On January 12, 2025, the Buffalo Bills secured a decisive 31-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC wild-card round, advancing to face the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.
Key Performances:
• Josh Allen (Bills): Completed 20 of 26 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing Jim Kelly’s franchise record with his 23rd postseason touchdown pass. Allen also contributed 46 rushing yards.
• James Cook (Bills): Rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run, demonstrating his effectiveness in the ground game.
• Bo Nix (Broncos): The rookie quarterback completed 13 of 22 passes for 144 yards and one touchdown, a 43-yard pass to Troy Franklin, but struggled to generate consistent offense against the Bills’ defense.
Game Highlights:
The Broncos initiated the scoring with Nix’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Troy Franklin. However, the Bills responded decisively, with Allen connecting on touchdown passes to Ty Johnson (24 yards) and Curtis Samuel (55 yards). James Cook added a 5-yard rushing touchdown, and Allen completed a two-point conversion pass to Keon Coleman, contributing to the Bills’ 31 unanswered points.
Team Statistics:
• Bills: Demonstrated offensive balance with 272 passing yards and 210 rushing yards, totaling 482 yards. The defense held the Broncos to 145 passing yards and limited their scoring after the initial touchdown.
• Broncos: Managed 145passing yards and struggled to establish the run game, facing a stout Bills’ defense that controlled the game’s tempo.
Quotes:
Josh Allen, reflecting on the upcoming matchup against MVP rival Lamar Jackson, stated, “Lamar’s a dynamic player; it’s always a challenge going up against him. We’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
The Bills’ victory sets up a highly anticipated divisional round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, featuring a showdown between MVP contenders Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
