- - Bills vs. Broncos score, live updates: Josh Allen, Bo Nix kick off divisional round with rematch of last year's wild-card blowout

Yahoo Sports Staff January 18, 2026 at 5:22 AM

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Buffalo and Denver kick off the divisional round of the playoffs from the Mile High City on Saturday. This is a rematch of last postseason’s wild-card matchup, which the Bills won easily, 31-7. That game was in Buffalo; this time, the Broncos have home-field advantage and the experience of another year under head coach Sean Payton, in which Denver won 14 games and claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Buffalo took a step back this season, finishing in second place in the AFC East despite winning 12 games. The quick turnaround of the New England Patriots forced the Bills into a wild-card spot for the first time since 2019. If Buffalo is going to advance to the AFC title game for a second consecutive year, it’ll need to get running back James Cook back on track after a 46-yard performance against the Jaguars last week. Josh Allen may need another Superman performance — having just posted three touchdowns against Jacksonville in the wild card — to overcome the Broncos.

The Broncos had a stellar season in year three of the Sean Payton era, setting a new single-season career high for him as a head coach with 14 victories. Now, Denver needs to exercise a demon from last year in getting past Buffalo. Statistically, quarterback Bo Nix regressed a bit with a heavier load, leading the league in pass attempts (612), but the team's win total increased by four games. The biggest question mark is whether this defense can contain Allen and keep him in the pocket.

How to watch Bills vs. Broncos divisional-round matchup

Bills-Broncos start time: 4:30 p.m. ETLocation: Empower Field at Mile High | DenverTV channel, live stream: CBS, Paramount+, NFL+

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos open up the divisional round.

Live6 updates - Sun, January 18, 2026 at 6:22 AM GMT+9Best bets for Broncos vs. Bills

Looking to get some bets in on Saturday’s Broncos-Bills divisional-round matchup? Here’s one to consider:

Josh Allen over 19.5 pass completions

While the Broncos offense got better after their Week 12 bye, Denver’s defense actually regressed, with a stretch of games in which they were 21st by EPA/Play (adjusted for turnovers and garbage time). What that means for the Bills is that Josh Allen should be able to move the ball through the air.

However, Allen’s running low on deep threats, and tempting fate against the Broncos’ pass rush seems like a bad idea. Look for an array of safe, underneath throws to his tailbacks, tight ends and Khalil Shakir. With the market tilting towards favoring the Broncos, at the very least a close game-script could enhance Allen’s chances for a high-volume afternoon — and a game where they're trailing would secure it.

Read more game picks and player prop suggestions for Broncos-Bills courtesy of the Yahoo Sports team.

- Sun, January 18, 2026 at 6:15 AM GMT+915-minute warning! ⏰

It’s almost that time! Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills will kick off the divisional round with a matchup against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. Kickoff from Mile High is set for 4:30 p.m. ET, airing live on CBS, Paramount+ and NFL+.

Winner punches their ticket to the AFC Championship 🎟️BUFvsDEN– Saturday 4:30pm ET on CBS/Paramount+Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Wh14O9ATBA

— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2026

Sun, January 18, 2026 at 6:10 AM GMT+9Kate MagdziukJosh Allen good to go for divisional round

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been playing through a foot injury that’s had him limited in practice and on the injury report dating back to Week 17.

The injury concerns continued to pile up in last week’s wild-card win, however, as Allen exited for an evaluation for a potential concussion, followed by a potential knee injury on an awkward tackle at the goal line, as well as a finger injury after his hand slammed against a helmet on a throw.

He was limited in practice on Tuesday before being upgraded to “full” on Wednesday but told reporters, “I feel good” ahead of today’s game.

Despite several injury scares last week, Allen went 28-of-35 passing for 273 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions, adding another two scores on the ground.

- Sun, January 18, 2026 at 6:05 AM GMT+9Bills lose WR depth ahead of divisional round

The Bills lost some depth at wide receiver ahead of the divisional round, as both Gabe Davis and Terrell Shavers suffered torn ACLs in the wild card, putting an end to each of their 2025 seasons.

Neither had played significant roles for the Bills this season, but it is another blow for Buffalo, which has already dealt with a lack of a true WR1 in the offense this season.

2024 second-round wideout Keon Coleman has struggled to find consistency in the offense and has spent several games as a healthy scratch this season. He’s averaged just 31.1 yards per game in his second NFL season — a drop from the 42.8 he managed in his rookie season.

- Sun, January 18, 2026 at 6:01 AM GMT+9Kate MagdziukBroncos return to play after first-round bye

The Denver Broncos are back on the field this week after a well-earned week off, nabbing the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record in Sean Payton’s third season as the team’s head coach and Bo Nix’s second year as a starting quarterback.

The team has incurred just one loss dating back to Week 4, which came against the AFC South-champion Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16.

After the Bills opened the week as rare 1.5-point road favorites over the Broncos, the line has tilted in favor of Denver, now favored by one point, with the point total installed at 46.

Sun, January 18, 2026 at 5:04 AM GMT+9Sean LeahyInactives for Bills vs. Broncos

Inactives for today's game.@UBMDOrtho | #BUFvsDEN pic.twitter.com/bYEsqnFe5c

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 17, 2026

👀 our inactives for #BUFvsDEN. 📰 » https://t.co/A39rHrNNBs pic.twitter.com/yAGLSLPmCf

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 17, 2026

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Source: “AOL Sports”