the skill set of the players you’re playing with. Are there certain things that Bo does differently than Stiddy? Absolutely,” Payton said. “That’s where the work begins tonight.”
History Isn’t In Stidham’s Favor
Per ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler, Stidham will be just the second quarterback to make their first start of the season in the conference championship game or later. Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach made his first start of the 1972 season in the NFC Championship Game, a 26-3 loss to Washington.
Another stat going against Stidham is there have only been six quarterbacks since 1950 to have their first start of the season come during the postseason. Frank Reich is the only one of the six to be victorious, back in 1992 as quarterback of the Buffalo Bills in a win over the Patriots.
While the data suggests Stidham faces long odds against New England next week, Payton believes in him. This is Stidham’s third season with the Broncos, and he has familiarity with Payton’s scheme and what will be asked of him once he receives live action.
“It’s our three years here and our three years watching him day in and day out that you guys don’t have access to,” Payton told the media. “He will be ready to go and ready for the moment.”