Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills (NFL Wild Card Playoffs)
1ST QUARTER
13:36 ON THE CLOCK: The Broncos have the ball on their own 32 yard line with a 3rd & 8. Bo Nix launches one down the field and finds Courtland Sutton with a good catch in the mid field for the first down. The drive continues on the 43 yard line, 2nd & 4. Nix releases the ball quickly with a long perfect dime pass into the arms of Troy Franklin as he runs into the endzone for the touchdown. The Denver Broncos make the first move to take a lead of 7-0.
12:31 ON THE CLOCK: The Bills try to answer back straight away with a steady drive with rushes from Khalil Shakir and Ty Johnson. However, they fail to make it to the endzone and have to settle for a field goal. The score is 7-3 to the Broncos.
4:54 ON THE CLOCK: Buffalo QB Josh Allen has the ball again on the 26 yard line giving the ball again to Johnon who runs for the first down and a gain of 10. On the next play the ball is handed to James Cook, who looks to be short of a first down before a helping hand on the offensive line gives the Bills a first down and a further 10 yards from where the play looked likely to end. Josh Allen even uses his legs to make gains on plays on the drive to get his team up the field. On 3rd & 5 a good catch from Curtis Samuel gets a much needed first down to end the quarter.
2ND QUARTER
13:40 ON THE CLOCK: The Buffalo drive continues with a 3rd & 3 which Josh Allen runs himself again to the 5 yard line and the 1st & GOAL. With the next play the ball is handed to Cook yet again who drives his way through for the touchdown. The Bills number 4 with his 17th rushing touchdown of the season. The Bills now lead 7-10.
10:53 ON THE CLOCK: Bo Nix on his own 43 yard line has a difficult time trying to find one of his teammates. He is almost intercepted by Taylor Rapp for the Bills but unable to make the catch and spares the blushes of Nix. The Broncos then look to punt on 4th down before Riley Dixon fakes the punt and throws to find a wide open Marvin Mims Jr. first down for the Broncos. Although able to get the first down, the Broncos can’t make it count as they are forced to punt on the next part of the drive.
1:00 ON THE CLOCK: The Broncos have the ball again and drive for the first down on 3rd & 1. On the next play Nix drives himself for the first down with great agility to get out of the pocket and quick feet to get the first down. The Broncos QB shows he means business and finds Sutton for a third consecutive first down. Then again finding Sutton just before the 30 yard line to set up a field goal chance. The field goal bouncing off the right post with difficult conditions in Buffalo. The Bills remain in the lead thanks to the doink off the post.
HALF TIME - DENVER BRONCOS 7-10 BUFFALO BILLS
3RD QUARTER
13:30 ON THE CLOCK: Josh Allen looks downfield and finds Dawson Knox who is wide open for the first down with a large gain on the play. On the next play James Cook rushes to get another first down on the 8 yard line, setting up a 1st & GOAL. Josh Allen has time on 3rd & GOAL, pivoting and coming out of the pocket before being tackled, unable to get the ball out of his hands. The Bills have to settle for a field goal, with Tyler Bass splitting the sticks to make it 7-13 Bills.
8:52 ON THE CLOCK: Broncos are on their own 25 yard line, with a third down they need to convert. However, this amounts to nothing as Bo Nix looks for Troy Franklin but goes agonisingly through his fingers and even almost gets caught for an interception.
8:02 ON THE CLOCK: Josh Allen finds Shakir again who overcomes a tackle to get a first down and more for the Bills. A gain of over 10 yards on the first down. The drive continues as the Bills are on the 31 yard line on 3rd & 8. Allen finds Shakir again who gets to within a yard of the first down. Allen on the 4th down has time, thinks about running for the first down before defensive pressure makes him throw the ball down to the endzone and finds a sliding Ty Johnson for the touchdown. A great throw and catch from both men to extend the Bills lead. The Bills go for the 2 point conversion as Allen floats it to Keon Coleman, making it Broncos 7 - 21 Bills.
1:25 ON THE CLOCK: The Broncos have a 3rd & 11 that they need to convert into a first down. However, Bo Nix nearly finds another Bills player again for an interception and is unable to make the first down. Denver seems to be very lucky that they have not had an interception against them today.
4TH QUARTER
15:00 ON THE CLOCK: Buffalo has the ball again just shy of the 45 yard line. Josh Allen puts the ball forward to Curtis Samuel who fakes two defenders and a tackle attempt to go straight into the endzone for a touchdown. The Bills lead 7-28.
14:43 ON THE CLOCK: Bo Nix has the first down due to a great solo run that he takes from his own 25 yard line to close to the 45 yard line. A first 1st down of the second half for Denver just shows how little offense that they have been able to get going in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Bo Nix then continues to find his receivers and run himself for four consecutive first downs as the Broncos try scoring in the second half which proves to be unsuccessful as they are unable to convert a 4th & 2.
8:48 ON THE CLOCK: Josh Allen finds Khalil Shakir once again, Shakir with a great pivot turn to make a gain on the play. 3rd & 4 for the Bills leads to space for Allen as he looks deep and finds the hands of Dalton Kincaid. A fantastic catch from the Tight End as he gets the Bills to within field goal range. Buffalo then was unable to make another significant gain. The trusty leg of Tyler Bass then makes no mistake in making the field goal.
This ends up being the final score of the game as the Buffalo Bills head to the Divisional Round on their quest for the Vince Lombardi trophy. Despite falling behind initially, they were able to turn the game around and control it for the majority of the game. A dominant performance will give the team momentum for the next round against another Super Bowl favourite in the Baltimore Ravens.
FINAL SCORE - DENVER BRONCOS 7 - 31 BUFFALO BILLS
