Saturday Night Shocks: Broncos Survive Thriller, Seahawks Rout Niners

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The NFL Divisional Round kicked off with a Saturday for the ages. While one game was an instant classic defined by late-game heroics and a devastating injury, the other was a masterclass in home-field dominance. As of this Sunday morning, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have officially punched their tickets to their respective Conference Championships.

Saturday Scoreboard

Matchup	Final Score	Top Performer
(6) Buffalo Bills at (1) Denver Broncos	33–30 (OT)	Bo Nix (270 Yds, 3 TD)
(6) San Fran 49ers at (1) Seattle Seahawks	41–6	Kenneth Walker III (3 TD)

AFC: Denver’s Bitter-Sweet Victory

In a game that felt like a heavyweight bout, the top-seeded Denver Broncos outlasted the Buffalo Bills in a 33–30 overtime thriller. However, the victory was clouded by a massive blow to Denver’s Super Bowl aspirations.

The Finish: After Buffalo’s Matt Prater nailed a 50-yard field goal to force overtime, the Broncos’ defense stepped up. Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Josh Allen (his 4th turnover of the night) in the extra period. Assisted by two controversial pass interference penalties on the Bills, Wil Lutz eventually iced the game with a 28-yard field goal.
The Heartbreak: Shortly after the game, Coach Sean Payton confirmed that star QB Bo Nix suffered a broken right ankle late in the fourth quarter. Nix is out for the remainder of the postseason, leaving the Broncos to rely on veteran backup Jarrett Stidham for the AFC Championship.
The Controversy: The Bills were left fuming over officiating. Two late flags for pass interference against Taron Johnson and Tre’Davious White gifted Denver the field position needed for the game-winner, sparking a heated debate on social media about “the guys in black and white.”

“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said of Nix. “But this team has risen to challenges all year. Stiddy is ready.”

NFC: The “12th Man” Onslaught

If the AFC game was a chess match, the NFC game was a blitzkrieg. The Seattle Seahawks dismantled their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers, in a 41–6 rout that was over almost as soon as it began.

The Spark: Rashid Shaheed set the tone just 13 seconds into the game, returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Lumen Field never stopped rocking after that.
Ground and Pound: Kenneth Walker III was unstoppable, racking up 116 yards and tying a franchise playoff record with three rushing touchdowns.
Defensive Lockdown: The Seahawks’ #1-ranked defense forced three turnovers and stopped the Niners on fourth down three separate times. Without George Kittle, the San Francisco offense looked disjointed, as Brock Purdy was under constant duress from Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones IV.