A New Challenge for Jarrett Stidham

In a dramatic turn of events, Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham found himself thrust into the spotlight in a way few players ever experience. With starting quarterback Bo Nix sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained during the divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills, Stidham was forced to step in for the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. This marked his fifth career start, and it came at a pivotal moment in the season.

Stidham, 29, faced a daunting challenge as he took on a defense that had only allowed two touchdowns in its first two playoff games. Despite the pressure, he remained focused and showed determination throughout the game. His performance included 17 completions out of 31 attempts for 133 yards, but the outcome was not what the Broncos hoped for. The Patriots secured a 10-7 win, ending the Broncos’ hopes of reaching the Super Bowl.

“I was super excited for the opportunity, just hate that we fell short,” Stidham said after the game. “Moments like this, this is why you play the game.”

A Rare Opportunity

Stidham’s situation was unique in NFL history. He became the first quarterback to throw his first pass of the season in a conference championship game. Additionally, no quarterback since Roger Staubach in 1972 had made his first start of a season in a conference championship game.

This was not the first time Stidham had faced adversity. He had only played four snaps this season, all in a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. Before that, he hadn’t thrown a pass in the regular season since the final two games of 2023 when he started in place of the benched Russell Wilson.

Coaching Perspective

Coach Sean Payton acknowledged Stidham’s efforts despite the loss. “I thought he fought hard in tough conditions,” Payton said. “I think we’re going to look at the film, and I know I’m going to look at it and be critical of myself. There were a number of things we had to do better.”

The Broncos struggled to maintain momentum, particularly in the second half. On their first possession of the second quarter, they failed to convert a fourth-and-1 from the Patriots’ 14-yard line when Stidham was pressured by New England’s front and threw incomplete.

Controversial Play

One of the most controversial moments of the game occurred on the Broncos’ next possession. With a 7-0 lead, the Broncos faced a third-and-4 from their own 33 with two minutes, 59 seconds left in the first half. Under duress again, Stidham retreated well inside the Broncos’ 20 and tried to throw the ball away to avoid a sack. Officials initially ruled the pass incomplete but also threw a flag for intentional grounding. However, after a brief discussion on the field, referee Alex Kemp announced the play was ruled a backward pass that the Patriots had recovered at the Broncos’ 12.

“I initially ruled it as a forward pass, which was incorrect,” Kemp said via a pool report after the game. “I proceeded to go through the administration of an intentional grounding foul. The down judge and the umpire came and talked to me and provided more information.”

Reflections and Regrets

Stidham expressed regret over the play, stating, “I can’t put our team in a bad position like that. I was trying to throw it away.” He added, “I thought I had thrown it forward, but obviously the replay or whatever said differently. Probably should have just eaten the sack anyway and let [punter] Jeremy (Crawshaw) and the punt team punt it down the field and flip the field.”

The Broncos didn’t have a possession that went for longer than 17 yards in the second half, when they gained just 32 net yards with one first down. Stidham threw an interception on the Broncos’ final offensive play of the game.

Support from Teammates

Nix was in the locker room following the game, and Stidham said he spoke to him briefly. “I just felt like whenever I gave them a short field, really hard for me to swallow that one, because I just put them in a terrible spot,” Stidham said. “What they were able to do tonight was super impressive.”

Despite the loss, Stidham praised the Broncos’ defense, saying, “[The Broncos’ defense] played their tails off; it was pretty remarkable to see.”