The Buffalo Bills entered the 2025 NFL playoffs hoping to make it to the NFL divisional round for a fifth consecutive year. Mission accomplished.
The Bills defeated the Denver Broncos 31-7 in the AFC’s No. 2 vs. No. 7-seed matchup to set up a divisional round date with the Baltimore Ravens.
Bo Nix and the Broncos got off to a hot start, scoring a touchdown on the first drive of the game and moving the ball well through the air against the Bills. Denver’s defense also did a good job holding Buffalo in check, limiting them to 10 points in the first half and keeping the game within one score deep into the third quarter.
However, Josh Allen and the Bills finally opened the floodgates after deciding to go for it on a fourth-and-1 on Denver’s 24-yard line. A field goal would have extended Buffalo’s lead to nine; instead, Allen managed to find Ty Johnson for a spectacular touchdown that gave the Bills a 14-point lead.
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Allen enjoyed a strong performance during the contest, completing 20-of-26 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns while adding 46 yards on eight carries. His rushing counterpart James Cook also had a massive outing. He racked up 120 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Both were able to get off his feet late in the blowout win.
Sean Payton’s Broncos will now go back to the drawing board, but at least they know they have something in Nix. He finished his first playoff game completing 13-of-22 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown while leading the team with 43 rushing yards on four carries.
USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more below. All times are Eastern.
Ty Johnson runs for first down to end game
After forcing the Broncos into a turnover on downs, the Bills needed just one first down to run out the rest of the clock. They managed to get that on a carry from Johnson, who took on primary running responsibilities alongside quarterback Mitch Trubisky for Buffalo’s final series of the game.
The Bills will now be able to end the game by taking a knee three times. That will give them a 31-7 wild-card win.
Bills extend lead to 24 with late field goal
The Bills managed to eat nearly seven minutes of the remaining clock on their most recent drive and got into scoring range. Tyler Bass nailed the 34-yard field goal to cap it off and add to the margin in what is looking like a decisive Buffalo victory.
Bills get key fourth-down stop of Broncos
The Bills let Bo Nix and the Broncos move the ball down the field methodically after going up three scores. However, Buffalo eventually bowed up and forced Denver into a fourth-and-2 at the 14-yard line.
The Broncos went for it, but Nix’s dump-off to Jaleel McLaughlin didn’t allow the running back to get beyond the line to gain. That gave the ball back to the Bills, who are leading by 21 with 11:32 left in regulation.
Curtis Samuel breaks tackle, speeds to end zone oBills extend lead to 24 with late field goal
The Bills managed to eat nearly seven minutes of the remaining clock on their most recent drive and got into scoring range. Tyler Bass nailed the 34-yard field goal to cap it off and add to the margin in what is looking like a decisive Buffalo victory.n TD catch
The Bills are starting to pour it on.
The Bills opened up a 21-point lead thanks to a touchdown pass from Josh Allen to Curtis Samuel early in the fourth quarter, putting the Broncos firmly behind the 8-ball. Samuel broke a tackle and took it to the house for the 55-yard score. Bills 28, Broncos 7
Josh Allen finds Ty Johnson for miraculous 24-yard touchdown on fourth-down
The Bills decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 rather than kick a field goal to go up nine.
Allen appeared to be in trouble on the play initially. He wanted to run the ball to his right when no receiver was open, but the Broncos were disciplined and denied him a running lane.
Eventually, Allen saw Johnson in the end-zone and heaved up a prayer to him. The veteran running back made the sliding grab and somehow kept both of his feet and legs from hitting the back-line in the end-zone.
The score guaranteed the Bills would be up two touchdowns. Their 2-point conversion was good, making it a 14-point game.
Ray Davis injury update
Josh Allen tried to feather a wheel route pass to Davis out of the backfield, but he put it just a bit too far in front of the rookie running back. Unfortunately, that left Davis in a vulnerable position as Broncos safety Brandon Jones slammed into him.
Jones’ shoulder hit Davis directly in the helmet, and the running back went down immediately. He laid on his back with his hands in the air as Bills players motioned for the medical staff to tend to Davis.
The officials whistled Jones, who appeared apologetic after the play, for a 15-yard personal foul penalty for a hit to the head.
Josh Allen seen chatting with referee Bill Vinovich after no-call
The officials in the Bills vs. Broncos game appeared to miss an obvious holding call in the end-zone on a third-and-goal. That forced Buffalo to attempt a field goal rather than get another set of goal-to-go downs.
CBS cameras caught referee Bill Vinovich talking to Josh Allen on the bench after the play. It looked like he might be taking responsibility for the missed call based on his gestures during the conversation.
Broncos go three-and-out to start second half
Denver needed to get off to a good start in the second half, if only to stem Buffalo’s significant advantage in time of possession. Instead, they went three-and-out after Bo Nix and Troy Franklin failed to connect on a third-and-5 pass early in the drive.
Riley Dixon had a great 48-yard punt to the Bills, but the Broncos’ drive ate up just 1:10 of the third quarter. That will give Buffalo, leading by six, a chance to continue to run on Denver’s defense and try to wear it down
James Cook stats today
Cook is having one of his finest games as a pro against the Broncos. He has repeatedly ripped off chunk gains for the Bills and has racked up 111 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries thus far.
There is still 10:03 left in the third quarter, so Cook may be able to challenge his career-high in rushing yards, which currently stands at 179.
Josh Allen sacked in red-zone forcing Tyler Bass chip shot
Allen tried to extend a play on third-and-goal against the Broncos but nobody could shake loose in the end-zone before Denver brought down the quarterback for a second sack. Patrick Surtain got away with an obvious hold in the end-zone, but nonetheless, the Broncos forced the Bills into a field goal, which Bass nailed with ease.
Buffalo now leads 13-7 but Denver is still within striking distance. Bo Nix and Co. will have a chance to take advantage of the defensive stop when they get the ball for the first time of the second half.
What is 5280 on Broncos helmets?
The figure references the city of Denver’s elevation of 5,280 feet. That’s also the origin of the Broncos’ ‘Mile High’ Stadium (which is presently known as Empower Field at Mile High).
Broncos stats vs. Bills at halftime
Bo Nix has comported himself well in his first career playoff game. He was on fire to start the game before hitting a mid-half lull. However, he did well in the two-minute drill to put the Broncos into field goal range as time expired. Wil Lutz just missed the kick.
Below is a look at the Broncos’ stats from the first half:
Bo Nix: 8-of-12 passing, 102 yards, 1 TD, 120.8 rating
Javonte Williams: 5 carries, 22 yards
Courtland Sutton: 3 catches, 51 yards
Troy Franklin: 1 catch, 43 yards, 1 TD
Zach Allen: 2 tackles, 1 sack
Bills stats vs. Broncos at halftime
Josh Allen hasn’t done as much through the air through 30 minutes. Instead, the Bills have often had six offensive linemen on the field and have been running the ball often. That’s why they’re outgaining Denver 128-44 on the ground at halftime.
Below is a look at the BIlls’ stats from the first half:
Josh Allen: 9-of-12 passing, 69 yards, 88.5 rating, 6 carries, 35 yards
James Cook: 13 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD
Khalil Shakir: 3 catches, 34 yards
Matt Milano: 4 tackles, 1 sack
Wil Lutz doinks 50-yard field goal as Bills retain 10-7 halftime lead
Bo Nix led the Broncos to points on his first drive of the half. He nearly did on his final drive of the half as well.
Denver marched the ball methodically on its final drive of the half before a Nix-to-Courtland Sutton completion put the Broncos into field goal range. Lutz was called on to attempt the 50-yarder, but it just curled right and hit off the right upright, denying Denver points as time expired in the half.
As a result, the Bills remain ahead of the Broncos 10-7, thanks largely to a strong rushing effort. Buffalo has 128 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, as James Cook and Josh Allen have generated plenty of tough yards against a quality Denver run defense.
The Bills are only outgaining the Broncos 189-161 but they are winning the time of possession battle by 9:20. Buffalo will get the ball to start the second half. Another long drive could start to tire out Denver’s defense, but as long as the Broncos are within striking distance, the Bills can’t get too comfortable.
Marvin Mims called for personal foul penalty after being leveled by Mack Hollins
Punts have been eventful during the Bills vs. Broncos game. This time, Sam Martin uncorked one that Hollins timed up perfectly. The veteran receiver slammed into Mims right when he caught the punt, preventing a return and putting a massive hit on the 5-11 speedster.
Mims didn’t take kindly to a Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson trying to rip the ball out of his hands after he went down. He got up and got in Ferguson’s face, drawing a flag from the officials.
As a result, Denver will be backed up as it looks to score in the two-minute drill.
Broncos sack Josh Allen, force Bills punt at two-minute warning
Allen was sacked just once in six games leading up to the playoffs, but the Broncos managed to bring him down after Zach Allen beat David Andrews on a second-and-13.
The Bills checked the ball down on a third-and-21 and now will have to punt with two minutes left in the half. That will give the Broncos another chance to score before halftime, trailing 10-7.
Broncos actually punt, pin Bills at 1-yard line
Denver’s fake punt didn’t end up netting the Broncos any points, but it did net them bettere field position. Riley Dixon launched a perfect punt that checked up just inside the 1-yard line. Marvin Mims managed to corral it to pin Buffalo deep for its third drive of the game.
The play was the second strong one for Dixon and Mims on the drive. The two connected on the fake punt pass that helped the Broncos cross midfield.
Broncos fake punt, Riley Dixon completes first-down pass to Marvin Mims
The Broncos appeared poised to punt for the second consecutive possession, but they instead faked the punt. Dixon deked out the defense and lofted a perfect pass to Mims, who brought it in to continue Denver’s possession.
Denver is now on the cusp of field goal range. We’ll see if Sean Payton’s gamble pays off, much like his surprise onside kick in Super Bowl 44.
Are James Cook and Dalvin Cook brothers?
Yes, they are. The more interesting thing about them, however, is their middle names.
Dalvin Cook’s full name is ‘Dalvin James Cook.’ James Cook’s full name is ‘James Dalvin Cook.’
James Cook punches in 5-yard touchdown to put Bills ahead
Cook has started the game with some hard-nosed, physical runs. That included his 5-yard carry to cap off a 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that put the Bills ahead 10-7, after Tyler Bass’ extra point.
Cook now has 60 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The Bills have 100 total rushing yards with 12:57 left in the second quarter. Bills 10, Broncos 7
Broncos leading Bills 7-3 after first quarter
Denver got off to a great start with their first drive on the road in Buffalo, as Bo Nix hit Troy Franklin for a 43-yard touchdown to give them an early lead. Since then, the Bills have consistently moved the ball on the Broncos but haven’t yet managed to get into the end-zone.
Nix isn’t looking like a rookie, as he completed 3-of-3 passes for 64 yards and the touchdown in the first quarter. That gives him a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
Comparatively, Josh Allen had a couple of misfires in the end-zone. Otherwise, he has been solid, going 6-of-9 passing for 45 yards with 19 yards on the ground.
The Bills are outgaining the Broncos 124-75 and are threatening to score for a second consecutive drive. They will have the ball on Denver’s 21-yard line facing a first-and-10 to start the second quarter.
Taron Johnson injury update
Good news for the Bills: CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson reports that Johnson, the team’s star nickel back, has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.
However, Johnson remains in the locker room and is being evaluated for a neck injury. His return is questionable.
Are the Bills building a new stadium?
Yes, the Bills are planning to build a new stadium. The team released new renderings of the arena, which is set to open in July of 2026, ahead of their playoff run.
Bills force three-and-out despite Taron Johnson injury
The Broncos spread out the field on third-and-5 hoping to take advantage of Johnson’s absence. Instead, Bo Nix tried to scramble to the right side of the field but was chased down by Buffalo linebacker Matt Milano for no gain.
Riley Dixon punted the ball back to the Bills, who will start at their own 19-yard line.
Taron Johnson injury update
Johnson suffered an apparent injury on the Bills’ second drive of the game after a helmet-to-helmet collision with Broncos running back Javonte Williams. Johnson remained down on the field as Buffalo’s medical staff came to tend to him.
Johnson was able to get off the field under his own power but was taken to the blue medical, presumably to be evaluated for a head injury. The seventh-year cornerback was an All-Pro second teamer in 2023 and is one of the best slot corners in the NFL.
Bills settle for field goal after Josh Allen overshoots Amari Cooper
The Bills drove the ball with ease on their first drive of the game but got bogged down in the red-zone. Allen took a couple of shots at the end-zone but misfired on a throw to a wide open Dawson Knox on the run before sailing a throw to Cooper out of the back of the end-zone.
Tyler Bass nails the chip shot to cut Denver’s lead to 7-3 in the first quarter.
Bills-Broncos score: Bo Nix, Denver strike first with long TD
Giddy up.
Denver took the ball to start the matchup, and they took it to the end zone less than three minutes into the game. After a third-down conversion, quarterback Bo Nix found receiver Troy Franklin deep for a 43-yard touchdown pass for six. The Broncos are up early, 7-0.
Bills vs. Broncos start time
Start time: 1 p.m. ET
The Bills and Broncos kick off Sunday wild-card action at 1 p.m. ET. The Broncos travel to Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. to take on the Bills.
Bills inactives vs. Broncos
No surprises on the Bills inactives list, as they enter the playoffs as one of the NFL’s healthiest teams. Here’s the inactives list for the wild-card matchup:
Broncos inactives vs. Bills
The Broncos once again shuffle their backfield, with Audric Estime hitting the inactives list vs. the Bills. Zach Wilson is the emergency QB today.
NFL best bets today: Bills vs. Broncos playoffs
Looking to make today’s Bills vs. Broncos game more interesting? Here are some of the best bets for the matchup:
Josh Allen OVER 41.5 rushing yards (-115)
Bo Nix OVER 26.5 rushing yards (-115)
Mack Hollins anytime TD (+340)
Bills vs. Broncos odds, moneyline, over/under
The Bills are favored to defeat the Broncos, per to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.
Spread: Bills (+9)
Moneyline: Bills (-550); Broncos (+400)
Over/under: 48
Bills vs. Broncos live stream
Live stream: Fubo, Paramount+, NFL+
For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks.
CBS’ own streaming service, Paramount+, will also carry the game, as will the NFL’s streaming service NFL+.
What NFL playoff games are this weekend?
There are six NFL playoff games for the league’s wild-card weekend. Here’s the schedule:
AFC wild-card games
Saturday, Jan. 11: Houston Texans 32-12 Los Angeles Chargers
Saturday, Jan. 11: No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5) vs. No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Sunday, Jan. 12: No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4) vs. No. 7 Denver Broncos (10-7), 1 p.m. ET
NFC wild-card games
Sunday, Jan. 12: No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6), 4:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 12: No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) vs. No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5), 8 p.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 13: No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) vs. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3), 8 p.m. ET
Sean Payton playoff record
Payton is in the playoffs for the first time as the Broncos’ head coach after reaching the postseason nine times over 15 years in New Orleans. Here’s how he’s fared each time he’s made the playoffs plus his cumulative record:
2006: 1-1
2009: 3-0 (Super Bowl championship)
2010: 0-1
2011: 1-1
2013: 1-1
2017: 1-1
2018: 1-1
2019: 0-1
2020: 1-1
Overall: 9-8
Sean McDermott playoff record
McDermott is back in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season and his seventh time in eight years as the Bills’ head coach. Here’s how he’s fared each time he’s made the postseason:
2017: 0-1
2019: 0-1
2020: 2-1
2021: 1-1
2022: 1-1
2023: 1-1
Overall: 5-6
Bills vs. Broncos TV channel
TV channel: CBS
CBS will broadcast the Bills vs. Broncos matchup. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call with Tracy Wolfson providing updates from the sideline. Jay Feely will provide kicking insight.
Bills vs. Broncos predictions, picks
Lorenzo Reyes: Bills 34, Broncos 20
Tyler Dragon: Bills 28, Broncos 20
Jordan Mendoza: Bills 31, Broncos 20