The 2025 NFL season has been a wild ride for the Denver Broncos, with Bo Nix and company exceeding expectations, winning 14 regular-season games to clinch the top seed in the AFC heading into the NFL playoffs with high hopes of competing for a Super Bowl title.
Even though the Broncos reached the AFC Championship Game to take on Drake Maye and the New England Patriots, the team received devastating news after beating Josh Allen‘s Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round at Empower Field at Mile High this past weekend.
The Broncos will have to play the rest of the season without Nix, who suffered a broken ankle during the game against the Bills, meaning longtime backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will get the start under center when Denver plays host to New England on Sunday.
Jarrett Stidham Gets Vote of Confidence From Courtland Sutton
GettyJarrett Stidham #8 and Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos
Before Nix won the starting job for the Broncos last season, the team re-signed Stidham to a two-year deal with the plan being to make him the starter after parting ways with veteran Russell Wilson.
However, Nix beat out Stidham for the starting gig and never looked back, as the young quarterback turned out to be the answer the team needed at the most important position on the field.
Despite Nix being the future of the franchise at quarterback, the Broncos appear confident in Stidham’s ability to shoulder the load in the AFC Championship Game and, if they advance, the Super Bowl, with star wide receiver Courtland Sutton an avid supporter.
“I know Jarrett very well,” Sutton said during media availability. “Been able to spend a lot of time with him in terms of OTAs, training camps, preseason, and getting some reps with him throughout the week, whatever it may be.
“I have no doubt in my mind that Jarrett will be ready to go play. If there is a guy that prepares as well as Bo, it’s him. He goes in and knows the entire playbook. He knows everything that needs to be done for us to go out there and have success.”
Even though the Broncos will be playing at home and are coming off a big win over the Bills, Denver will be the underdogs (+4.5) in this playoff matchup against the Patriots, with all the pressure on Stidham to perform.
Courtland Sutton on Losing Bo Nix for the Rest of the Season
GettyBo Nix #10 and Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos
Obviously, with Nix sidelined for the rest of the NFL playoffs, the odds of the Broncos winning what would be the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl title change pretty drastically
“You are sad, then you have to realize that we still have a job to do,” Sutton said about losing Nix to injury. “You know that the guys that are going to be out there are qualified to go out there and do what they need to do.
“Jarrett is qualified. He’s had success in the NFL and going out and playing games. He’s a very talented guy in terms of football IQ and just football ability. We’re just looking forward to going out there and having a great week of preparation. We had a great day of practice today and we will go in there and watch get film and continue to excel at the little details of the things we can be better at so we can be at our best for him and for each other.”
It’ll be interesting to see if this Broncos squad can keep rolling with their face of the franchise leading the way, as they’ll have a tough challenge ahead against a very good Patriots team led by Maye.
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