DENVER (AP) \u2014 The Denver Broncos wrangled their biggest win in a decade from Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills but suffered an enormous loss in the process.<\/p>\n
About an hour after second-year quarterback Bo Nix led the Broncos to a 33-30 win on Wil Lutz\u2019s 23-yard field goal in overtime Saturday, Denver coach Sean Payton returned to the postgame lectern to deliver the stunning news.<\/p>\n
He said Nix broke his right ankle a few plays before Lutz\u2019s kick sent the top-seeded Broncos (15-3) to the AFC championship game against either New England or Houston. <\/p>\n
Nix will have season-ending surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe celebrate the season for him,\u201d Payton said. \u201cAnd listen, the city\u2019s ready and we\u2019ll be ready for the next challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Backup QB Jarrett Stidham takes over for Nix. He took just one snap this season, a kneel-down in a blowout win over Dallas in Week 8.<\/p>\n
\u201cStiddy\u2019s ready,\u201d Payton declared. \u201cHe\u2019s ready. I said this at the beginning of the season I\u2019ve got a 2 that\u2019s capable of starting for a number of teams. And I know he feels the same way. So, watch out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stidham has appeared in 20 games in six NFL seasons, starting four and winning one.<\/p>\n
Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury. <\/p>\n
On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Lutz\u2019s game-ending field goal.<\/p>\n
Nix tied Russell Wilson\u2019s NFL record with two dozen victories in his first two seasons. Saturday\u2019s victory was his first in the playoffs. The Broncos lost last year at Buffalo but Nix led Denver to the AFC\u2019s top seed this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a tough cookie,\u201d Payton said. \u201cAnd this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before word of Nix\u2019s injury broke, Denver was jubilant over the Broncos\u2019 first playoff victory in a decade.<\/p>\n
Denver\u2019s game-winning drive came after nickel back Ja\u2019Quan McMillian intercepted Allen\u2019s deep pass in overtime. McMillian\u2019s pick<\/a> was Denver\u2019s fifth takeaway of the game after they were minus-3 in turnover differential during the season.<\/p>\n McMillian wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo (13-6).<\/p>\n \u201cHe actually had the ball coming down and I had my hand on the ball,\u201d McMillian said. \u201cI was able to take it from him. I fell on top of him, just held the ball up, showed the fans some love.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooks said he thought it was a catch.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel that way,\u201d he said. \u201cBut at the end of the day, you don\u2019t, you know, no matter, ultimately this is where we\u2019re sitting now.\u201d<\/p>\n Referee Carl Cheffers said in a pool report, \u201cThe receiver has to complete the process of a catch. He was going to the ground as part of the process of the catch and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defender gained possession of it at that point. The defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooks said he just has to make sure next time not to leave it in the \u201cofficials\u2019 hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Or McMillian\u2019s.<\/p>\n