Game Recap

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Bills 31, Broncos 7 | Final score, stats to know + game highlights

Jan 12, 2025 at 04:01 PM

Dorian Alerte

Contributing Correspondent

Location: Highmark Stadium

Tickets Distributed: 70,332

Final score: Bills 31, Broncos 7

Records: Bills (14-4), Broncos (10-8)

Next opponent: Bills vs. Ravens TBD

The Buffalo Bills advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs for the fifth year in a row after defeating the Denver Broncos 31-7 in the Wild Card round of the playoffs on Sunday afternoon.

The Bills dominated in all three phases of the game. On offense, QB Josh Allen was surgical, completing 20-of-26 passes for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding 46 yards on the ground. RB James Cook broke off several big runs on his way to 120 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown. WR Curtis Samuel led the receivers in yards with 68 and a touchdown, while WR Khalil Shakir led in catches with 6 for 61 yards.

The defense dominated, allowing only one touchdown and forcing a turnover-on-downs in the fourth quarter. LB Matt Milano and DE Greg Rousseau each had 1.0 sacks, while LB Terrel Bernard led the defense in tackles with 6.

Here's a list of additional notes from the victory:

Bills are 5-0 in their last five home wild card games
Bills are 16-5 at home in the postseason all-time
Bills are 6-2 at home in the postseason under Sean McDermott
Bills are 29-8 December/January record including playoffs since 2020
Bills have 67 wins since 2020 including postseason – second-most in the NFL (KC has 77)

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🎆1. Sparks fly early

After winning the coin toss, the Buffalo Bills deferred to the second half and the Broncos started with the ball.

QB Bo Nix and the Broncos offense wasted no time, putting together a five-play 70-yard drive that ended in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Nix to WR Troy Franklin that gave the Broncos the early 7-0 lead.

QB Josh Allen and the Bills offense took over after the touchdown and Allen led the Bills down the field for a field goal, bringing the score to 7-3.

👨‍🍳2. Run game takes over

After a Broncos punt, the Bills run game took over on their first touchdown drive of the game. On the 13-play drive, the Bills offense ran the ball nine times on their way into the endzone, with runs of 11 yards and 16 yards by RB Ty Johnson and RB James Cook.

Allen kept the drive alive on third-and-three from the Broncos 14, rushing to his left for nine yards on a designed run to put the Bills at the five-yard line. Cook then ran the ball into the end zone to take the lead 10-7.

3️⃣3. Opening Third Quarter Score

Neither team scored for the remainder of the second quarter, although the Broncos lined up and missed a 50-yard field goal right before halftime.

Coming out of halftime, the Bills took possession of the football and worked their way down the field to go up by six points. On the drive, Allen found TE Dawson Knox for a 25-yard completion that set up the Bills in Broncos territory. Cook then broke free for a 19-yard run that set the offense up in the red zone. Four plays later, K Tyler Bass nailed a 27-yard field goal to bring the score to 13-7.

🙌4. Ty Scraper

After a Broncos punt, the Bills had possession of the football once again and found their way into the endzone.

On the touchdown, Allen scrambled to his right and bought time in the pocket until he saw RB Ty Johnson in the back of the endzone. Johnson dove for the catch and kept control of the football on his way down to the ground to score the touchdown.

The Bills offense stayed on the field to attempt a two-point conversion and Allen found WR Keon Coleman for the score to bring the score to 21-7.

🎯5. 4^th Quarter Strike

The Broncos failed to score and punted the ball again with 1:21 left on the clock in the third quarter. WR Khalil Shakir took the return back 23 yards, shaking off several defenders on his way to the Bills 41-yard line.

As the fourth quarter started, Allen threw a deep ball to WR Curtis Samuel, who took the catch-and-run opportunity to shake away from several Broncos defenders and reversed fields on his way into the endzone for the 55-yard touchdown, giving the Bills the 28-7 lead.

🐃6. Finishing touches

The Bills defense forced a turnover-on-downs of the Broncos offense as they were driving down the field for another opportunity to score. DB Cam Lewis stopped RB Jaleel McLaughlin on the sideline to force the turnover-on-downs.

Allen and the offense continued to move the ball on the Broncos defense. Allen connected with TE Dalton Kincaid for a long 35-yard completion and then connected with WR Mack Hollins on a 19-yard completion. A taunting flag pushed the offense back and they settled for a field goal, extending their lead to 31-7.

On the Broncos ensuing drive, DE Greg Rousseau forced a fourth down by sacking Nix for a 14-yard loss. S Damar Hamlin had a near interception on the following play that forced the incompletion and turnover-on-downs. The offense was then able to run out the clock, securing their victory and advancing to the next round.

Lineup Notes: LT Dion Dawkins, CB Taron Johnson, CB Christian Benford, DE Greg Rousseau, DT Ed Oliver and DT DaQuan Jones made their return to the lineup after missing one game as inactive; WR Amari Cooper made his return to the lineup after missing one game due to a personal absence; LB Terrel Bernard made his return to the lineup after missing one game with a quad injury; KR Brandon Codrington was inactive due to a hamstring injury.

🔑Key Stats and Facts:

James Cook has broken Bills' franchise record for rushing yards in a 1st quarter, previously Josh Allen with 46 on Jan. 15, 2022, in Wild Card win over Pats.
James Cook is the first Bills player with 100+ rushing yards since 1995 (Thurman Thomas on Dec. 30 – 158 yards vs. Miami).
Josh Allen (22) passed Jim Kelly (21) for the most touchdown passes in the postseason in franchise history.
Josh Allen passes Terry Bradshaw for the fifth-most consecutive playoff games to begin a career with 1+ TD responsible for.
Josh Allen has passed Lamar Jackson (602) for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL postseason history.
Curtis Samuel caught the longest pass of his career with that 55-yard TD. He is the fourth Bill all-time with a 55+-yard TD catch in the postseason.
Josh Allen has now tied for the fourth-most consecutive playoff games with at least 250 combined yards – John Elway, Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers (8).
James Cook is the second Bill to have at least 120 rushing yards and a rushing TD in a postseason game (Thurman Thomas, 4 times).
The Bills have a better record when allowing the first score in a game this season (5-3, .625) than the Broncos have when scoring first (6-4, .600).
First time the Bills have reached 200 rushing yards in a playoff game since 1995 WC game vs. Miami and fifth time in team history.