The Broncos did next to nothing in the second half, with two punts and two turnovers on downs. Denver ran 30 fewer plays than Buffalo and only had the ball for 18:17 the entire game. For a team that overachieved this season and kept pace with the second-highest scoring team in the NFL (30.9 ppg) until the second half, it was a disappointing end to the season for the Broncos.
Run game continues to provide balance for Bills offense
Rightfully so, Allen gets the majority of the attention when it comes to Buffalo’s offense. With that said, the run game continues to be a consistent part of the Bills’ game plan.
As a team, Buffalo rushed for 210 yards. RB James Cook had 23 carries for 120 yards and one TD. It was Cook’s fifth game of the season with 100 yards and his 13th game with a TD. He came into Sunday tied for the league lead with 16 rushing TDs.
For all the focus on the passing attack of the Bills, the run game continues to provide the right balance that could lead Buffalo to its first Super Bowl appearance since 1994.
Broncos have bright future ahead
Although Sunday’s wild-card game did not end positively for Denver, the Broncos have a lot to be excited about going into the 2025 season and beyond.
The Broncos made their first postseason appearance since the 2015 season while QB Bo Nix became the first rookie QB to start a playoff game in Broncos franchise history, per the CBS broadcast.
While Nix was only 13-of-22 for 144 yards and a TD on Sunday, he passed for 3,775 yards this season and his 29 TD passes coming into Sunday were sixth in the league. According to TeamRankings, Denver had the most sacks per game (3.7) in the NFL this season.
The 2024 season may have come to a premature end on Sunday. The Broncos, however, have a bright future after a surprise postseason appearance.
Ravens, Bills set for fascinating battle
There should be some fireworks when the Ravens and Bills square off in the divisional round. According to StatMuse, both teams only trail the Detroit Lions for the most points per game in the NFL this season.
Both MVP front-runners will obviously be front and center. In the regular season, Ravens RB Derrick Henry and Cook each had a league-high 16 rushing TDs, putting the stars on full display.
Combine the MVP battle with strong rushing attacks and two franchises that are looking to put Super Bowl droughts to rest, and it should be a fantastic environment next weekend.
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