At multiple points during the Denver Broncos’ AFC Divisional Round game on Sunday, it seemed as though the Buffalo Bills were running away with the game, but Denver trained all season for moments like this.

Miraculously, an outstanding interception by Denver corner Ja’Quan McMillian and a smart drive by the Broncos’ offense, Wil Lutz split the uprights for a game-winning field goal.

Quarterback Bo Nix was a big reason why Denver sent Buffalo packing, but now the Broncos will have to beat another tough opponent without the franchise quarterback.

Today’s Hottest Take: Broncos still have a shot with Stidham

Without Nix, it will be tough to beat the New England Patriots, especially considering the circumstances. Jarrett Stidham is one of the top backups in the NFL, but asking him to win the AFC Championship game in what will be his first start since Jan. 7, 2024, is a tough ask.

That doesn’t mean a win is impossible, though. Stidham is a backup for a reason, but he might be one of the best backups in the league.

“Stiddy,” as Stidham is known to Sean Payton and the Broncos, has started just a handful of games in his career, but based on what the Broncos have seen in practice, the preseason, and his limited regular-season experience, the team seems to have faith in the six-year player.

Stidham was one of Payton’s first signings as the Broncos’ coach, so it’s clear he has faith in him, and when Russell Wilson was in Denver, Stidham actually earned a couple of starts at the end of his first season.

In the two starts, Stidham went 1-1 with 40 completions on 66 attempts for 496 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. All things considered, Stidham played alright. Now, though, the Broncos’ surrounding cast is much better than it was then. The offensive line has blossomed into, arguably, the league’s best. The defense has become an elite unit, and a revamped group of offensive weapons meshes better than it used to.

While his most recent start was years ago, and the preseason doesn’t always translate to regular-season or postseason success, Stidham looked great this offseason.

Stidham is a generally aggressive passer who isn’t afraid to push the ball downfield, which could be intriguing for Payton, but he doesn’t have the same mobility as Nix. It is yet to be determined if Payton will be cautious or aggressive in his playcalling, but Stidham should at least give Denver a shot against an inexperienced Patriots team.

What You Need To Know: The Broncos may be getting key players back

While Stidham may have a shot at an upset, he could use as much help as he can get. Fortunately for Stidham and the Broncos, a few key players may return to the lineup this Sunday.

Receivers Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin both exited the win over the Bills early. Bryant cleared the concussion protocol and should be good to go Sunday. Franklin is still limited with a hamstring injury and may end up missing the game against New England.

There is a chance Denver gets a couple of players back from IR. Starting center Luke Wattenberg and starting running back J.K. Dobbins both returned to practice this week; Wattenberg practiced in full on Thursday, and Dobbins was limited. While they won’t fix everything, getting key starters back in the lineup would be a huge help for Stidham, especially Bryant, who likely has had plenty of practice reps with Stidham since the beginning of the season.

Before You Go: The Denver defense will need to step up once again

While Denver’s defense has been great all season, it will need to be even better than it was throughout the year. In fact, it will need to look like it did last week. The Broncos have not been great at forcing turnovers this season despite being the best pass-rushing unit in the league. Last week, though, Denver forced five turnovers.

That’s a high bar to reach every week, but New England’s offense has been susceptible to turnovers this postseason. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye isn’t allergic to making a bad decision or fumbling the ball.

If Denver’s defense can give the offense some short fields and control the pace of the game, the Broncos could earn themselves a Super Bowl appearance.