Denver Broncos kicker Will Lutz sent the Buffalo Bills home with a 33-30 overtime loss after a 23-yard game-winning field goal. The Broncos took the opening kickoff of this divisional round matchup, and the Denver defense started strong with eight straight positive plays that helped them move down the field. Set up on Buffalo’s 14-yard line, Greg Rousseau was able to get to running back Jaleel McLaughlin and punch the ball out for a fumble that Bills Cam Lewis would recover. Unfortunately, an offside penalty was called on defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, negating the fumble and giving Denver a first down. Now backed up inside their own ten-yard line, the Bills’ defense came alive with a tackle for loss and two incomplete passes, allowing only a field goal to the Broncos. Denver took a 3-0 lead on their first possession of the game.

The Bills’ first drive of the game started with very similar success to the Broncos, especially from running back James Cook. Cook ended the drive with 36 rushing yards, largely due to a huge 24-yard rush on the first play from scrimmage. From the 2nd and goal from Denvers four yard line, Josh Allen went to Mecole Hardman Jr. for an opening drive touchdown. The touchdown marked Hardman’s first catch of the entire season, as he was elevated from the practice squad this week due to multiple injuries to the Bills’ wide receiver core.

The Buffalo defense took the momentum from the offense into Denver’s second drive of the game. Three straight incomplete passes forced the Broncos’ first three-and-out of the day.

Buffalo started their ensuing drive from their own 37-yard line before Allen flipped the field with a big 26-yard scramble. Already set up in field goal range, the Bills’ momentum continued to grow. On the very next play, however, Cook would take a handoff two yards before fumbling the football and turning possession over to the Broncos. Alex Singleton was on the tackle to force the fumble and set up the Denver offense. To rub salt in the wound, starting center Connor McGovern was injured on the play and would miss the Bills’ following offensive possession.

The Broncos took advantage of the turnover, marching 69 yards down the field in just eight plays, largely thanks to a 27-yard Bo Nix to Marvin Mim pass completion. On 3rd and 1 from Buffalo’s seven-yard line, offensive lineman Frank Crum reported as eligible, and snuck into the flat wide open to catch the Broncos’ first touchdown of the game, and give his team a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

James Cook continued to make big plays for Buffalo, this time through the air with a 24-yard pickup down the right sideline. A first down sack set the Bills back seven yards, but Allen was able to recover a couple plays later with a first down pass completion to Brandin Cooks, 15 yards down the left sideline. Once inside the red zone, however, the Bills’ offense stalled with two short runs, an incomplete pass, and a holding penalty. Buffalo would settle for three, and former Broncos kicker Matt Prater put through a 33-yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

With 2:13 left in the first half, the Broncos entered their two-minute offense. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix took his time getting down the field, with multiple big plays using both his arm and legs. On 2nd and 10 from Buffalos 29 yard line, Nix sent a deep ball to the endzone, caught by Lil’Jordan Humphrey for a huge touchdown to take the lead with only 22 seconds left in the game. With multiple injuries to the secondary, it was third-string free safety Darnell Savage in coverage who was beaten for the touchdown.

With only 16 seconds left before halftime, head coach Sean McDermott decided to take a risk and attempt to get a big play down the field. Allen couldnt find an open receiver, so he broke the pocket and began scrambling down the field. With no timeouts, he attempted to get out of bounds, but fumbled the football. The Broncos recovered the loose ball, and with just two seconds on the clock, Will Lutz was able to hit a 50-yard field goal to give Denver a 10-point lead heading into halftime.

Buffalo took the opening possession of the second half, and the offense picked up right where they left off. On only the second play from scrimmage, Allen fumbled for the second time of the game, turning the ball over to the Broncos in Buffalo territory.

Denver started their drive off the turnover on Buffalo’s 17-yard line, but the Bills’ defense was able to stand strong. Buffalo allowed only two yards to force a field goal, but Denver took a 23-10 lead only three and a half minutes into the second half.

With two turnovers in their last three plays, the offense needed to answer. Allen reached deep down and found his inner Superman, pulling the offense 73 yards down to the field, 58 of which came through the air. From Denvers 10-yard line, Allen passed short to Keon Coleman, who extended for the goal line and got in for a touchdown on his first catch of the day. Just like that, despite three turnovers in the game, the Bills trailed by only six points in the third quarter.

The Bills’ defense did what they had been doing for most of the game, and stepped up when they needed to most. On 3rd and 5, rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker jumped in front of a Nix pass for his first career interception. Unfortunately, that Superman cap that Allen pulled out for the last drive was nowhere to be found. On just the second play after the turnover, Allen underthrew Curtis Samuel for his third turnover of the game, and Buffalo’s fourth overall.

What looked to be game-changing momentum for Buffalo quickly turned sour. Luckily for Allen, though, the defense once again picked up the slack and forced Denver’s second punt of the game.

This time, the offense would hold their end of the bargain, marching 85 yards down the field to take the lead with a Dalton Kincaid touchdown. Wide reciver Khalil Shakir was the hero of the drive, taking a short pass from Allen 46 yards and pushing the Bills into the red zone. Just three plays later, Allen threw a perfect ball to the back shoulder of Kincaid, who came down with his second touchdown of the postseason. As they had done all season, Buffalo had once again cut down a large second-half deficit, taking a 24-23 lead. With over 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter, there was still plenty of time for the Broncos to respond.

Their initial response would never make it, however, as the Bills’ defensive dominance continued into the Broncos’ next possession. Denver was forced into their second straight punt and second three-and-out of the day.

Joe Brady and the Bills’ offense did almost exactly what they needed to do on their following drive. With a one-point lead, they were able to take 7:39 off the clock. The second part would have been scoring a touchdown, which they were unable to do. On 3rd and 8 from Denvers 12 yard line, Allen targeted Shakir in the flat, who was able to find space and run into the endzone. After a quick review, however, it was determined that the ball hit the ground and was ruled incomplete. Veteran kicker Matt Prater knocked through his second field goal of the day, this time from 31 yards out, to give Buffalo a 27-23 lead with 4:11 left in the game.

Needing a touchdown, Bo Nix started the Broncos ensuing drive with his first pass completion to star wide receiver Cortland Sutton for a first down. A few plays later, Nix went back to Sutton, this time for a 25-yard pickup that pushed Denver into Buffalo territory. With a minute left in the game, Bo Nix threw a perfect ball to Marvin Mims at the front corner of the endzone for a touchdown and a 30-27 lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

After a couple of incomplete passes, Buffalo was set up on their own 41-yard line with just over 30 seconds left. Allen went short to Shakir, and for the third time this season, pulled out the lateral play. Off the catch, Shakir passed it backwards to Ray Davis, who picked up 27 yards and pushed the Bills into field goal range. Allen took a couple of deep shots towards the endzone for a chance to win the game, but after three incompletions, the Bills were met with a fourth down. Matt Prater lined up for a 50-yard game-tying field goal and sent it straight down the middle. With only 10 seconds left, the Broncos took a knee and sent the game to overtime.

The new playoff overtime rules state that each team will receive a possession. If after both possessions, the game is still tied, the next score wins the game.

The Denver Broncos took the opening kickoff of overtime. Nix started strong, with a first down completion to Cortland Sutton. After that, however, two incompletions and a tackle for loss from the Bills’ defense forced Denver to punt, and gave Josh Allen a chance to win the game.

A great punt pinned Buffalo deep in their own territory, at the seven-yard line. After two short runs, they were met with a 3rd and 5. Allen escaped the pocket and found Dalton Kincaid for a 13-yard pass to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, the Bills were met with yet another third down, this time from seven yards out. Ray Davis caught a short pass before turning upfield for a nine-yard pickup and another first down. After two more plays, Buffalo was once again met with a third down, their now third of the drive. This time, instead of going short, Allen sent a deep ball to Brandin Cooks. Cooks almost had control of the pass, but Ja’Quan McMillian in coverage was able to rip the ball away to come down with an interception, and the Bills’ fifth turnover of the game.

Only needing a field goal win, the Broncos were set up on their own 20-yard line. On the second play of the possession, Bo Nix went short to running back RJ Harvey, who was able to pick up 24 yards and put them just three yards away from midfield. Later in the drive, the Broncos were set up with a 2nd and 10 from their own 47-yard line. Nix’s pass to Sutton fell incomplete, but a pass interference call on Taron Johnson gave Denver a first down in field goal range. Just one play later, Nix took a shot at the endzone to Mims that once again was incomplete, and once again was called for pass interference. The penalty by veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White gave the Broncos the ball at the eight-yard line. An unsportsmanlike penalty pushed them up to Buffalo’s five, where Will Lutz hit a 23-yard field goal to win the game in overtime and send the Broncos to the AFC Championship game for the first time since the 2015-2016 season.

The Buffalo Bills devastatingly end their season, losing 33-30 to the Denver Broncos. The finish with an overall 13-6 record throughout the regular and postseason.