The Broncos are mostly to blame for the ugly Wild Card loss to the Bills

The Denver Broncos made the playoffs for the first time since 2015. That Peyton Manning-led team won the Super Bowl, but the franchise declined thereafter. But a rookie quarterback Beau Nix and head coach Sean Payton brought them back to the postseason this season. However, it was a grizzly debut for Denver’s new-look offense. Who is most to blame for the Broncos’ Wild Card loss Buffalo Bills?

The Broncos got the ball first and the offense went to work. Bo Nix made a habit of hitting the big pieces and did it again, hitting Troy Franklin for a 46-yard touchdown. The seven-point lead was unexpected, but the Bills were back on their heels. Buffalo’s defense kept them in the game as the offense got going. But when they did, they were unstoppable, scoring 31 unanswered points to secure the win.

So who is most to blame for the loss to the Broncos? And how can they address those issues in the offseason?

Bo Nix must improve for the Broncos’ future playoff run

This was an unexpected playoff run for the Denver Broncos. Almost everyone who has a rookie quarterback is, and given the situation Denver is in, that was especially true this year. But the Knicks showed early that they have the composure necessary to win big games. Although he struggled in this game, there is reason to be excited in Denver. But for this game, the Knicks have a lot to blame.

On the first drive of the game, Nix had 62 passes and a touchdown. He finished the game with 144 total yards and just one score. The offense suffered a slump midway through the game in part because Nix struggled to complete the pass. They were stopped by a beaten defense and never had a shot.

This doesn’t mean Nix won’t be the Broncos’ quarterback in the future. But his struggles in this game show he has a long way to go before joining the upper echelon of AFC quarterbacks. meanwhile, Josh Allen showed why he’s firmly in that group with another great performance by the Wild Card.

Javonte Williams, running backs, is coming off a disappointing season

This season, the Broncos have had three rushes and the Nixes rush for over 300 yards and none manage 513 yards. A mediocre running game cost them in the playoffs, with just 79 team yards, 43 of which came from the Knicks. Javonte Williams is the biggest name of a group that has disappointed all season.

The Bills have a solid front seven, but with Von Miller comes in from the edgerunning should have been the point of emphasis. Instead, they ran 17 times on 22 passes and never got the pressure they needed on the ground. That shows the obvious need for offensive linemen this season, as they finished 16th in yards per game this season.

Running the ball is key to winning in the playoffs, and the Broncos didn’t do that against the Bills. If they make significant additions to address this issue, don’t be surprised.

Broncos defense disappoints after great season

While much of the focus was on the Knicks and offense, the Broncos were led by a solid defense. Their secondary was excellent and they led the league in sacks. But Sunday was a different story, like they allowed 471 total yards. Even when they had the lead, the defense let up and never came back.

The secondary wasn’t bad in this game, but couldn’t turn the game around while the score was still up for grabs. It was a defensive line that was cut for 210 yards and a touchdown to James Cook. They’ve been a great unit all season, but only got two sacks and four quarterbacks in the biggest game of the season.