Play of the game
It took until the playoffs for the Bo Nix-Troy Franklin connection to finally work. On Denver’s first drive of the game, Franklin slipped past the Bills’ secondary and then caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Nix. Good things come to those who wait, and Franklin showed that on Sunday. Unfortunately, they were unable to make any more good memories after that. Head coach Sean Payton was livid with Franklin a couple of times, especially after the failed fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter.
Turning point
The Broncos got gutsy. Down 10-7 in the second quarter, Riley Dixon faked a punt and then threw a 15-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr. for a first down. However, the play didn’t generate the momentum Denver had hoped for. After Nix’s screen pass resulted in a 3-yard loss and an incompletion to wideout Courtland Sutton, the Broncos were forced to punt. In a game of this magnitude, Denver needed to capitalize on plays like Dixon’s fake punt. That didn’t happen Sunday.
It was over when
Josh Allen is an MVP candidate for a reason. Buffalo’s star quarterback did the unthinkable on fourth down in the third quarter when he found running back Ty Johnson in the back of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown, extending Buffalo’s lead to 21-7. Was the sliding grab actually a catch? That’s what it was ruled on the field, and the officials declined to overturn it. But it was certainly up for debate. What isn’t? Denver never recovered after that.
Unsung Hero
DE Zach Allen: Denver’s All-Pro defensive lineman played with a ton of heart. Allen had a sack and four pressures against a Bills offensive line thatap as good as any. The former Boston College standout had a career year, totaling 8.5 sacks and 67 pressures in the regular season as an All-Pro pick.
Goat of the game
WR Marvin Mims Jr.: Mims got rocked. As soon as the punt attempt landed in the returner’s hands, Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins laid a vicious hit that could be felt throughout Highmark Stadium. The tackle along with an unnecessary roughness penalty on Mims pinned the Broncos at their 8-yard line with two minutes left in the second quarter. The drive ended with kicker Wil Lutz doinking a 50-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
