DENVER — Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Josh Allen’s deep throw in time beyond regulation, and Bo Nix led the Broncos into place for Wil Lutz’s 23-yard discipline objective that despatched Denver to the AFC championship sport with a 33-30 win over the Buffalo Payments on Saturday.
McMillian’s choose was Denver’s fifth takeaway of the sport — the Broncos went into the playoffs at minus-3 in turnover differential. McMillian wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks on the Broncos 20-yard line when a discipline objective would have received the sport for Buffalo.
The Broncos (15-3) will face both New England or Houston for the AFC title subsequent Sunday at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive, the place top-seeded Denver has received 14 of its previous 15 video games.
“We performed a extremely good soccer group,” Nix mentioned. “They performed very well tonight. They gave us an awesome shot on a brief week after a troublesome sport final week, so hat’s off to them. We discovered a technique to win once more and our protection made stops and I’m simply happy with our guys. I’m simply happy with this group. I’m happy with the best way we compete, we combat.
“We’re simply by no means out of it and I feel that’s simply the character piece. It wasn’t all the time fairly, we had a superb lead they usually got here again and it wasn’t trying good, however the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation, we simply discovered a technique to win.”
Broncos coach Sean Payton lamented Denver’s sputtering offense and 1-for-4 efficiency within the purple zone: “We weren’t good within the purple zone. However we have been adequate when it mattered.”
The Payments (13-6) have been flagged for cross interference twice on Denver’s remaining drive.
Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater nailed a 50-yard discipline objective with 5 seconds left in regulation, knotting it up at 30-all. That got here after Nix’s 26-yard landing throw to Marvin Mims Jr. with 55 seconds left had given Denver a 30-27 lead.
Allen, who hadn’t turned the ball over in his earlier six playoff appearances, threw two interceptions and misplaced two fumbles. P.J. Locke additionally picked off Allen.
“Extraordinarily tough,” a teary-eyed Allen mentioned afterward. “I felt like I let my teammates down.”
The Payments failed as soon as once more to achieve the Tremendous Bowl with Allen underneath middle though Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson weren’t standing in his approach this time as that trio of franchise quarterbacks all missed the postseason get together.
Payton insisted the sport ought to have ended earlier in time beyond regulation when a Denver defender was held ultimately zone earlier than Allen escaped from the tip zone on second-and-9 from his 8.
Coming off the primary highway playoff win of his profession, Allen’s first three turnovers helped Denver constructed a 23-10 lead earlier than he threw a 10-yard landing cross to Keon Coleman and a 14-yarder to Dalton Kincaid to offer Buffalo a 24-23 lead early within the fourth quarter.
Allen additionally fumbled the ball on the Denver 23 late within the fourth quarter however proper deal with Spencer Brown recovered the unfastened ball, organising Prater’s 31-yarder for a 27-23 Buffalo lead.
Additionally within the second half, Allen threw an interception when P.J. Locke minimize in entrance of vast receiver Curtis Samuel, who gave the impression to be vast open for what would have been a 43-yard landing.
The Broncos scored 10 factors within the remaining 22 seconds of the primary half to take a 20-10 lead into the locker room, they usually obtained their third takeaway simply two performs into the second half on Bonitto’s strip-sack of Allen that was recovered by Malcolm Roach on the Payments 17, resulting in Lutz’s brief discipline objective to make it 23-10.
Nix’s 29-yard TD cross to Lil’Jordan Humphrey broke a 10-all tie after which Bonitto stripped Allen of the ball after a protracted scramble up the center. Devon Key recovered for Denver with 2 seconds left earlier than halftime and Lutz’s 50-yarder because the half expired made it 20-10.
The Broncos’ different landing within the first half got here from an unlikely supply. They went forward 10-7 when Nix threw to tackle-eligible Frank Crum, a second-year professional from Wyoming, Allen’s alma mater. He caught the brief cross and tumbled into the tip zone for a 7-yard rating.
James Prepare dinner ran for 117 yards on 24 carries however misplaced a fumble.
When the Broncos misplaced to the Payments 31-7 in Buffalo final playoffs, Payton mentioned, “We have now to determine how you can get these video games at residence.”
They did it by main the league in sacks (68), tying a franchise file with 14 regular-season victories, profitable 11 one-score video games and having 11 comebacks.
“We weren’t prepared final yr,” Payton mentioned. “However we have been prepared at present.”
Payments: Inactive for the sport have been two defensive starters: S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and LB Terrel Bernard (calf). … LB Dorian Williams (neck) obtained harm masking the opening kickoff and was taken through ambulance to a hospital. … C Connor McGovern was cleared to return simply earlier than halftime after being evaluated for a concussion. … DT Ed Oliver, who simply returned to the energetic roster, went out late within the third quarter with a knee damage. The seven-year veteran was positioned on injured reserve on Oct. 28 with a left biceps tear that required surgical procedure. He suffered meniscus harm whereas rehabbing and had one other process on Dec. 29.
Broncos: WR Pat Bryant sustained a concussion on Denver’s preliminary drive after he caught three passes for 32 yards. … WR Troy Franklin pulled a hamstring within the second quarter.
The Payments head into one other offseason questioning what it will take to get to the Tremendous Bowl.
The Broncos host their first AFC championship sport in a decade, because the “No Fly Zone” protection that helped them win Tremendous Bowl 50.
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