Bills dominate Broncos, paving the way for an NFL playoff clash with Ravens
The Buffalo Bills have reached the divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth year in a row.
Running back James Cook energized the Bills’ offense at the beginning of the game, and quarterback Josh Allen propelled the team to victory in the second half, leading to a commanding 31-7 win against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Next week, the Bills will square off against the Baltimore Ravens, featuring a thrilling duel between MVP frontrunners Allen and Lamar Jackson. Meanwhile, the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs will go up against the Houston Texans in another AFC matchup.
Cook had an impressive performance, rushing for 120 yards on 23 carries. His early 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter capped off a lengthy 13-play, 81-yard drive, setting the tone for the game.
Overall, the Bills racked up 210 rushing yards on 44 attempts, displaying strong defensive play, especially after allowing an early touchdown in the game.
In the latter half of the game, Allen stepped up significantly. Towards the end of the third quarter, he connected with running back Ty Johnson for a stunning 24-yard touchdown pass that extended their lead. Allen also made history by surpassing Hall of Famer Jim Kelly for the most postseason passing touchdowns in franchise history, finishing with 23 touchdowns.
Allen completed 20 of 26 passes, accumulating 272 yards, and included a 55-yard catch-and-run to Curtis Samuel for his second touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos had a brief moment of optimism at the start of the game. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix connected with former Oregon teammate Troy Franklin for a 43-yard touchdown on the opening drive. However, they struggled to make an impact after that, failing to score again and totaling only 224 yards throughout the game.
The Bills aim to reach the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2020 season, after getting eliminated in the divisional round for the past three years.
In their earlier encounter in Week 4, the Ravens convincingly defeated the Bills with a score of 35-10.
