Down, but not out.
After victory in the AFC Divisional round on Saturday, the Broncos were hit with the devastating news that quarterback Bo Nix was done for the playoffs with a broken ankle. Broncos Country is right to feel deflated. Bo Nix has been nothing short of magical this season. However, the time to mourn is not now. The Broncos are not dead and they presently have a chance better than 28 other teams to go to the Super Bowl.
Denver’s opponent in the AFC Championship game just came off of one of the most unimpressive victories of the year. Drake Maye fumbled the ball 4 times, losing 2 of them, and threw an interception. Meanwhile, the Texans turned the ball over 5 times and New England was only able to convert one of those for a measly 7-points (and that was a pick-6). Yes, it was snowing in Foxboro, but the Patriots inability to do much with the opportunities afforded is telling.
The Broncos still have home field advantage. The Patriots will have to travel across country. In New England, fewer than 1% of their highest mountains have elevation than that of the stadium they will play in this Sunday. Home field advantage isn’t just about the lack of oxygen, it’s also that the mile high will be louder than it’s ever been because it’s our old rival, the Patriots.
With Nix down, the next man is former Patriots 2019 draftee Jarrett Stidham. While noticeably NOT Bo Nix, Stidham is no wide-eyed rookie. He’s an established NFL veteran in his 7th year. He’s been intricately involved in the offense and, by all expectation, should understand what’s expected of him – run the ball, don’t turn the ball over, and make plays when necessary to move down the field.
Can the Broncos win with a backup?
In 2015, in one of the biggest games of that magical season, Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler engineered a 30-24 OT victory in the snow over the Patriots, securing home field advantage on Denver’s way to Super Bowl 50. In 2017, backup quarterback Nick Foles led the Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl win, beating the Patriots 41-33. Needless to say, the Patriots are no strangers to losing to backups in big games.
Chin up, Broncos Country! The Broncos host the AFC Championship this weekend and they have a legitimate shot to go to the Super Bowl. Sure, we’ve taken a hit to Nix, but behind Sean Payton, Jarrett Stidham, and this ferocious defense, great things can happen.
Go Broncos!
Category: General Sports
