After a two week wait, the Denver Broncos will square off against the Buffalo Bills this afternoon. The winner of this game advances to the AFC Championship Game. There is no doubt the Bills are a formidable foe, but the Broncos have what it takes to advance in the postseason. Here are three players I believe need to play at a high level in order to defeat the Bills.
Talanoa Hufanga — Safety
If the Broncos hope to topple the Bills, they are going to need to make a big play or two on defense. Turnovers have been a focal point
of emphasis from Head Coach Sean Payton and recent weeks. If they can continue where they left off against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos will have a great shot at advancing in the playoffs.
One player I believe is poised to have a big game is safety Talanoa Hufanga. The fifth-year pro proved to be the best free agent addition the Broncos added last spring to their roster. He put together an impressive first season in Denver. A seventeen-game starter, Hufanga notched 106 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits, 2 sacks, a once forced fumble, and a career high 11 defended passes.
Those efforts were good enough to earn him second-team All-Pro honors. There is no doubt he helped revitalized Denver’s defense throughout the year. He has been a tone-setting Swiss Army knife for Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph all season long. While the Bills certainly have their X-Factor in quarterback Josh Allen on offense, expect Hufanga’s versatility, tenacity, and range to be on display this afternoon against the Bills.
Courtland Sutton — Wide Receiver
One of the longest tenured players on the squad, veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton performed well for most of the regular season. Sutton proved once again to be the top target in their passing game. When he and quarterback Bo Nix had a strong connection, the passing offense thrived. When they didn’t, it most always struggled.
On 124 targets, the eighth-year pro had 74 catches for 1,017 yards and 7 touchdowns. Those numbers tell two tales. The bad side shows a sub-60-percent catch rate. That’s less than ideal for the top-volume receiver in an NFL offense. However, when Sutton did come down for the ball, he made a difference. In fact, 59 of his 74 catches resulted in a first down or a touchdown. That’s quite impressive.
It’s safe to argue this is the biggest game of Sutton’s career. Their secondary will be without Maxwell Hairston and Jordan Poyer for today’s matchup. That being said, I expect Sutton to receive additional help over the top to try and limit his impact on the game. The Broncos will need him to have an impact if they hope to defeat the Bills.
Evan Engram — Tight End
While Hufanga was an impact free agent for the Broncos this season, their biggest offensive acquisition didn’t live up to the hype of being a ‘Joker’ in Head Coach Sean Payton’s offense. That is veteran tight end Evan Engram. Truth be told, Engram didn’t seem to have much chemistry with Nix throughout the season.
In sixteen games, the ninth-year pro had 50 catches for 461 yards and 1 touchdown on 6 targets. Just 19 of those catches resulted in a first down. That isn’t a great return on their investment. Quite honestly, count me in as one who thought Engram may have doubled that yards. I thought he was poised to have a revitalized ‘25 campaign.
Nevertheless, I’m hopeful the Engram we all wanted to see in the regular season shows up today against the Bills. The primary weakness for Buffalo’s defense is stopping the run. However, a close second might be their struggles defending opposing tight ends and running backs. The Broncos don’t need Star Wars numbers from Engram; they just need to see some big catches that result in moving the chains when Nix look his way.
How about you, Broncos Country? Who are three players you think need to perform well in order for Denver to advance to the AFC Championship Game? Let us know in the comments below.
