Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills took care of business in 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 gets a spot in the AFC Championship.
The Bills were the heavy favorites in this game as rookie quarterback Bo Nix was set to play his first playoff game on the road against a veteran Buffalo team when it came to football in January.
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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 began with Nix trusting his talent and launching a 43-yard strike to his old Oregon teammate Troy Franklin to put Denver up 7-0.
But while the “Bills Mafia” weren’t too happy about that start to the contest, they knew Allen, their MVP front-runner, wouldn’t let them down.
What followed was 31 unanswered points by Buffalo, which began with a field goal and touchdown on the team’s first two offensive drives.
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The first touchdown for the Bills was scored by none other than James Cook, who tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns on the season. He capped a 13-play drive with a five-yard barrel into the end zone to make it 10-7.
Cook finished the game with 120 yards rushing on 23 carries against a Denver defense that has been one of the best in the league all season.
Thanks to long, methodical Bills drives, the first half ended with Broncos kicker Wil Lutz hitting the goalpost with a field goal attempt to tie the game at 10 apiece, and that was as close to scoring as the Broncos would see the rest of the way. 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. (Mark Konezny-Imagn Photos)
Buffalo scored on every other half drive, except for a kneel down at the end of the game, which included touchdown passes from Allen to Ty Johnson on a ridiculous throw and catch from 24 yards out, and Curtis Samuel breaking free for a 55- yards score to really seal the 28-7 victory as the fourth quarter began.
In the end, Allen was an efficient 20-for-26 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 46 yards on eight carries.
Samuel was his top receiver in terms of yards thanks to the huge gain. He finished with 68, while Khalil Shakir had six catches for 61 yards.
Meanwhile, Nix was 13-for-22 for 144 yards with one touchdown while also rushing for 43 yards. The Bills were stingy when the Broncos tried to establish a running game, holding the Broncos to 79 total yards.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates with wide receiver Curtis Samuel after he scores a touchdown in the wild-card playoff game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Courtland Sutton was Denver’s top receiver as usual, hauling in five catches for 75 yards.
