In an NFL playoff classic, the Denver Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game with a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills. The AFC Championship Game will be held in Denver next week, where the Broncos will face the winner of tomorrow’s Texans-Patriots matchup for the right to play in Super Bowl LX.
The NFL playoff overtime rules guarantee each team a possession. The Bills won the overtime coin toss and chose to kick, opting to see what they needed on their first possession. On their first offensive drive, the Broncos picked up one first down before punting, giving the Bills the ball at their own 7-yard line.
Quarterback Josh Allen took control, leading the Bills down the field. Eventually, Allen threw a deep ball to Brandin Cooks deep in Broncos territory. Cooks caught the ball and went to the ground in a collision with Broncos defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian. McMillian came up with the ball, and the on-field ruling was that McMillian intercepted the pass.
The Bills called a timeout, hoping the referees would review the play and overturn the call to a catch by Cooks. However, the game continued without a replay review.
From there, the Broncos’ offense responded. Quarterback Bo Nix threw a deep pass to Courtland Sutton, but Bills defensive back Taron Johnson was flagged for pass interference, moving Denver into long field goal range. Nix then threw another deep ball, leading to another pass interference penalty—this time a 30-yard call on Bills defensive back Tre’Davious White. White’s frustration boiled over as he was subsequently called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after arguing with the official.
These penalties set the Broncos up in easy field goal range. Wil Lutz calmly drilled the 24-yard game-winning field goal, sending Denver to the AFC Championship Game, just one win shy of the Super Bowl.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/broncos-beat-bills-in-overtime-to-advance-to-afc-championship-game