Ultimate Fan: Now is the time to BO-lieve
Here we are...divisional playoffs, revenge game at Mile High against the Bills. You literally cannot ask for a better script...well, except for choosing the ending, of course!
And here to help us survive and thrive in the excitement is DNVRNortwoods, formerly known as rupnin38! In fact, DNVRNortwoods is hitting a milestone for the UFG this season - being the first MHR member to host the UFG three times in one season!
And what a treat for you on game day because DNVR is so fired up, his energy is palpable. He was ready for the Broncos to host any opponent, but he's thrilled it turned out to be the Bills - as was I! No AFC team was going to be easy but this semi-banged up Bills team could be the perfect matchup for the Broncos.
Divisional Playoffs - Bills at BroncosPlayoff ready #BUFvsDEN x @EmpowerFieldpic.twitter.com/g82QtSxMur
- Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 16, 2026
MHR - Before we get to the Broncos specifically, are you happy with getting the Bills, or were you one of the 49% in Broncos Country who thought the Bills were the team to be most concerned about playing?
DNVRNortwoods: GIVE ME THE BILLS! It's the Playoffs and I want this team to face the best from here on out and put EVERYONE in their place! The media made it a point to ask as many Broncos as possible: who do you want to face? Everyone in the building made it clear... We're not afraid of ANYONE!" So for this one I'm with the team, let's prove it to everyone that this is Denver's year!
MHR - Undoubtedly the No. 1 concern with the Bills is quarterback Josh Allen. What is the key to the Broncos defense beating Allen - or at least NOT letting him beat us?
DNVRNortwoods: Lane integrity, communication, and HIT THAT MAN! I think if the D does what it does best and gets to Allen, we can limit him; he's still going to get his but hopefully we can mitigate the effects of that.
MHR - The Bills' offense thrives on a tight end and a running back - Dalton Kincaid and James Cook - perhaps the two positions that tend to give the Broncos' defense fits. So how do they avoid that problem as well?
DNVRNortwoods: Clog up the middle of the field and force Buffalo's backup WRs to win one-on-one versus our corners. If we can take the middle of the field away, it's going to be a long day for Buffalo. Stopping the run comes down to my above answer, lane integrity and sound fundamentals... oh and HIT ALLEN! I want him thinking twice before running. If we can focus solely on Cook as the running threat it'll be a lot easier on the Defense.
MHR - Creating turnovers hasn't really been our thing BUT the defense did get several key takeaways in the final game of the season (against a mostly backup Chargers offense, but still...) How does VJ scheme to pressure a very adept QB enough to cause problems that lead to turnovers?
DNVRNortwoods: HIT THAT MAN! But really, if the Defense can contain/get there with four early and often it'll force Allen into Hero Ball. VJ can then start to drop those exotic looks - blitzing corners, dropping Nik and Coop while blitzing Dre and Alex. VJ needs to use the 1st/early 2nd quarter successes to set up the exotic looks the rest of the game. That should give us the turnover chances.
MHR - Very few teams have as many defenders getting sacks, but with the Broncos you never know who might feast on any given game day. Which player(s) do you think will get the most opportunities to sack Allen (or which ones do you hope to see having a big game)?
DNVRNortwoods: I would love for this game to start off with Nik getting to Allen early (give me 3 QB hits, 2 sacks and a forced fumble by half time). Nik is going to make this a statement game after getting snubbed out of the All Pro Team. If we get that then Sack Allen will wreak havoc up the middle later in the game. This should be a Nik and Zach game.
The Broncos' +45 sack differential this year is the best in NFL history.
- Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 16, 2026
Sean Payton's gotta absolutely love that. pic.twitter.com/oc60MkUOlN
MHR - My son says every game, Bo Nix is the GOAT." Clearly he doesn't really appreciate John Elway and was really young when Peyton was winning for us, but his optimism every week is inspiring because he really does BO-lieve. I'm a diehard but I admit to being far more jaded when it comes to believing we will win. I always believe we will make it harder than necessary but have as good a chance as anyone to win, lol. How about you?
DNVRNortwoods: Man the last 10 years have done their best to beat me down. I'm not going to lie, it got to me during the Giants game... I remember telling my wife and best friend I know Broncos Football...this thing is OVER, we're DONE!" Man was I wrong, and they remind me every weekend! These Denver Broncos should have us ALL BO-lieving! The only game this season after that I thought we would lose was the Jags game; it just felt like the team wasn't in it. After that wake-up call I don't think that'll happen again this season. I Bo-lieve, and all of Broncos Country should BO-LIEVE!
MHR - The running game is never explosive but is often quietly effective if Sean Payton sticks with it. What kind of run v. pass game plan do you think will be most effective against the Bills, whose main defensive weakness is stopping the run?
DNVRNortwoods: (Insert photo of SP's Run the Ball! Play sheet). We need to run the ball until it doesn't work. Keep Allen off the field, exploit that defense, and set up the shot plays we've been robbed of all season. If we find success (even moderate success) in the run game, and we stick with it, it should help pull Buffalo out of their disguising style of defense while they attempt to stop the run. That's an added bonus for Bo, who won't have to think as hard to discern what's happening before the snap. I think we should also let Bo run, leave it all on the field, gain that confidence and hit those shot plays!
MHR - How much do we need Courtland Sutton to show up big this game?
DNVRNortwoods: We just need Court to be good Court. No drops, show up in clutch time, and be Bo's go-to-guy. I'd be happy if he finished the game with 6 catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. All those catches could come during those clutch moments - gotta have it 4th downs, 3rd downs, redzone. When it matters, put this team on your back and do your job.
MHR - Last year when these two teams met in the playoffs, Denver scored first and the game was tight at halftime. But the wheels seemed to fall off in the second half when the Broncos couldn't score and the Bills went on to win in a rout. Why do you know this matchup will go much better than that?
DNVRNortwoods: Last year the team was so inexperienced and just happy to be there. This year the team just feels locked in, everyone is talking and acting like they've been in this moment a hundred times before. I think everyone is going to be locked in and in a flow state for all 60 minutes. They're battle tested, experienced, and they are a team acting as one.
MHR - How much does that experience IN a playoff game AND against the Bills help the team this year as it aims for the chance to go to the AFC Championship?
DNVRNortwoods: I think the experience in the playoffs is HUGE! More importantly I think the season we've had and the close games they've won play a much larger role. Denver and Buffalo are both different from last year so I don't think that is much of a factor in all this.
MHR - Do you believe this Broncos team is a true Super Bowl contender?
DNVRNortwoods: Yes, they can prove me right or wrong this weekend. Until the clock hits 00:00 we all need to BO-LIEVE
MHR - Which players MUST have an MVP-level game to get the bid for the AFCCG?
DNVRNortwoods: Nik and Zach on D. Bo and RJ on O.
MHR - How important are Mile High Fans this weekend?
DNVRNortwoods: We all heard coach...GET LOUD! How often do you get a chance to affect an NFL game? Your lucky socks aren't going to do it but if you're at the game, getting loud in the stands absolutely will!
PredictionsNo lead is safe when Bo Nix is on the opposing sideline pic.twitter.com/CF8pX535FL
- PFF (@PFF) January 16, 2026
Stats for BO NIX? 19/25, 300yds passing, 60 yards rushing, 3 total touchdowns ... I'm gonna say 2 in the air one on the ground
Stats for each Broncos RB? RJ 80yds on 20 carries, Jaleel 75yds on 15 carries
Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Sutton 6/6 60 yards and a TD, Franklin 80 yards and a TD, Mims 70 yards, Engram 50yds, Bryant 40yds
Longest FG for Lutz? 44
Number of sacks to Josh Allen? 4
Broncos player with the most tackles? Singleton
Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Nik!!!!
How many times will the announcers talk about last year's playoff game between these two teams? 20
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Bills D? 0/0/0
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos' D? 2/0/0
How many terrible PI calls will go against the Broncos defense (and how many specifically against Riley Moss)? 1/0
Final Score? Denver 27 Buffalo 21
The Favorites"It's just too much to overcome. ... He's going home, Broncos win."@stephenasmith doesn't see Josh Allen pulling off a win in Denver pic.twitter.com/dUsdWFL6Hc
- First Take (@FirstTake) January 16, 2026
Favorite win this season? The win over GB. I get to walk around work and home and hold that W over everyone!
Favorite play this season? Bo to Franklin for the TD against Green Bay or Bo to Court on 4th-and-3 in the same game. Just ELITE level throws and execution paired with beautiful play designs.
Top 3 favorite playoff wins in Broncos history that were not a SB win nor The Drive [see what I did there]? 2016 AFC Championship against the Pats; 1997 Wild Card 42-17 win over the Jags; Tim Tebow's 3:16 game" as Broncos beat the Steelers in OT in 2012.
Favorite AFC foe? Cleveland Browns. I'll take a .767 win percentage any day!
Least favorite AFC foe? The Chiefs.
Favorite Broncos player THIS weekend? Zach Allen
Game day superstitions? Any adult present MUST take Nix for Six" Touchdown shots (or any other Denver TD scorer shots)
There's no place like home.
- Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 17, 2026
Tomorrow, it's time to #ClimbHigher. pic.twitter.com/2L8OVsaqvr