Everything had been falling into place for the Broncos until Bo Nix went down with an ankle injury in the playoffs. In a matter of moments, Denver's postseason outlook looked very different. According to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Broncos VP of Player Health Beau Lowery delivered the devastating update to HC Sean Payton inside the team facility.

It came after a season in which Denver won 14 games, captured the AFC West, and secured the AFC's No. 1 seed. The Broncos had just defeated the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round when the mood inside the team's facility shifted dramatically.

According to Wickersham, Lowery said, "'Bo fractured his ankle and will have surgery Tuesday.' Payton's eyes widened. 'His season is over,' Lowery says. 'Everyone in the office looks nauseous. Payton stares at the floor, eyes d***, head slowly nodding.' 'Stiddy,' he [Payton] says."

Wickersham described the room falling silent as everyone processed the news. With the AFC Championship Game already looming, Payton quickly shifted from absorbing the devastating update to finding a solution.

His immediate response was to turn to veteran backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, nicknamed "Stiddy," who would now be tasked with leading Denver's playoff run.

The injury ended Nix's postseason after he had helped Denver win 14 regular-season games, secure the AFC West title, and earn the conference's top seed. 

Denver's season eventually ended with a narrow AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots (7-10). The Broncos fell just three points short of reaching the Super Bowl.

Sean Payton's risky playoff gamble never happened

Before learning about Nix's injury, Payton had spent days preparing an aggressive fake punt called "Rutgers Special" for the divisional-round meeting with Buffalo, as per the same ESPN report by Seth Wickersham.

Payton studied 71 fake punts while searching for the perfect opportunity to steal a possession from Josh Allen. One moment stood out before Nix's injury.

Payton believed the Broncos had the perfect chance to go for it on fourth-and-11 in overtime.

Instead, the players changed the call at the line and punted the ball away. Payton later admitted the decision still bothered him.

"I was so pissed. It was perfect," Payton told Wickersham.

The fake-punt decision quickly became irrelevant once Nix suffered the ankle injury. As Wickersham's report showed, Payton's attention immediately shifted from game management to keeping Denver's Super Bowl hopes alive with Stidham.

Wickersham's behind-the-scenes account illustrated how quickly Denver's championship celebration turned into a scramble for answers.

Within moments of advancing, Payton was already preparing to continue the Broncos' playoff run without the quarterback who had carried them there.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Rudra Dubey