DENVER, January 12, 2026 — The Denver Broncos are headed to the AFC Divisional Round, and a familiar foe awaits: the Buffalo Bills. The matchup was sealed Sunday after Buffalo defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24, setting up a rematch of last season’s 31-7 wild-card loss for Denver.
Broncos to Host Bills in Playoff Rematch
Denver secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and will host Buffalo on Saturday in a highly anticipated divisional round showdown.
- The Broncos will host the Bills in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday.
- Buffalo clinched the matchup by defeating Jacksonville 27-24 on Sunday.
- Denver is looking to avenge last season’s 31-7 wild-card loss to the Bills.
- This marks the first playoff game in Denver since January 2016.
Last January, after a stinging 31-7 loss to the Bills in Orchard Park, New York, one thought consumed Broncos head coach Sean Payton: “We have to figure out how to play this game at home.” Denver did just that, finishing the season with a 14-3 record and earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Bills, led by MVP quarterback Josh Allen, secured their spot against Denver with a hard-fought victory over the Jaguars. Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and three total touchdowns. The No. 7-seeded Los Angeles Chargers’ 16-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday night finalized the Broncos’ opponent.
Buffalo presents a significant challenge, a team hungry for a Super Bowl appearance after six consecutive AFC playoff exits under head coach Sean McDermott. While last season’s wild-card game wasn’t particularly close, the Broncos put up a stronger fight than the score indicated, trailing only 13-7 late in the third quarter before a controversial touchdown catch by Tyler Johnson shifted momentum.
Saturday’s game will be the first playoff contest hosted in Denver since January 2016, when the Broncos defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 20-18 en route to a Super Bowl victory. To reach those heights again, Denver must find a way to contain Allen, who has been a dominant force since becoming an All-Pro in 2020.
Allen torched the Broncos’ defense in last year’s wild-card matchup, throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-26 passing. Running back James Cook also proved to be a key contributor, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
Denver, however, enters the game with a more seasoned quarterback in Bo Nix, who now has a playoff game and a full season of late-game comebacks under his belt. The Broncos opened as 1.5-point favorites over Buffalo on Sunday night.
Payton and his coaching staff were able to focus their preparation on a specific opponent after spending the previous two practice days working on general offensive and defensive strategies. The Bills will be traveling to Denver on a short week, giving the Broncos a rest advantage.
While the rosters are largely similar to those of 2024, Empower Field is buzzing with an energy not felt since the days of Peyton Manning. “Last year, it was our first taste of it going into the playoffs as a wild card team,” cornerback Pat Surtain said Friday. “But now we have home-field advantage, which is different.”
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