Broncos’ playoff hopes rest on backup QB Stidham ahead of AFC Championship Game

Before the injury to Denver quarterback Bo Nix, the AFC Championship Game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots was shaping up to have a very compelling and obvious storyline. One about the return to prominence by two teams who’ve spent recent years on the NFL’s fringes, arriving here at a pace quicker than most would have imagined. The catalyst for both turnarounds has been the emergence of young franchise quarterbacks. The Patriots landed Drake Maye with the third pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, after Caleb Williams and C.J. Stroud went first and second. Nine selections after Maye, the Broncos took Nix, a pro-ready player who had started...