DENVER — Ja’Quan McMillian made a crucial interception of Josh Allen’s long pass in overtime, and Bo Nix orchestrated the Broncos’ drive leading to Wil Lutz’s 23-yard field goal, propelling Denver to the AFC Championship Game with a 33-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
This interception was the fifth takeaway for Denver in the match; the team entered the playoffs with a turnover differential of minus-3. McMillian snatched the ball from Brandin Cooks at the 20-yard line, preventing the Bills from securing a game-winning field goal.
The Broncos (15-3) will meet either New England or Houston for the AFC title next Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High, where the top-seeded Denver has achieved victory in 14 of their last 15 contests.
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«They are a strong team,» remarked Nix. «They played exceptionally well tonight. After a challenging match last week, they provided us a real challenge on a short week, so commendations to them. We always find a way to win, and our defense stepped up; I’m proud of our team and this organization.»
«We have a resilient character—never out of the game. It may not have been perfect; we led comfortably, but they rallied back, and in the fourth quarter and overtime, we prevailed.»
Broncos coach Sean Payton expressed concern over the team’s inconsistent offense and their 1-for-4 efficiency in the red zone: «Our performance in the red zone was lacking. Yet, we managed to come through where it counted.»
The Bills (13-6) saw multiple pass interference penalties against them during Denver’s final drive.
Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater successfully kicked a 50-yard field goal with just five seconds left in regulation, leveling the score at 30-30. This followed Nix’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that put Denver ahead 30-27 with 55 seconds remaining.
Allen, who had gone six playoff games without a turnover, faced a challenging night with two interceptions and two fumbles. P.J. Locke also recorded one of Allen’s interceptions.
«It’s incredibly tough,» a visibly emotional Allen conveyed postgame. «I feel like I disappointed my teammates.»
For a second consecutive year, the Bills fell short of the Super Bowl with Allen at the helm, despite facing a playoff field without top quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson.
Payton noted that the game should have concluded earlier in overtime due to a holding penalty on a Denver defender in the end zone before Allen managed to escape from his own end zone.
Following his first road playoff victory, Allen’s three early turnovers allowed Denver to seize a 23-10 lead, yet he later connected for touchdown passes to Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid to give Buffalo a 24-23 edge early in the fourth quarter.
Allen also fumbled at the Denver 23 late in the fourth, but right tackle Spencer Brown secured the ball, setting up Prater’s 31-yard field goal that gave Buffalo a 27-23 lead.
In the second half, Allen was intercepted when Locke intercepted a pass intended for Curtis Samuel, who was in a position to score from 43 yards out.
Denver capitalized with 10 points in the last 22 seconds of the first half, heading into the locker room with a 20-10 advantage after Bonitto’s strip-sack of Allen two plays into the second half was recovered by Malcolm Roach at the Bills’ 17, which led to Lutz’s short field goal.
Nix’s 29-yard touchdown throw to Lil’Jordan Humphrey broke a 10-10 tie, and Bonitto’s forced fumble on Allen just before halftime allowed Lutz to kick a 50-yarder, closing the half at 20-10.
In the first half, the Broncos also saw an unexpected contribution, with Nix’s pass to tackle-eligible Frank Crum resulting in a 7-yard touchdown.
James Cook III carried for 117 yards on 24 attempts but also had a fumble.
After a previous playoff loss to the Bills, Payton remarked, «We need to secure these matchups at home.»
This season, they achieved this by leading the league in sacks (68), matching a franchise record with 14 regular-season wins, and successfully contesting numerous one-score games and comebacks.
«We weren’t ready last year,» Payton reflected. «But today, we were prepared.»
