Broncos quarterback Bo Nix led Denver back from the brink of defeat with a late fourth quarter rally before engineering the decisive drive in overtime to leave Lutz with a 23-yard chip shot for victory.
The win sends the Broncos into the AFC Championship game next weekend, where they will play either the New England Patriots or Houston Texans for a place in the Super Bowl.
But the defeat was another bitter disappointment for the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP who has now fallen short seven times in the postseason.
“They gave us their best shot on a short week so hats off to them,” Broncos quarterback Nix said after the win. “We just found a way to win again and our defense made stops.”
“I’m proud of the way we compete, we fight, we just never think we’re out of it.”
The game had gone to overtime after a gripping battle during regulation.
The Bills fought back from a 13-point third quarter deficit to inch into a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter following back-to-back touchdowns from Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid.
A Matt Prater field goal from 31 yards left Buffalo 27-23 ahead with just over four minutes remaining, with the momentum seemingly carrying the Bills towards victory.
But Nix showed superb composure to lead Denver on a 73-yard touchdown drive that culminated with the Broncos quarterback lofting a 26-yard pass to Marvin Mims in the end zone to give the home side a 30-27 advantage after Lutz’s extra point.
Allen then responded to nervelessly maneuver the Bills into field goal range, moving the ball 41 yards to give Prater a 50-yard kick to tie the game at 30-30.
The Bills seemed to have grabbed the advantage after forcing Denver to punt on the opening drive in overtime, leaving Allen only needing to get Buffalo into field goal range to clinch victory.
Yet Denver’s defense came up big when it mattered, Ja’Quan McMillian snaffling an interception to give the Broncos the chance to grab a winning score.
Nix duly delivered, advancing the ball 75 yards with the help of two huge penalty calls to set up Lutz’s winner.
“We had a good lead and they came back, and it wasn’t looking good, but fourth quarter, overtime, we just found a way to win,” Nix said. (AFP)
