Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills took care of the wild card round on Sunday afternoon, as they dominated the Denver Broncos, 31-7, to advance to the divisional round.
The Bills will now host the Baltimore Ravens next week to see who will have a spot in the AFC Championship.
The Bills were the heavy favorites in this game considering rookie quarterback Bo Nix was going to play his first playoff game on the road against a veteran Buffalo team when it came to January football.
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in the wild card game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
But just as he has all season, this game started with Nix trusting his talent and throwing a 43-yard pass to his former Oregon teammate Troy Franklin to put Denver up 7-0.
However, although the “Bills Mafia” was not very happy with that start to the contest, they knew that Allen, their favorite for the Most Valuable Player, was not going to disappoint them.
What followed was 31 unanswered points by Buffalo, starting with a field goal and a touchdown on the team’s first two drives.
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The Bills’ first touchdown was scored by none other than James Cook, who co-led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns on the season. He capped a 13-play drive with a five-yard barrel into the end zone to make the score 10-7.
Cook finished the game with 120 rushing yards on 23 carries against a Denver defense that has been one of the best in the league all season.
Thanks to long, methodical drives by the Bills, the first half ended with Broncos kicker Wil Lutz hitting the goal post on a field goal attempt to tie the game at 10 apiece, and that was as close to scoring as the Broncos would get the rest. of the game.
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid is tackled by Denver Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad during the AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on January 12, 2025. (Images by Mark Konezny-Imagn)
Buffalo scored on every drive of the second half except a kneel down late in the game, which included touchdown passes from Allen to Ty Johnson on a ridiculous throw and catch from 24 yards out, and Curtis Samuel broke free for a 55-yard score. yards. to really seal the victory at 28-7 as the fourth quarter began.
In the end, Allen efficiently completed 20 of 26 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 46 yards on eight carries.
Samuel was their best receiver in terms of yards thanks to that huge gain. He finished with 68, while Khalil Shakir had six receptions for 61 yards.
Meanwhile, Nix was 13-of-22 for 144 yards with a touchdown, while also rushing for 43 yards. The Bills were stingy when the Broncos attempted to establish a running game, limiting the Broncos to a total of 79 yards.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates with receiver Curtis Samuel after scoring a touchdown in the wild card playoff game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Courtland Sutton was Denver’s top receiver as always, hauling in five catches for 75 yards.
