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Sean Payton drops tough 2 word Jarrett Stidham endorsement after Bo Nix injury
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- Sean Payton drops tough 2 word Jarrett Stidham endorsement after Bo Nix injury
Sean Payton drops tough 2 word Jarrett Stidham endorsement after Bo Nix injury appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Denver Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game with a wild 33-30 OT victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. But Denver's first playoff win in a decade came at a terrible cost. Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle on the Broncos' final possession. The second-year quarterback will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday.
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With Nix out, Jarrett Stidham will get the start for the Broncos in next Sunday's Championship Game. And while the career backup has made just four starts in his six NFL seasons, Sean Payton is confident in the QB.
Stidham will face the winner of the Houston Texans-New England Patriots divisional round clash in his first-ever postseason start. And while that may sound concerning to Broncos fans, Payton insists the former fourth-round pick is up for the challenge . "Just watch," he said, per NFL.com.
Broncos turn to Jarrett Stidham with Super Bowl on the line
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
"Yeah, he's ready. He's ready. I said this at the beginning of the season, I feel like I've got a 2 that's capable of starting for a handful of- a number of teams. And I know he feels the same way. So, um, watch out," Payton added.
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Despite Payton's confidence, Stidham has not attempted a pass in an NFL game since the 2023 season. Denver may be forced to lean on the run next week. The team all but abandoned its ground game against the Bills, even though the Broncos never trailed by more than four points. Nix was Denver's leading rusher on Saturday with 29 yards.
There was some confusion regarding when Nix fractured his ankle. Payton told reporters the injury occurred "on the second to last play in overtime." That would mean the Broncos lost their starting quarterback on this play , when Nix took a knee to set up the game-winning field goal. Will Lutz's kick would be the last play of overtime.
However, Payton clarified that Nix was hurt on "the second to last play, before he threw the pass to Mims." Prior to drawing a controversial 30-yard pass interference penalty on a deep shot to Mims, Nix kept the ball on a designed run and was stopped for a two-yard loss. That is the play Payton claims ended the QB's season.
Related: Referee Carl Cheffers explains controversial Bills' Brandin Cooks interception
Related: Bills most to blame for heartbreaking Divisional Round loss to Broncos
