The Demain Playbook #5: Broken Ankle, Broken Hopes

OPINION — The Denver Broncos’ dream season came to an abrupt end when starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken right ankle late in their 33–30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round. Broncos head coach Sean Payton confirmed that Nix will miss the remainder of the playoffs after undergoing season‑ending surgery.

Nix’s injury occurred late in overtime, a crushing blow for a team riding a 14–3 season and the league’s No. 1 seed. While the Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game, not having their emerging star quarterback proved to be an important factor as Denver fell 10–7 to the New England Patriots, ending their quest for Super Bowl LX.

Nix, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards in 2025, led Denver to back‑to‑back playoff appearances, their first since 2015, and was a crucial for the team's offensive improvement. 

With Nix sidelined, veteran backup Jarrett Stidham was thrust into the spotlight for the championship game. Stidham had not attempted a meaningful pass all season before being named the starter, making just one regular‑season snap, a kneel down to end a game, before taking the reins in Denver’s biggest game of the year. Against the Patriots, Stidham completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and also lost a fumble that directly set up New England’s only score.

A very similar situation happened in 2019 with Nick Foles and the Eagles; that story ended with the Eagles as Super Bowl champions. However, the contexts are very different. Foles entered that season with meaningful playing time and ended up winning a Super Bowl. Stidham, by contrast, had not seen real NFL action in years and faced one of the toughest defensive fronts in the league.

Now, with the season over, Bronco fans and analysts are already casting eyes toward the 2026 NFL Draft. While a reliable backup quarterback is certainly a need, and Stidham’s performance raised questions, multiple areas could demand priority. Although it seems like the Broncos should probably fill the gap with a linebacker with their picks, and perhaps another running back would also be of assistance. 

Bo Nix is expected to rehab through the offseason and could be ready for spring drills, offering hope that the 2026 season will pick up where 2025 left off, but this time, more complete.