Overview
- Bo Nix fractured his right ankle on Denver’s overtime winning drive against Buffalo and is out for the season, with surgery scheduled Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.
- Head coach Sean Payton named Jarrett Stidham the starter for Sunday’s AFC Championship in Denver, marking his first start in more than two years and his fifth career start.
- Early betting lines shifted to the Patriots at around -5.5, as analysts forecast a Broncos game plan driven by a defense that logged an NFL‑best 68 regular‑season sacks.
- Denver opened the practice window for RB J.K. Dobbins, giving him a chance to be available, and signed QB Ben DiNucci for depth following Nix’s injury.
- The Broncos’ receiving corps is thin with Troy Franklin (hamstring) and Pat Bryant (concussion) sidelined, while New England arrives with a turnover‑heavy defense that has pressured opposing quarterbacks throughout the postseason.